The roar of the turbines died down, leaving behind only a barely audible hum – a ghostly echo of a farewell waltz from the serene blue sky. Rotkov is the destination, still far away. The day that passed in the maelstrom of events left an indelible mark on us: sharp shootings, tense negotiations, as if stretched to the limit, an endless series of decisions made under the inescapable pressure. The tension thickened to physical pain, pressing on his shoulders, squeezing his chest. Her eyelids felt unbearably heavy, as if they were filled with molten lead. Every muscle ached with fatigue, begging for peace. My strength was running out.

Yan, who is always attentive and caring, like a sensitive musical instrument, has caught your condition. His gaze, full of concern and sympathy, froze on your exhausted face.

— «Come here, sleep with me,» — he suggested softly, pointing to the empty seat next to him. This suggestion, dictated by sincere concern, caused an unexpected, sharp reaction from Cain.

Cain, who was usually silent and taciturn, as if carved out of stone, suddenly straightened up, like a spring released from a vice. His gaze became steely, firm, protective, like an impregnable fortress wall.

— «No, she's going to sleep next to me,» —he snapped, and his voice, usually quiet and steady like the calm flow of a river, sounded with unexpected urgency, with almost belligerent determination. — «I can protect her better than you can.»