Advertisement
The setup

An old mattress lay on the floor, covered with blankets that were patched and worn but serviceable. Nearby, a makeshift table fashioned from scrap wood held a few odd items. Next to it stood a small stove, clearly salvaged from the ship’s kitchen and modified to burn wood. “The stove’s my lifeline during the coldest months,” the old man explained, his voice steady but tinged with weariness. He added, “It doesn’t heat much, but it keeps me alive.”
Page 61 of 100