Out of every moment one can exist, Burino felt that this was the one where he was most afraid. He was afraid that the rural folk would see him and sound the alarms, he was afraid of the detectives who would in all probability wouldn't take him in alive, and he was afraid that horrible Mr. Sun and his insane antics would really go on forever.
"You're sweating."
"What?"
Hans had gotten a good look at Burino and in his mind gave him the commonplace diagnosis of a panic attack.
"Has this happened regularly?"
My goodness, he's trying to treat me like one of his patients. I wonder what he's going to do next.
"No, it's started around the time I got here."
"Interesting. Take this twice a day until we're done."
Hans tossed a container at Burino and as he caught it, he used the chance to ask.
"What exactly are these?"
"Valium, they are very good when it comes to people being stressed."
"I know what they are."
"Then why did you ask me what they were?"
"Because I wanted to know if you knew what they were. I learned from a young age to not take things from a second-rate doctor."
Hans looked half hurt by the claim before he took a second to compose himself. Burino didn't pick up on his words being a micro aggression.
"That is funny. My parents taught me to always listen to the doctor. But hey, every person lives a little differently, don't they?"
"I guess so, John."
Without a second to spare, John and Burino went back to their joking whilst Hans sat in silence. The boat would be back at the base of the rural folk who held the reactor within an hour. What could possibly go so wrong?