OUTSIDE A BAR, A STREET LIGHT FLICKERED.

The bar was loud and the people were quiet. So quiet you could hear the secrets that hung from their lips that they swallowed with every sip of alcohol yet were unable to digest. They did not become drunk on drink, but on their secrets, that got stuck in their guts and were unable to lay to rest.

‘’Last week a witch was burned at the stake’’ a man said
‘’She let down her country by letting up her secrets’’ a man replied
‘’Her last words were: Although the water is dumb, the sea is wise.’’
‘’What does that even mean?’’
‘’No idea! It’s that kind of talk that got her killed.’’

I was sitting in the corner of the bar, sipping my drink with my eyes down on the shabby table. I was here for a business trip and was staying in one of the rooms. The whole place was rather rundown but it was all I could get at such short notice. In contrast to its appearance, the drinks were...