The Kamov landed, and the pilot cut power. Everyone waited a few moments for the rotors to wind down, shouldering rifles, checking sidearms, grabbing flashlights and other assorted gear.
Kassian glanced at Isaev, then Imanov, sensing the weight of unspoken words between them.
He averted his gaze. They were still friends, those two, he reminded himself. They had been long before Kassian had arrived on scene. It was not that Kassian felt insecure about his relationship with Isaev; they'd reached an understanding.
Rather, it was that Kassian and Imanov had not.
They would have to, he knew, or else every situation that put them together would only grow more and more intolerable.
He backed off to give them space, waiting as the others hopped out. He disembarked after a few moments, pausing to scan their surroundings.
The Kamov had landed by a scree near the cave in question. Even from here, Kassian could see with bare eyes what he'd espied through the scope of his rifle: a pale, limbless torso strung up at the mouth of the cave.
He caught something glinting near the limbs. Maybe the body was suspended by wire.
Kassian thought about the night the greenhouse exploded.
The night of the first murder, and how they'd discovered the body.
Kassian had seen the bodies of the dead before, many times, during the war and beyond it. He had caused more than his fair share to join them in dissolution.
But he hadn't been prepared for what the discovery and subsequent investigation would do to him, that night. What it would do to Isaev, as well.
And now they were here again, walking inexorably forward.
Kassian kept his gaze sharp, watching their surroundings. He didn't like how exposed they were here, out in the open, silhouetted by the mountain.
He always thought about snipers, but even if there were no hidden sharpshooters nearby, the caves still made for excellent hiding spots.
Kassian's shoulders twitched, and his gaze went back to Isaev, but only for a few moments, before he had to turn his attention.
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timeasmymeasure
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Date: 2007-06-19 03:27 pm (UTC)Kassian glanced at Isaev, then Imanov, sensing the weight of unspoken words between them.
He averted his gaze. They were still friends, those two, he reminded himself. They had been long before Kassian had arrived on scene. It was not that Kassian felt insecure about his relationship with Isaev; they'd reached an understanding.
Rather, it was that Kassian and Imanov had not.
They would have to, he knew, or else every situation that put them together would only grow more and more intolerable.
He backed off to give them space, waiting as the others hopped out. He disembarked after a few moments, pausing to scan their surroundings.
The Kamov had landed by a scree near the cave in question. Even from here, Kassian could see with bare eyes what he'd espied through the scope of his rifle: a pale, limbless torso strung up at the mouth of the cave.
He caught something glinting near the limbs. Maybe the body was suspended by wire.
Kassian thought about the night the greenhouse exploded.
The night of the first murder, and how they'd discovered the body.
Kassian had seen the bodies of the dead before, many times, during the war and beyond it. He had caused more than his fair share to join them in dissolution.
But he hadn't been prepared for what the discovery and subsequent investigation would do to him, that night. What it would do to Isaev, as well.
And now they were here again, walking inexorably forward.
Kassian kept his gaze sharp, watching their surroundings. He didn't like how exposed they were here, out in the open, silhouetted by the mountain.
He always thought about snipers, but even if there were no hidden sharpshooters nearby, the caves still made for excellent hiding spots.
Kassian's shoulders twitched, and his gaze went back to Isaev, but only for a few moments, before he had to turn his attention.
They'd reached the mouth of the cave.