Kassian rubbed his face. The night was getting a bit long.
He kept an eye on Liadov and Rakitin, but his mind was on Isaev.
They'd had to part company all too soon after the Kamov ride back to Groznyj Grad with the corpse and Molokov's limbs in tow.
Partnering up with Isaev for the cave search had been a pleasant break, but unfortunately brief. Isaev made for better company than Imanov did, though of course it ran deeper than that. He and Isaev had come to know each other well. It eased the horror of their discovery, to have Isaev at his side.
But now the rest of Ocelot squad had been dismissed back to their barracks, or duties, save for Kassian and Imanov.
Isaev had departed with the others, with one last glance and grimly wry twitch on his lips.
Kassian remembered the words Isaev had whispered into his ear.
It would be good when they were finally dismissed for the evening, he thought, but didn't let his thoughts linger in that direction.
Kassian decided he should talk to Ocelot. Though he and Imanov might be best suited to guard the MENTs, if their assignment became long-term, it was unrealistic to have only two men covering the investigators. After all, Kassian and Imanov couldn't watch them twenty-four hours a day, and there was always the possibility that the MENTs could be attacked while in their quarters.
He glanced at Imanov, who met his gaze immediately.
Imanov's expression could have been carved from ice, eyes narrow above sharp cheekbones, mouth a hard slash, jaw taut. He looked particularly displeased, and lethal.
Kassian didn't know what he was going to do about that. Have it out with him one way or another, he supposed.
He wasn't looking forward to it, but something needed to be done.
Imanov's attention shifted then, turning back to the MENTs. They were on the move.
Kassian shouldered his rifle, and together he and Imanov followed their charges.
no subject
He kept an eye on Liadov and Rakitin, but his mind was on Isaev.
They'd had to part company all too soon after the Kamov ride back to Groznyj Grad with the corpse and Molokov's limbs in tow.
Partnering up with Isaev for the cave search had been a pleasant break, but unfortunately brief. Isaev made for better company than Imanov did, though of course it ran deeper than that. He and Isaev had come to know each other well. It eased the horror of their discovery, to have Isaev at his side.
But now the rest of Ocelot squad had been dismissed back to their barracks, or duties, save for Kassian and Imanov.
Isaev had departed with the others, with one last glance and grimly wry twitch on his lips.
Kassian remembered the words Isaev had whispered into his ear.
It would be good when they were finally dismissed for the evening, he thought, but didn't let his thoughts linger in that direction.
Kassian decided he should talk to Ocelot. Though he and Imanov might be best suited to guard the MENTs, if their assignment became long-term, it was unrealistic to have only two men covering the investigators. After all, Kassian and Imanov couldn't watch them twenty-four hours a day, and there was always the possibility that the MENTs could be attacked while in their quarters.
He glanced at Imanov, who met his gaze immediately.
Imanov's expression could have been carved from ice, eyes narrow above sharp cheekbones, mouth a hard slash, jaw taut. He looked particularly displeased, and lethal.
Kassian didn't know what he was going to do about that. Have it out with him one way or another, he supposed.
He wasn't looking forward to it, but something needed to be done.
Imanov's attention shifted then, turning back to the MENTs. They were on the move.
Kassian shouldered his rifle, and together he and Imanov followed their charges.