In his lover’s embrace, Eduard drifted into a fitful doze. Each explosion from the distant island rattled him, setting his nerves on edge; the moment he’d sink into slumber, another volley of noise disturbed him. When that happened, his fingers reflexively clutched at Reza’s as they held onto one another. Every blast was followed by a tumult of destruction—tremors shook the earth and filled the air, the utensils in the mess kit clattered together, water sloshed in the pitcher, and the shack’s empty furniture skidded an inch or two across the dirty wooden floor. After one particularly bad episode, a drawer from the dresser shook itself free and fell to the floor with a loud bang! that resonated like a gunshot in the small room.
Both Reza and Eduard started. “It will be fine,” Reza assured
