I met an old man, sitting alone on the northern coastline. He had his feet in the ice cold water, staring out towards the Arctic. I asked him if he was local, and he said nothing. I found our translator, but the man ignored her as well. So we left him alone.

Back in camp, I couldn’t help but think of the man. Why was here there? Wasn’t he cold? Who was he? I told the squad but they had nothing to say. What could there have been to say, about an old man sitting alone.

A week later my patrol went by the coast, and the old man was sitting there again. This time he was watching our efforts to build a port, with a hand blocking the sun. I left my duties to come and approach again. I asked him who is was. He said nothing. Was he cold? Nothing. I looked over to the port, and felt I should apologise. He looked at me for the first time, with milk white eyes, and turned wordlessly back to the sea.

I was reprimanded for leaving my patrol. I thought only of the man. I began to visit him whenever I could, and he always seemed to be there. Every evening we would sit and watch the distant port grow. I began to bring food, which he ate, and alcohol which he scorned wordlessly. I spoke to him idly of my home, and my wife. He said nothing, but I decided that he had heard it.

The port was complete, and the winter winds were rising. We were to camp back south again, and I would only have one last chance to meet the man. I came to him, and he again said nothing. I took of my mask, and told him my name. For the first time, he spoke.

“When you came to the southern shore, was there a man there, staring at the sea?”

I told him I did not know. I told him he would have been left alone as long as he did not attack.

“He was to protect the southern sea,” the old man whispered.

I considered on the road south if such small moments of grief were widespread. If that port represented the death of gods and nations to the locals. If there was anything that could have been done for those men watching the sea.

I wondered if one person, standing watch, could prevent an invasion.

I had to try.

[Meta: Mappa, expanded into RE061, RE067, RE062, RE068 Abstract!]