“This is a military installation,” Sergeant Reese said. “You need a pass to be in here. Or did you just wander over from the old folks’ home for a free lunch?”
His two friends laughed.
The room started to change. You know how it goes. The talking thins out. You start to hear forks scraping on trays. People are listening, and trying to look like they aren’t.
I set my spoon down beside the bowl.
That seemed to make him angrier. He set his tray on the next table and put both of his hands flat on mine. He had a tattoo of an eagle on his right forearm.
“Look at me when I’m talking to you. We’ve got standards here. We don’t let just anybody stroll in and take up a table in my dining facility. So I’ll ask you again. Who are you, and what are you doing on my post?”
