“The senior officer needs some civilian mom to bring her water.”

Corporal Mason Reid got up from his seat across the main aisle.

He took two long strides forward, grabbed Evan by the thick green cloth of his upper sleeve, and yanked back hard.

“That’s enough, Evan,” Mason said in a low, tight voice.

“You’re way out of line.”

Pete Thomas edged back toward the departure window, jamming both hands deep in his pockets and staring down at the toes of his boots.

Mason rubbed the back of his neck with his left hand, his knuckles pale against his sunburned skin.