Entry 11. Tape 4
Dr. V: (whispers) This is a log of night one by Dr. Victor ██████.
Breathing.
Dr. V: I can’t sleep. I don’t think the others can either, but they are pretending to. Something feels off here…Achi has been out in the fog.
Indistinct noise
Dr. V: I can hear the crack of twigs and the crunching of leaves as if there is someone walking around out there. At first, I thought it was Achi but…I’m not sure anymore.
Rustling and movement. A tent unzips.
Dr. V: …..Achi?….shit, its dark out here.
Indistinct noise and a click.
Dr. V: (Whispers) I brought a flashlight, thank goodness.
Snapping sound.
Dr. V: Is there anyone there?…Achi?…Ach—
Ch: What are you doing up?
Silent pause
Dr. V: What are you doing?
Ch: I told you to stay inside…are you recording—
Dr. V: No.
Rustling. Voices become muffled.
Dr. V: I’m not going back to sleep till you tell me who’s out there—
Cracking noise.
Dr. V: Is it them? It is, isn’t it? The Kuroga know we’re here.
Silence.
Dr. V: Why did we stop? We had time, Achi. You said you would take us to the village. Are you playing some sort of game?
Ch: No. If I could, I would take you now, but we cannot.
Dr. V: Why? You need to give me something here…I want to believe you, but…
Ch: They won’t let us.
Dr. V: Why? What’s going on?
Ch: They are deciding.
Dr. V:…On what?
Ch: Whether they will kill us tonight…
Silence for a minute.
Dr. V: What are you playing with? That, around your neck.
Someone clears their throat
Dr. V: You have one. What do they mean, the stones? It was found before. Does it have some kind of—
Ch: Go. Back. Inside. Stop talking and sleep. They see you out here, they may kill us all. Let me handle this.
Audible inhale.
Dr. V: Fine. But I’m not sleeping. I’m not afraid. I need to get into the village.
Ch: Why?
Dr. V: (scoffs) You aren’t the only one that knows how to keep secrets…goodnight.
Crunching, rustling. Recording stops.