Chapter 5
Two days.
The rain lasted two interminable days, before it slowly died down, finally giving way to a bashful autumn sun, strong enough to light a spark in Benjamin’s heart and compel him to leave his apartment at first cannon. But he didn’t head for the shipyards or his men’s billets. He went to the park. And that was where he was standing now, staring at their customary chessboard. Abandoned and alone.
No sign of John.
He waited until early afternoon, sitting on a bench, leaning forward, nervously folding and unfolding his hat, wondering where John was, and why he hadn’t come. Plenty of reasonable explanations came to mind, but the most likely possibility was the one he liked the least: John simply had something better to do.
Or maybe John’s absence meant…
Stop it, now yo
