vignette

on the other side of the world, a surgeon is sleeping. the surgeon lights a cigarette, drinks a scotch, eats french fries, and blows the smoke out a window.

on another side of the world, a secretary is reading. the secretary slips from thought to thought, cool like an underwater swimmer. without hesitation he plucks the smoke from the window and breathes it in an underwater bubble.

on my side of the world, a soldier is poking a knife into the soil around a landmine. the soldier digs it up, stabs it and throws it away. she then starts to die.

when the surgeon wakes, she wonders why she is so hoarse and sad, though her skin feels cool and dreamy.