8.The rain beat steadily on the porch windows.
Nicholas had returned home in passing, after spending the whole morning wandering the streets of Vestavia Hills: in part, he didn't have much to do; in part, he couldn't be bothered to perform even a minimal task.
He had come back home in a bad mood because he knew he had wasted time for the whole morning. Annabeth was not at home, so he intended to gulp something and go to the desk to tidy up some ideas. Maybe then he could go out again.
Of course, that rain did not tempt him.
He found some leftover roast from the day before; he heated it summarily and, after having almost thrown it on a plate and quickly sliced it, he began to eat at the window.
It often helped him looking out of the window to an indistinct point, unaware of what was ha
