Tallinn had not slept in weeks.
Shadows stretched longer than the daylight hours.
Shops opened, but no one loitered.
Priests shortened sermons.
Schoolteachers paused before every lesson, unsure if their words would be reported.
Across Estonia, a quiet, invisible force had pressed its weight over the land, and it was growing heavier by the hour.
In Moscow, the deadline was coming.
October 25
Rain lashed the windows of Toompea Castle as the emergency cabinet meeting began. Prime Minister Päts stood with arms folded, eyes puffy from sleeplessness.
"We are two days away from being told we were conquered weeks ago," Defense Minister Laidoner said.
"Our forces are not equipped," added Foreign Minister Piip. "We don't even have adequate gas masks. And they're jamming our radios."
Finance Minister Jaan Lattik glanced at a note just handed to him. "The Tartu press building burned down last night. Completely gone. Police suspect sabotage."
