Conversation · The Deserter

"What have I used it for..." He looks you dead in the eye: "I've used it for killing people."

Here we go! A trail of blood, the lieutenant smells it too...

"Killing people?"

"It's a gun. That's what they're for. You want a moralist euphemism -- defending your family and your property? I haven't done that."

"I've used it to kill people."

"Interesting." The lieutenant nods. "During, or after the War?"

"There is no after the war." He shakes his head and smiles, his teeth rotten black: "Class war is never over."

So he's continued killing after hostilities ended. Okay, okay...

This is it. You can feel it, like battery acid on the tip of your tongue -- something you haven't felt in a while, but...

No time!

Of course, you're on the trail now, move in...

... for the kill.

Go in straight, no euphemisms, he doesn't like those...

No-no. Be careful now, slow and steady does it. Make him repeat it first.

Don't mess this up, remember -- he wants to tell you. Get personal.

"Did you use that gun to shoot and kill the mercenary on the coast?"

"The who now?" He leans in and cups his ear.

He heard you. He just wants to hear you say it again. This is dramatic flare on his part... Right choice, we're in! Do it, sire!

"His name was Ellis Kortenaer. He was part of a security detail here in Martinaise."

"Oh yes... that one," he looks up at the sky and clacks his tongue: "Ugly piece of work, that boy..."

"Did you kill him?" The lieutenant takes a sudden step toward him.

"I am a son of a welder, and an officer of the Commune of Revachol." He spits a big one at your feet. "I do not collaborate with murderers and pederasts of the liberal regime."

A drop of blood in the saliva...

Tear into him. Pile it on him. Everything you got on him, the more the better...

The gun. The murder weapon is the perfect opener.

The scent of blood in the air... but what else? There was something you can't remember...

Something about the tracks? Suddenly all those tracks are so confusing... go with something else first!

C'mon, what am I forgetting? (Hit yourself on the side of your head.)

Wait, here it comes -- the god damn May bells, the dried may bells on Klaasje's roof!

My head hurts now.

Who cares -- there were May bells in the grass when you got here! And on Klaasje's balcony!

Wait, don't forget the footprints! The diagonal prints in the dust in the secret space behind Klaasje's bedroom! Now they're gonna come up!

Ow...

Yes. Ouch. So good it hurts. Those were not modern prints...

Maybe don't beat yourself any more though? You're not immortal.

Nothing else comes up. You see the lieutenant watch you try to stimulate thought processes by hitting yourself.

I'm sorry this didn't do anything... usually hurting yourself does.

"Officer, a word..." He gestures to talk to you on the side.

"No, I'm almost there! Just let me have a few more punches..."

"Almost where? Almost ready to bleed to death?" He looks at the bloodstain on your pant leg...

"No, c'mon." The lieutenant's impatient. "A word, let's go."

"Excuse us for a moment, Mr. Dros." [Leave.]

Nothing else comes up. You see the Cuno watch you try to stimulate thought processes by hitting yourself.

I'm sorry this didn't do anything... usually hurting yourself does.

"Yo, a word..." He gestures to talk to you on the side.

"Excuse us for a moment, Mr. Dros." [Leave.]

"No, I'm almost there! Just let me have a few more punches..."

"Almost where? Almost ready to bleed to death?" He looks at the bloodstain on your pant leg...

"No, c'mon." He's half whispering. "A word, let's go."

Nothing else comes up. The old man watches you stimulate thoughts by hitting yourself.

I'm sorry this didn't do anything... usually hurting yourself does.

Of course! Thank you, head, thank you.

You got it! Remember, the boot prints were like no modern sole...

"My god... I've got nothing at all!"

You see the lieutenant watch you try to stimulate thought processes by hitting yourself.

I'm sorry this didn't do anything... usually hurting yourself does something for you.

"Officer, a word..." He gestures to talk to you on the side.

You see the Cuno watch you try to stimulate thought processes by hitting yourself.

I'm sorry this didn't do anything... usually hurting yourself does something for you.

"Yo, a word..." He gestures to talk to you on the side.