Green Desert - Chapter 5.4.2 - Fírí

“You should elevate your foot.”

I looked up at the young cop. “What?”

He gestured at my bloody appendage. “Reduce the bleeding. First aid.” He stepped forward hesitantly, his dark eyes shining with fear.

Fear? Of who, me? Because I was talking crazy? Or because he thought I was a cop killer like Zhíno? Both, probably.

He still stood looking at my foot, his hand outstretched slightly. First aid, right. I lifted my left leg in front of me and placed it on the table like some yoga pose. The piece of trousers was soaked through, dark with blood and covered with dirt and dust.

“May I?”

I didn’t want to touch it. “Okay.”

The dark-haired cop reached out and gingerly unwrapped the bloody cloth. It practically fell off as soon as he touched it, landing in a little heap on the tabletop, exposing a bright-red foot and a black big toe. The nail bent the wrong way.

The sun began setting rather quickly and the cop seemed to have difficulty standing upright. And then the bald cop was there beside me, a strong hand on my shoulder. “Laparıpasamé, wet these rags. Let’s clean it first.”

I looked up at the old man, my head heavy on my neck. “Did you see the chapel?”

He stared down at me with penetrating ice-blue eyes, but said nothing.