Somewhere there

ㅤ From time to time, Moses visited the Quiet Lands. He did nothing but sit on the beach near the former camp and gaze into the distance, listening to the sound of the waves, trying to drown out all other sounds: every rustle of an animal made him want to look, to see if Giet was hiding there, experiencing a mutual desire to meet again. Csaba followed his boss faithfully everywhere. This time was no exception. After cleaning the old cauldron, he began preparing a meat broth with wild herbs. Fresh baked goods and vegetables were thoughtfully brought along, as was a bottle of good liquor. "Everything is ready, boss," Csaba announced quietly, trying not to break Moses's thoughts too abruptly. Pleasant, as evidenced by a calm smile. "Huh?" Moses lingered, a moment later, returning from his reverie. "Oh, thank you! It smells amazing! Ever thought about being a cook?" he asked jokingly, praising and laughing. "Only if you manage that place," Csaba smiled good-naturedly. It didn't matter to him what he did. What mattered was who he worked with. His heart was with his family. A large former bandit family. Having sated himself with the most delicious food, Moses began a cheerful, idle conversation. Simply to avoid silence. To avoid talking and thinking about unnecessary topics. Csaba understood and kept up the conversation, covering the pot with a lid to prevent the hefty chunk of meat inside from drying out. They sat like that for several hours, quenching their thirst with booze and funny stories. About how one of the gang had committed yet another stupid act, how someone had gotten pregnant, suddenly expanding the family's boundaries, about the townspeople's gratitude for their good work. After all, they were no longer bandits, but sentries, guarding the peace of the helpless people. Having finished the last drops, Moses exhaled wearily. "I think that's it," he said quietly. "Shall we go?" Csaba suggested. "The guys are waiting." "Mm," Moses nodded. Before leaving, he opened a delicious piece of meat. He knew for sure it wouldn't go to waste. After all, Moses wasn't telling all these stories for himself. He knew for sure that somewhere out there, Giet was listening. Somewhere out there, these stories warmed his animal heart. They hadn't gone far when something stirred in the nearby bushes. Instinctively, Moses slowed to a stop, glancing out of the corner of his eye. Two small Gulf puppies emerged. Soon, a large paw appeared, dragging the two curious cubs out of sight, to which Moses only chuckled, saying to himself: 'I'm glad you're okay!' Also, barely audibly, he added: "I'm okay too…" ㅤ