Conversation · Spring Mattress

The greasy old spring mattress lies in the corner.

Maybe a little shut-eye, just for an hour... [Go to sleep.]

"Maybe it's better to get back to the mainland? Rest there -- you've earned it."

"What, you wanna like... live on this fucking island now?" He crosses his arms. "Go sleep in your own bed."

Maybe it's actually better on the mainland... in your own bed. This place is getting less welcoming.

Also -- what if the bad thing happens again?

You face the concrete wall. There's less light there, in the dark corner. Like a dog you lie there...

You didn't realize how tired you were. Your body is still nowhere near healed...

Curl up with your knees close to your chest.

The blanket feels cold. The entire room does -- concrete and cold. Minutes pass. Half an hour maybe? The sounds of the sea beyond grow distant. Your eyelids close. Until...

Until?

You feel yourself standing up in the darkness. Right next to the mattress. Slowly, the world begins to hatch from the blackness. It's evening...

Sleep.

Curl up with your knees close to your chest.

Curl up with your knees close to your chest.

You face the concrete wall. There's less light there, in the dark corner. Like a dog you lie there...

You didn't realize how tired you were. Your body is still nowhere near healed...

Pull your legs under your chin.

The blanket feels cold. It's someone else's blanket, and the room is all concrete and cold. Sounds of the sea beyond grow distant, slowly. Your eyelids close.

Sleep.

No time to rest now. [Leave.]

"Yes. Any time. If you need a rest later, it's okay by me."

You don't have to be a hero.

"Cool, whatever. Cuno doesn't really give a shit."

The greasy old spring mattress lies in the corner, fresh linen under the heavy karakul cover.

"The offer still stands," he says, looking out the pillbox window. "Take it -- you don't look so good."

The bed is quite inviting, all things considered. It's much warmer inside than out there...

"I'm gonna say it again -- Cuno doesn't feel like carrying your corpse off this island, so maybe you should fucking crash?"

Still rather inviting, all things considered. It's much warmer inside than out there...

There's a greasy old spring mattress in the corner, resting on piles of softcover books. White linen and a pillow are visible under a worn-out karakul blanket.

"Someone has been squatting here." The lieutenant inspects the bed. "The linen is fresh. Recently washed."

"How recently..."

A flash of pain interrupts you, making you wince instead of letting the words out.

"You know, officer..." He looks at you with a touch of concern. "You can rest here if you're feeling tired. I will keep watch. You could use some rest for what's ahead."

You force the rest of the sentence out through pain, thick as molasses, no longer able to hear yourself speak.

"There are signs that someone... lives..."

"Do you think whoever slept here is..."

"Check this shit. Someone's been squatting here." The kid waves his hand at the bed. "Cuno knows because this shit looks like Cuno's place."

"How recently..."

A flash of pain interrupts you, making you grimace instead of spewing out the words.

"Hey... Cuno doesn't wanna hurt your feelings, but you look like shit. Maybe you should lie down in the bed -- like recover. Before you die."

You force the rest of the sentence out through pain, thick as molasses, without really hearing it.

"Do you think whoever slept here is..."

"There are signs that someone... lives..."

Inspect the linen.

It stands out because it's freshly washed.

Someone has been squatting here. Very recently -- the fire guy the twins mentioned?

Huh, I wonder if...

A flash of pain interrupts your thought, making you grimace.

Technically speaking, you could rest here if you're hurting... someone else has. It should be possible.

The mattress is soggy, but that linen feels more inviting than the pain and exhaustion. It's not too cold here...

You push the rest of the thought through pain thick as molasses, without really concentrating on it.

How recently...

Could they still be...

Someone has been squatting here. Very recently.