Page 217 of Silent Target

He falls.

One hand catches the edge.

For a second, his body hangs above the collapsing slope.

Mac drops and grabs his wrist.

Victor looks up.

Confusion crosses his face.

“You would save me?”

Mac strains against his weight.

“I won’t become you.”

The rock beneath Mac begins to fracture.

Rook catches the back of his vest.

Caleb grabs Rook.

Three men pull against the mountain.

Victor’s free hand reaches toward Mac.

For a moment, I think he’ll accept the help.

Then he smiles.

“You still don’t understand.”

His fingers open.

Mac tries to hold him.

Victor twists his wrist free deliberately.

He chooses the fall.

He chooses loyalty to a dead empire over facing the truth.

Victor disappears into the dust below.

Mac remains frozen at the edge.

Rook drags him back.

“You tried.”

Mac looks into the chasm.

“He didn’t want to be saved.”

“No,” Rook says. “But you still tried.”

That is the difference between them.