act27side

Professor Keller.

Is the city council meeting over?

There is increasing public opposition to moving away from the current beachfront. The city council is keen to have an accurate estimation of when the volcano will erupt, and wants us to provide a guarantee for the estimate that we gave.

I rejected it on the spot as being impossible and irresponsible. We try to give an estimate that is as accurate as possible, but scientific survey cannot be held responsible for the government's opinion polls.

Thank you for taking care of that, Dr. Kahn.

No need to thank me. The volcano museum is your project, and I promised to help so you could focus on more important things.

This is something that matters to all volcanologists, and I hope—

...Adele?

Kahn!

I forgot. Of course you knew each other.

...Of course.

Is she here at your behest?

The museum's collection includes Mr. and Mrs. Naumann's research, and the eruption of Mount Siesta is a rare opportunity. I wanted to respect Adele's wishes...

I just didn't think it was the kind of work that needed to recruit a sickly... someone who's not in the best of health.

I came to help out while on vacation. It's not really a bother...

Kahn has a point. Your health is important. You have to take it easy, Adele.

Let's call it a day. May I ask you to bring Adele back to her accommodations, Dr. Kahn?

...Of course.

Have a cocktail on me! Reward for fetching a rare new customer.

You just wanted someone to test it for poison...

I call it 'Cotton Sunset'. How is it?

It has a... er... 'unique' flavor.

You're one tough customer.

So, was that girl a friend of yours?

She... forget it, I haven't got the nerve to befriend her.

Shame.

Truck driver, Messenger, ticket seller, swimming coach... how many jobs are you working?

It's the high season, after all. Got to seize the opportunity.

What do you need money for? Got a girl you fancy?

I could give you an advance on your wages, if you're running short on pocket money.

I don't—

Forget it... seeing how business has been these few months, I should feel lucky that I even get my meals. You should be worrying about dorm fees for the little ones.

Hah, this is nothing compared to the stuff I've seen in the past.

Are you going to tell that story about how you led a protest against the local magnate in Kazimierz through rock music, then went on to a career in Siesta's rock n' roll scene, finally settling down here with this bar? Again?

Good memory on you.

I'm too old for bedtime stories.

Say, there's something I've been meaning to talk to you about.

Business hasn't been great since last year. I heard things have been going well at the engineered lava hot springs. If we...

Getting funny ideas again, young man?

Don't get ahead of yourself. I'm still the owner of this place on paper. You haven't taken over yet.

This is the coolest cocktail bar in Siesta, and it hasn't changed one bit from Old Siesta to New Siesta. I'm not about to abandon it over a few slow months.

This isn't a short-term thing... city council people have been here a few times. The whole street could be demolished.

Yet you fixed the sign for the folks next door, while you haven't bothered to fix ours, even though it's been broken for days.

Is a sign going to save the shop?

Stop worrying about troubles that aren't even here yet. Life isn't nearly as bad as you think.

Act your age for once. Leave the worrying to the old folks.

I want to travel a little once the high season is over.

Sure. Columbia? Victoria?

Or even further away, just like him. See the world, expand your horizons.

You're too young to be worrying about the little things.

What I mean is... I could be gone for a while.

What's this about?

Oh, I had a little bump while moving some stuff. I thought it was nothing.

Well, the summer is pretty dry this year. You should have more fruits and veggies. Need a recipe from me?

I'm not a kid anymore...

Then don't make me have to worry about you. Look the part, if you want to be taking care of other people.

Alright, Mom.

Thanks for the escort, Kahn.

I'm sure you have a lot of work to do. I'll be fine the rest of the way.

I...

Sorry, could you speak up a little? It's noisy out here and I couldn't quite hear you.

Are you worried about me? Don't be, everyday life isn't much trouble anymore.

I didn't think I would see you in Siesta... are you okay?

Your disease...

Well, the Oripathy getting worse can't be helped... but things are largely under control now.

I have to wear a hearing aid and glasses, but I'm getting used to it. I've also gotten pretty good at lip reading!

It's just so unfair... a girl as young as you.

It's not about fair.

I've seen plenty of Infected at Rhodes Island. Many are even younger than I am. Some are little kids who hardly know what's going on. None of them know when their lives will end.

At least I have a clear goal, and I'm still strong enough to work towards it. I'm one of the lucky ones.

Has it really been so long since you went to Rhodes Island? How time flies... I heard you're still surveying volcanos in person, and even more frequently these days.

That's... it's dangerous, Adele.

I've talked to the physicians at Rhodes Island. I know how much time I have left...

But there's so much still to do... I can't let my parents' research end like this.

You don't have to be the one to do it. Not in your... condition.

What else can I do, though?

Kahn, I... I miss them...

Poor girl. Do you not suffer enough shackles already?

What? I wouldn't call it shackles...

What's that you just said, Adele?

I... huh?

Adele... I studied with Dr. Naumann for many years.

She was my greatest mentor. She brought me out of that little backwater, and took me down the path of science.

She changed my life. I don't know where I would be without her. I could never repay her kindness.

Mutti always said you were her best student.

Kahn pauses, as though to muster courage.

I just can't accept the mysterious circumstances surrounding their deaths.

What do you mean?

The night breeze carries with it the sound of guitar.

Street lamps begin to light up, forming a line that leads to the 'volcano' at the center of the city. Mist rises from hot springs in the distance, laying a veil over the night sky.

Adele rubs her eyes.

You didn't see your parents the year before they died, did you?

They were always busy, practically living out of their lab at the university. I wasn't even allowed to visit them.

Did something happen?

As a scientist, I know how inappropriate it is to operate off a biased conjecture. And yet, I can't help but suspect...

My, my, another one with an obsession.

What...?

I don't trust Keller, Adele. Be careful.

I don't understand. Why do humans talk so much about things they have never seen? Why to they pretend to have more wisdom than they possess?

I didn't quite hear what you said... might be a problem with my hearing aid...