Page 210 of Silent Target

“After this, you’re going to sleep for a week.”

“I don’t sleep much.”

“You do now.”

A faint smile appears.

“Bossy.”

“I warned you.”

Fresh air moves through the shaft.

Pine.

Rain.

Freedom.

“We’re close,” Reef calls.

Hope changes everyone’s pace.

The passage curves upward.

A thin line of daylight appears.

Then the mountain shakes again.

Rocks fall across the exit.

Maverick and Reef push against the largest one.

It doesn’t move.

Cobra squeezes forward.

“My turn.”

Falcon leans against the wall, pale beneath the dust.

“Try not to lift the whole mountain.”

Cobra looks offended.

“I only need the boulder.”

Even Rook laughs once.

Cobra braces both boots and pushes.

The rock shifts.

Rogue joins him.

Then Maverick.

Together, they roll it free.