The peaceful atmosphere of the mess hall lasted for all of five minutes.
Not because of alarms or an emergency report. Not because another horde had appeared on the horizon or because some distant province had called for help.
It ended because people had eyes.
And because soldiers gossiped.
By the time Adrian and Chandrika finished half their meals, nearly everyone in the mess hall had already noticed them. A group of mechanics sitting three tables away had stopped eating entirely. Two nurses near the serving counter kept glancing over every few seconds. One lieutenant had entered the hall, spotted the pair near the windows, promptly turned around, and left without even getting his food.
Chandrika noticed it first.
She lowered her spoon and looked around. "Why does it feel like we're being observed?"
"We're not."
"You said that earlier."
"And I was right."
She stared at him.
A private carrying a tray walked directly into a chair while looking in their direction.
