Page 208 of Silent Target

“No. The supports are gone.”

Rook studies the gap.

He knows Mac is right.

He hates it anyway.

Mac points upward. “This passage reconnects with the main shaft farther ahead.”

“How do you know?”

“I helped design the emergency routes.”

“You said this shaft was unfinished.”

“It was. The branches still meet near the surface.”

Another crack echoes above him.

The opening narrows.

Rook’s voice becomes hard. “We don’t split up.”

“We already have.”

“No.”

Mac gives him a faint smile.

“You came back for me. You trusted me when you had every reason not to.”

“That doesn’t mean I’m leaving you.”

“I’m asking you to trust me one more time.”

The mountain shudders.

More rock collapses between us.

Rook grips the edge of the opening.

“Outside.”

Mac nods.

“Outside.”

Neither says goodbye.

Victor’s rifle fires from the darkness behind Mac.

The bullet strikes the wall beside his head.

Mac dives for cover.

“Run!” he shouts.

He returns fire.