“They want to…sanction one of their own,” Pappy said when he blew his first smoke ring. “For some reason, it’s bothering me. I wasn’t told what it was he did to warrant such an action. I know the man’s background. There’s nothing in that background to justify such strong measures. They want Team Three to orchestrate it.” Pappy took a long drag on his coveted cigarette before he continued. “That’s bothering me, too, because I can’t figure out why. Missions have always been left up to my discretion. I have a real bad feeling.”

“Son, if you want to pull the plug, I’ll not think twice about canceling the lease on this mountain. Now you know why I fought tooth and nail to put that clause in the lease contract. Is it getting out of hand, son?”

“No. Right now I’m out of the loop, and I don’t like it. I’m not at all comfortable with Team Three taking on the mission. I don’t care how good they are, how fit, how qualified, they aren’t seasoned. If my feet were to the fire, I’d say they could handle it, but I’d rather send the agents from year two. I’m missing something here. Maybe I’m slipping, Pop. Maybe it is time to get out. I just don’t know.”

Pappy tossed his cigarette into the snow. His father puffed on his pipe.

“I think I’ll take a trip to Greece in the spring,” Kyros said.

“Good idea. Make sure you lay in a supply of TV dinners for me. Those Hungry Man meals.”

Both men laughed. Both knew Kyros wasn’t going back to Greece. His life was there on the mountain with his son. Besides, everyone knew those prepared dinners would kill you with their fat content.

“What’s for dinner?” Pappy asked.

“Tomato soup and grilled cheese sandwiches. Two hamburgers for Alpha,” Kyros said as he led the way back to the dining hall and his kitchen.

His father wasn’t kidding. When it was just the two of them, they always had tomato soup and grilled cheese. It was a father-son kind of thing, with Pappy doing the cleanup. They usually followed up dinner with a couple of videos and a few ice-cold beers.

Outside, the snow continued to fall, covering the mountain with a pristine whiteness.

It was midnight when the father-son evening came to an end. As was his custom, Alpha walked Kyros back to his quarters. He returned immediately to take up his place on Sam’s flight suit. Her gloves were laid out side by side. For some reason, a lump formed in Pappy’s throat.