Chapter 180

A boot connected with Jacques' bedroll, jolting him awake. His hand shot to his injured arm, pain flaring from the sudden movement.

James stood over him, holding a dented metal cup. Steam rose from whatever was inside. "Got you breakfast."

He blinked, his mind still caught between the dream and reality. The tent's canvas walls filtered the morning light, filling everything in a dirty gray. "What time is it?"

"Early enough. UN trucks came before dawn," James pushed the cup into Jacques' hands. "Drink it while it's hot."

"What is it?"

"Soup. Better than the shit we've been eating." James settled onto a crate, his own cup balanced on his knee. "They brought medical supplies too. Might want to get that arm looked at."

Jacques sniffed the liquid. It smelled like vegetables, or what passed for them. "UN's here now?"