The morning mist of early spring dyed the originally green hills with a light layer of gray.
Carrying a basket full of berries, Hanske turned his head to gaze down the mountain.
He could not see the camp made up of rows of canvas and oilcloth tents, nor could he see the Holy Alliance soldiers in uniforms coming and going.
He could not distinguish up from down, left from right, as the sky poured down clouds like the sea.
All he could see were layers of mist weaved together, wrapping around his head like a sweater his sister knitted for him.
Hanske felt as if he were a fish in a mud pit, floating up and down.
Unable to reach the surface to breathe, unable to find a way out, just lost in suffocation.
Since departing from Pine Needle Village, it had been 10 days since he was rescued by the Holy Alliance Army.
During these 10 days, he was in a coma for the first three days due to heavy injuries and blood loss.
