Silvertip Mountain And if love keeps giving me lemons

Draper was well aware that talking to him was much like talking to a brick wall. But what was he supposed to do? Buddy up with the very kind that was lurking behind every corner, plotting to kill him? That just did not seem very smart. And he liked to think that he was a little bit smart. Maybe if circumstances had been different, he and Maia might have gotten along. If they happened to meet again, he would realize that she did not have any "friends" waiting along the path. That would mean that she had lied, but at least she had not put him in harm's way.

She made her departure, and Draper was satisfied that he had won this game of "who leaves first" chicken. He would stay here for some time, watching and waiting for her to bring backup, although it would never come his way. Today, at least, he was safe. Tomorrow it was unlikely that he would be, but those were the breaks.

Draper settled himself a bit more comfortably, ready to wait this out for at least a few more hours.