You wait while Pearl goes through a full round of exercises, then climbs into bed.
The cabin is utterly quiet; so quiet that you can hear the tiny sounds that might otherwise get lost in the background noise of civilization. The soft rush of breathing, the faint rustle of fabric as people turn over in their sleeping bags, even a little camper-size snore now and then. A few whimpers, too—Justine really does have nightmares.
And from outside, the high whir of crickets and cicadas, and the creak of branches as the wind sways them back and forth.
Before long, Pearl's breathing slows, and her athletic body stills. But you still wait for a few minutes more, just to make sure that she is deep enough in sleep that your movements won't wake her.
You wait for ten minutes…then twenty…then a little longer, until you hear Pearl's breathing slow, and you can see that she is sound asleep.
Slowly, carefully, you ease your way out of your cot and creep toward the cabin door.
Next