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Chapters (83)
  1. Cover
  2. ALSO BY TOM CLANCY
  3. PRINCIPAL CHARACTERS
  4. 1
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  6. 3
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  83. What’s next onyour reading list?

“Was it the knife that froze you?”

“No. At least I don’t think so. It was the girl. Both women, really. I saw their coveralls and I saw the oil stains, and I ‘knew’ they were hostages.” He didn’t have to remind Ding that when they examined the women’s bodies, they discovered that the dark oil stains were actually the dried blood from the hostages they had slaughtered with the same knife used on Jack.

“From what you told me, they played their parts to perfection. They obviously planned that stunt from the beginning in case they ever got cornered.”

“Well, it worked pretty damn good, didn’t it?”

“So what lesson did you learn from this?”

“Always shoot the blonde, I guess.”

Ding laughed. “Don’t let Adara hear you say that. She’ll kick your ass.”

Jack nodded, smiling. Adara was a CrossFit monster. She was stronger than most men and knew how to throw a punch.

“I just don’t want to ever let the team down like that again, no matter what.”

“You won’t, if you keep pushing yourself.”

“That’s the plan. I just hope it’s good enough.”

“We all make mistakes. None of us is perfect, but we can always get better.”

“Thanks, Ding.”

“The day I stop trying to improve is the day I walk. You better do the same.”

“I’ll keep pushing. You know that.”

“But there’s still one lesson from all of this I need you to drill into here.” Ding stabbed Jack’s chest with his finger. “Never forget that you never know about people. Never. You feel me?”

“Yeah, I feel you.”

“Good. Now let’s head back down to the galley for some hot coffee. I’m freezing my personality off up here.”

“You go ahead. I’m fine right where I am.”

“Suit yourself. We should be docking in an hour.” Ding clapped Jack on the back and headed below deck.

Jack turned back to the rail and faced the horizon, his arms crossed against the chill. He was trying to let Ding’s words sink in, but his mind drifted back to the night’s events, walking through them step by step, replaying the mistakes one by one, the feeling that he should’ve done better washing over him like a cresting wave. It hurt like hell, but it was the only way he knew how to prep for the next mission, whatever it might be.

4

USS BENFOLD (DDG-65)

20 MILES OFF THE COAST OF SINPO, NORTH KOREA