Grateful

With the night out, and the morning coming, he contemplated what he was to do. It had been his task to oversee construction, but it seemed he was no longer needed. The rest were eager to be given some degree of freedom, and he not unreluctant to do as they wished.

In the sand, he was able to lie next to Akiko, with his arm supporting her head. It made for a more relaxing night's sleep, and his mind had not been so wild. The sleep he got was far less than he should, but he felt better than he had in weeks.

He slowly slid his arm out from underneath her, taking care not to disturb her as she was still within the throws of the dream world. The sand was soft underfoot, and dry. It was extremely pleasant. It seemed odd that the sand continued this far in, but the sea did not. He assumed that at some point the funnelling of the sea into the cove must have changed, limiting its access, so that the old sand remained, but the waves could no longer reach it.