Chapter 21Atlon started violently. As did the person who had seized his arm. They both hastily backed away from one another in a flurry of mutual apologizing.
Atlon snatched off his hat and peered at his assailant.
‘Rinter?’ he asked, as face and name came together.
‘The late Rinter, nearly,’ came the reply, Rinter patting his chest earnestly. ‘You frightened me half to death, jumping like that.’ Atlon made another apologetic gesture, but Rinter was in a beneficent mood. ‘My fault, I suppose,’ he conceded. ‘I saw the hat and I thought, that’s got to be Atlon — better late than never. I should’ve seen how engrossed you were.’ He looked around proprietorially. ‘I don’t blame you. Nothing like this where you come from I’ll wager. Isn’t it magnificent? I always said it was worthy of better
