Normally, the three veterans, including Jude, were exempt from meal duty. But since he was free today, he thought he should help. Before long, fish soup was simmering in a pot on the brazier, and hot steam puffed from another pot.
When the meal was ready, they all sat down together. Bastien's head was still foggy, since it had not even been ten seconds since he woke up. Meanwhile, Ilaria blankly rested her chin on Jude's shoulder while pinching his thigh now and then.
She seemed to be asking why he had slipped away that morning.
Jude had simply wanted some air.
He handed out the dishes and asked the two of them.
"How far did you get on the sixth floor? You didn't write it on the bulletin board."
Ilaria took her bowl and said, "There was a doppelganger room on the way to the seventh floor."
"That's unfortunate."
"Yeah. It's disgusting seeing two Bastiens. So I just left."
