Conversation · Insulindian Phasmid

Relax. Now that you know it's here -- how long can it hide?

"We should have been more thorough Kim. We should have..."

"I know. We should have... It's my fault too." He looks across the water. The slip of photo paper still drying in his hand, just hanging there for a second.

"We could have learned something about the phasmid's behaviour. Searched for it with them."

"Tell me you got the picture..."

"I don't understand... I had the pheromone...."

You never had a chance. There was something off the moment you approached it. It was scared of you. Of humans.

"Fuck. Where did it go?"

"I don't understand... I had the pheromone...."

"Yo, we just saw a giant fucking insect, okay? Focus on that, not some..." He looks around. "Where'd it go?"

It definitely had something to do with that! It was repelled by you, as if it was scared.

"Okay, yes, you're probably right. I won't panic."

There's a big smile on his lips, like he can't believe what he's saying: "We fucking saw it, yo -- it was real."

And you'll see it again. Now that you know it's real, how long can it hide?

"There was a pheromone -- like an ox-spray. I had to have it on and I didn't."

"The fuck -- pherone? Man, this ain't about no phermone! This is about the phasmid. Did you see the size of that?!"

"I shouldn't have taken a bath, the pheromone washed off!"

"What in the name of god was that?"

"Damn... Cuno's read about that shit in a book. Cuno's booked that shit. That was, like, a secret animal. Like one of those they think is real but haven't seen. The Insulindian phasmid..."

"Cuno doesn't know anything about it, though. Except you stink bad, which is why it left you."

You know who would know more -- a cryptozoologist!

A cryptozoologist? Oh god, there was one...

"The cryptozoologist! There was one in the bar. Maybe she knew something?"

"Yeah, cryptologist, exactly! Those are the fucks who study them. This is unreal, man..." He runs out of breath.

We'll find it again, man. We'll get it, junior officer Cuno thinks. We'll fuckin' nail that phasmid one day.

"I should have taken the pheromone from Morell!"

"I should have taken the pheromone from Morell!"

"I think it went into the reeds there, on that islet..." (Point North.)

"Yeah, yeah right there -- it doesn't like bein' out in the open. Shifty fuck. It's gone now, but..." He pants. "Wow."

"Who's gonna believe this?"

"Everyone, yo! We gotta tell the world about this. Case solved -- insect found. We're fuckin'... master detectives or some shit. We're good."

He's truly satisfied with your performance in Death Island right now.

(Yell.) "No!"

Your voice echoes alone on the water. The kid looks at you...

Three-hundred metres inland special consultant Trant Heidelstam cups his ear. Satellite-Officer Vicquemare nods to him on the jetty: "I heard it."

"He must be really out of it, yelling like that. Well, at least he's alive...." Officer Minot in the blue uniform frowns: "Jean, maybe something happened? He's in distress..."

"Where did it go?" (Look North.) Can you see it?"

"Between the reeds there -- it doesn't like bein' out in the open. Shifty fuck... I saw it slip in there. It's gone now, but..." He pants. "Wow."

"How did it do that? Glide?"

"Yeah, it walked on water, like a water spider, or like -- one of those water walkers..." He's lost for words, just pants from excitement. "This cop-shit is insane."

"Damn it! Damn it! I didn't get it right..." [Leave in rage.]

"Damn, we should have helped the cryptozoologists."

"Cuno doesn't know what that means -- Cuno just knows it was FUCKING GIANT. Holy hell..."

"I could have learned something about the phasmid's behaviour. Searched for it with them."

"Man, quit beatin' yourself down, we just discovered a GIANT INSECT. Ain't no one done that..." He looks across the water.

He's right. Dust yourself off and move on. There will be other chances.

Relax. Now that you know it's here -- how long can it hide?

"Damn, I didn't know it would be connected to the case..."

"You're right. It was GIANT."

"Damn right, we just discovered a GIANT INSECT. Ain't no one done that..." He looks across the water.

"What now?" (Continue.)

"What now..." the old man behind you says suddenly. He's put his hand into the ash -- it's dirty and black.

In some kind of strange, semi-catatonic state.

"Our suspect's not looking so good. We need to check on him -- also, man..." he points to the reeds.

"It looks like the insect had some kind of nest there -- look. Like a hoard, or some shit..."

In the reeds, where he's pointing, you see a flash of white -- porcelain white.

You never had a chance. There was something off the moment you approached it... The creature didn't like you.

And you, a detective of the RCM, standing there with your mouth agape -- alone and dumbfounded.

"I should have taken the pheromone!"

"What are you talking about, pheromone?" The strange state the old man is in ends, momentarily. Something in the word animates him...