Conversation · The Deserter

"No, it's the damn cryptid, the..."

...phasmid! You open your eyes and there still is, spinning slowly -- in absolute silence -- its limbs long and slender...

It's too late, you quit drinking too late!

Delirium! It's delirium from the booze!

You're high. Breathe in, you're just high!

No! It's the cryptid!

No. It can't be!

My god... maybe you are.

No, it's the cryptid!

"Kim, can you see it?!"

"I can see it."

Four simple words -- thank god. If he can see, then you're not insane.

...but Lieutenant Kitsuragi is not here. There is only the old straddler. He turns his black eyes to you and says: "Kim who? There's no Kim here either."

He's right. You've lost your mind.

There is only the old man -- and the giant stick insect spinning slowly -- in absolute silence -- it's long and thin limbs...

"Cuno, can you see it?!"

"Yeah, I can fuckin' see it!"

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

"See what exactly?! A bug?" He does not understand.

You feel your legs shaking under you and your gun hand move to your holster -- to grab the gun...

You feel your legs shaking under you and your gun hand move to your holster -- but you don't have a gun...

"A giant bug, watch out!"

"The giant stick insect!"

Blink.

It's still there -- an unfolding mechanism of reed-like chitin. Hovering in place.

"Maybe you're right, okay..."

First say: "Does it have room for three?"

"Not really." He shakes his head. "We could escort him to the pier, then either one of us can take him inland while the other stays here, but..."

But then -- who watches him, while you're coming back here?

"This is not a problem."

"This is a problem," the lieutenant says. "Who watches over him while I come back for you?"

"What is this... farce?" He looks around, with strange desperation. "This a fucking farce, I can't..."

Something is happening. Stop.

Lilienne. You could ask her maybe?

"Who watches him there while I come back for you?"

"You come back for me? How about I go and send a boat back for you."

There's something you're not getting here that he's realizing.

"But what?"

The lieutenant shakes his head, frustrated. "Who watches over him there while I come back for you?"

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

"No, no, it would take a whole day on this island. You go and transport the prisoner, I'll be here. I can escort him to the pier with you."

"Maybe you're right..."

"No need to be polite, I'll do it."

"Maybe I can just ask Lilienne to watch him?"

"This is no harmless old man." The lieutenant shakes his head.

"This fucking world..." He stares at something -- who knows what -- in the dust. "This world... what is this?"

Below the confusion and rage -- a fit of jamais vu, like yours? The thought passes, more pressing matters take its place...

No, listen! Listen now!

Wait...

There it is again, to your north, as it has been since you came to the coast -- the reeds whisper, stalks rubbing against each other. But then, in the middle of it...

What?

Something completely different. It sounds like a bow, very slowly being drawn against the strings of a violin. A very small violin made of reeds and rushes.

... and then it's gone. Drowned out by the lieutenant's voice -- "Maybe there is room for three on the boat..."

"Shush, Kim! Do you hear that?"

"What?"

"What are you talking about? Is this..." The old man's voice drowns in a sudden gust of wind. "...really us..."

Your skin crawls.

"Okay, so you're saying we can all fit in there?"

"We should try first. There is a prisoner transfer protocol that requires two..."

You thought you heard something but it's just the reeds...