Conversation · The Deserter

"What?!" The old man's eyes fill with sudden, unexpected terror at the words: "But you said I would be taken to the..."

This terror is the sum of all the uncontrollable movements and mood swings he's been exhibiting.

The wind picks up. The silence on the water is broken all around you, little shivers of waves appear. The lieutenant continues, like an incantation...

"Your Wayfarer rights have been suspended. Information provided to the officers on the scene will be used against you by the prosecution. You will be given legal counsel within one week, and must face court in 44 days -- do you understand?"

"..."

"Do you understand?"

"But..."

"Kim, he's afraid..."

"No, I don't want to! I have to stay here." He looks at the reeds, eyes submerged in growing terror.

He is a brave man -- why is he unravelling?

He's sweating. Beads are forming on his forehead.

Pupils are dilated too, eyes getting blacker and blacker.

"Your confirmation is not required, sir." The lieutenant turns to you. "Now -- on to the boat..."

"I could come back for you. Once I've taken him to the Precinct."

"Okay," the lieutenant nods. "How about I take him to the Precinct and you wait on the island?"

"I'll do it, let's not get into this."

"This world..." The old man interferes again. "What are you talking about? Is this..." His voice drowns out in a sudden gush of wind. "Us..."

The wind is cold. From the east.

Your skin is crawling suddenly.

A delicate tangle of arms and legs unfolds from the reeds, limb by limb -- to then just stand there, moving its scythe-like arms in ghostly silence.

"What is THAT!?!" (Point to it.)

"What are you talking about?" The old man looks at the reeds, then at you.

"I don't know what the hell that is..."

"There's nothing there." He looks confused.

The stick insect is over three metres tall. It looks straight at you with its tiny pinprick eyes and its grotesquely small head.

You feel your legs shaking under you and your gun hand rise instinctively...

"There IS! I see it!"

"Tell me what you see, dammit, I can't make out one small thing in the reeds..."

"I've finally gone insane..." (Put your head in your hands.)

You feel the lieutenant's hand on your back. And then you hear him say four words:

"I can see it."

Thank god. If he can see, then you're not insane.

But that means...

It's really there. Spinning slowly -- in absolute silence -- its limbs long and slender.

"Be very, very careful," the lieutenant whispers, then takes a step toward the giant arthropod...

It's really there. Spinning slowly -- in absolute silence -- its limbs long and slender.

If he can see it too, then you're not totally insane.

But that would mean...

You feel the kid tug on your sleeve -- and in the darkness -- four words:

"I can see it."

Thank god. If he can see, then you're not insane.

But that means...

It's really there. Spinning slowly -- in absolute silence -- its limbs long and slender...

"Be very careful...." the kid whispers, then takes a step toward the giant arthropod...

It's really there. Spinning slowly -- in absolute silence -- its limbs long and slender...

If he can see it too, then you're not totally insane.

But that would mean...

"Guess you have, droite." You hear the old man's voice in the dark. "I don't see anything there -- does this mean I'm not under arrest?"

You're NOT insane.

It's the cryptid!

Or you're high.

"My wife said I'm insane too. That's why we can't..."

...be together. You open your eyes and it's still there -- a giant stick insect, spinning slowly -- its limbs long and slender....

Beckoning you to come to it.

"I don't know what this means..."

No one would. You open your eyes and it's still there -- a giant stick insect, spinning slowly -- its limbs long and slender. Silent as death...

"No, I can't be insane -- you're wrong."

But you can. You open your eyes and it's still there -- a giant stick insect, spinning slowly -- -- its limbs long and slender...

"Oh god, I'm too high..."

Way too high. You open your eyes and it's still there -- a giant stick insect, spinning slowly -- its limbs long and slender. Silent as death...