"...Nobody survives the Forest alone."
Kai blinked.
"The Forest?"
"The Forest."
"...That's its name?"
The man nodded.
"What else would you call it?"
Kai scratched his cheek.
"...Nothing."
He decided not to mention the name he'd already given it in his head.
The man in sunglasses looked toward the radio man.
"You don't believe him."
"I don't."
"Why?"
The answer came instantly.
"Because survival probability approaches zero."
Kai muttered,
"I don't think probability likes me very much."
The radio man ignored him.
The man in sunglasses simply shrugged.
"Maybe."
He looked back toward Kai.
"Maybe he's lying."
"Maybe he isn't."
He stood.
Then walked toward the tent entrance.
Kai watched him.
The man looked across the endless sea of sand.
Then quietly spoke.
"You asked earlier."
Kai blinked.
"...Asked what?"
"Why people like us stay here."
The man spread one arm toward the desert.
"People think deserts are empty."
He smiled.
Kai waited.
The man continued.
"Cities belong to kings."
"Mountains belong to fortresses."
"Forests belong to monsters."
He looked over his shoulder.
"The desert..."
"...belongs to whoever survives it."
The camp remained quiet.
"If we leave this place..."
"We're just criminals."
He shrugged.
"But here?"
"We know every dune."