Conversation · Small Buoy

The dome-shaped plastic buoy still bobs up and down in the water amidst the trembling reeds.

"Damn, I felt really strange just now."

"Mhm." No further response. All his concentration is on the contraption.

Let the buoy be. [Leave.]

Pick up the buoy.

You lift the buoy out of the water without much effort. It's not tied to anything -- the cords dangling from the bottom appear to have been cut.

Open the buoy. (Move on.)

A shot-glass's worth of seawater pours out -- some algae. And nothing else.

"Well, damn."

Another identity misplaced... There must be some cosmic conspiracy afoot!

Examine the plastic ball.

The number '11' has been written on the yellow plastic. It hasn't been in the water for very long, but it's already discoloured and slimy with silt. A latch holds it closed, but only just barely -- the brittle metal of the latch has cracked.

"Simple construction, very unsafe."

Primitive construction, but it does the job.

Sniff the buoy.

It smells like you would expect it to smell: a concentrated version of the coast. Salt, industrial slop and decay.

...and just a dash of hard liquor. Yummm.

The water this side of the peninsula is cleaner, actually. Smells a little salty.

Shake the buoy.

There's something in there... splashing around.

"We're lucky it's still here. A little longer and it would have floated away..."

The lieutenant flashes a mirthless half-smile. "We still got here too late. There's nothing of use here anymore."

"Indeed." The lieutenant nods thoughtfully. "Let's see what's inside."

Stare into the empty buoy.

"I have no idea." The lieutenant taps his foot, frowning.

"This is a minor quirk. We know what was in the buoy anyway."

He purses his lips. "Or think we do... This is a small loose end, either way. Not important I hope."

"It must have been Klaasje's enemies -- which means she's in danger!"

"Could be. We should keep an eye out." He sighs. "Nothing more for us to do here. Let's go."

You could ask the Miss what she thinks. Later, if you have the time -- though you doubt she'll tell you much at this point.

"I think there's a cosmic conspiracy -- identities being lost and stolen left and right..."

"This wasn't a real identity, at least not as far as we know." He sighs. "We should go."

"Maybe Klaasje took them herself..."

"That may very well be the case. We should keep an eye on her." He sighs. "Nothing more for us to do here. Let's go."

"Could this be related to the cryptozoologists and their little expedition?"

"In my experience, cryptids are generally uninterested in travel documentation." He sighs. "We should go."

"I've no idea. Do you have any theories, lieutenant?"

"Might have been Klaasje. Might have been the people after her. Might have been a local drunk." He shrugs. "We should go."

"This is a disaster. Everything is ruined."

"I wouldn't go so far as to say that. This is only a small loose end. But I do wish we knew who took the documents."

The buoy continues to be mostly empty.

There's a cosmic conspiracy -- identities being lost and stolen left and right...

No answers appear to you in the dirty sea water at the bottom of the buoy. Just the heavy smell of brine and silt and disappearance.

It must have been Klaasje's enemies -- which means she's in danger!

Don't try to guess who took the documents. You don't have enough information.

Coward. You should always try to guess.

Maybe Klaasje took them herself...

I think... it may have been the Insulindian phasmid.

A metal-and-plastic contraption bobs up and down amidst the trembling reeds. At first it just looks like trash, but if you look closer...

"That over there," he points to the strange-looking object, "must be the buoy Klaasje told us about -- the one she hid her passport in. We should take a look."

Oooh, hidden things -- secrets, lies!

Cold. Air. Tendons. Snapped the cords keeping the buoy in place. A little longer and it would be floating somewhere out in the open sea...

Enough. Shake it off.

It's just rapid movement across the water. It leaves no trace. A whisper...

Yes, but who or what is this?

Splendour.

What?

Moves across the water, leaving no traces. You're cold again, as always...

Yes, spindly extremities have been here, snapped the cords keeping the buoy in place. A little longer -- and it will be floating somewhere out in the open sea...

This must be the buoy Klaasje mentioned.