Isaev wouldn't like it at all, in fact, but he deserved to know.
They continued down the right branch. Slowly, and with the vaporous realization of something missed rather than noticed, Kassian became aware that the man at his side moved without making a sound. Intellectually, he knew stealth was Isaev's forte, and he'd been surprised by Isaev before, but he'd never been so impressed by footfalls that made no discernible noise as he was in this narrow, enclosed space.
He could hear his own footsteps, the soft grind of bootheels on the cave floor, but from Isaev, nothing.
Kassian remembered what Isaev had told him about his former CO, this Major Rys, who was a bigger man than Isaev yet knew how to walk through the world and make no change upon it.
At the time, he'd thought it to be hyperbole, but Isaev probably stood a good one hundred and eighty-seven, eighty-eight centimeters himself, and had a good fifteen kilos on Kassian, but if Kassian didn't know better, he'd say he walked with a ghost.
He glanced to the side, briefly. Isaev's steps were simultaneously careful and effortless. His natural gait, Kassian realized, only slightly exaggerated in the field.
Abruptly, Kassian paused.
He heard the softest of noises ahead. So did Isaev, from his reaction.
Like a whisper, perhaps. Or maybe a splash. The air around them did feel more humid, and warmer.
They held still, briefly exchanging a glance. Kassian strained his hearing, and heard the noise again. It sounded intermittent, like rain.
Isaev cocked his head and started forward again, and Kassian immediately followed. Their flashlight beams illuminated rock face, then fell away to darkness.
They slowed. Beyond, the passage opened up into a natural cavern that echoed with soft sounds, the drip of moisture and sizzle of steamy water. They shined their flashlights into every corner of the cavern, but saw no one.
After a moment, Isaev nodded, pointing his light to Kassian's right.
There, churning and bubbling in the back of the cave, sat one of the hot springs Isaev had promised to show him one day.
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timeasmymeasure
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Date: 2007-06-25 10:57 pm (UTC)Isaev wouldn't like it at all, in fact, but he deserved to know.
They continued down the right branch. Slowly, and with the vaporous realization of something missed rather than noticed, Kassian became aware that the man at his side moved without making a sound. Intellectually, he knew stealth was Isaev's forte, and he'd been surprised by Isaev before, but he'd never been so impressed by footfalls that made no discernible noise as he was in this narrow, enclosed space.
He could hear his own footsteps, the soft grind of bootheels on the cave floor, but from Isaev, nothing.
Kassian remembered what Isaev had told him about his former CO, this Major Rys, who was a bigger man than Isaev yet knew how to walk through the world and make no change upon it.
At the time, he'd thought it to be hyperbole, but Isaev probably stood a good one hundred and eighty-seven, eighty-eight centimeters himself, and had a good fifteen kilos on Kassian, but if Kassian didn't know better, he'd say he walked with a ghost.
He glanced to the side, briefly. Isaev's steps were simultaneously careful and effortless. His natural gait, Kassian realized, only slightly exaggerated in the field.
Abruptly, Kassian paused.
He heard the softest of noises ahead. So did Isaev, from his reaction.
Like a whisper, perhaps. Or maybe a splash. The air around them did feel more humid, and warmer.
They held still, briefly exchanging a glance. Kassian strained his hearing, and heard the noise again. It sounded intermittent, like rain.
Isaev cocked his head and started forward again, and Kassian immediately followed. Their flashlight beams illuminated rock face, then fell away to darkness.
They slowed. Beyond, the passage opened up into a natural cavern that echoed with soft sounds, the drip of moisture and sizzle of steamy water. They shined their flashlights into every corner of the cavern, but saw no one.
After a moment, Isaev nodded, pointing his light to Kassian's right.
There, churning and bubbling in the back of the cave, sat one of the hot springs Isaev had promised to show him one day.