Over the edge of the purple down,
Where the single lamplight gleams,
Know ye the road to the Merciful Town
That is hard by the Sea of Dreams—
Where the poor may lay their wrongs away,
And the sick may forget to weep?
But we—pity us! Oh pity us!
We wakeful; Ah, pity us!—
I am tired, so tired. The headaches were especially painful today. Which brings us to what I'm going to write about: pain and sleep.
It is something I have seen before: a runner, tired but refusing to fall asleep, in pain but refusing to go to the hospital. So watchful, so paranoid that they will not even allow themselves a moment's rest.
This will only lead to bad things. No one can survive long without sleep. It resets our body, it gives us the energy to go on. And pain? Pain is an indicator that part of our body is not working. Pain can kill you. Even if going to a hospital would mean alerting proxies where you were, it is preferable than dying from going untreated. You could always escape a hospital room. You cannot escape death.
What is essential in war is victory, not prolonged operations.
This also applies to armies. Going a long time without rest or sleep will sap an army's strength. This is why sieges are not good. Those who are inside the building being seized can more easily defend it against attackers. They have the shelter to rest, while the attacking army is in open ground. So in battles, victory must be quick or there is a chance of shattering your army.
It's the difference between winning and losing. The quick and the dead.
A very valid point. I guess it's just kind of hard to sleep when you know a pale, faceless thing could be watching you at any moment.
ReplyDeleteSometimes hospitals just aren't an option. Not because of Proxies or Oathbreakers, but because you injuries would get the police involved or possibly get you committed. For example, gashes on your wrists left by the Rake may get you held on suicide watch.
ReplyDeleteAs for sleep, yes get as much of it as you can. But I think we all know that sometimes wakefulness is the only respite from our nightmares.
You can escape suicide watch, though. You cannot escape an infection. Sometimes it's better to allow yourself to be caught, since the alternative would be dying.
DeleteBoth have valid points here. I think that a runner should go on what their circumstances are and how well they think they can defend themselves/escape.
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