Page 69 (1/2)

"I’ to find you," the Chief promised

"They talked the whole time?" Ruth asked

"Every "

Beauvoir glanced into the corner and kneas curled there It was a blanket, a soft, flannel blanket made into a nest Ready Just in case

Ary, and looked at the bedside clock

Three twenty in the ht air on his face and the war there, he hoped ot up Slowly, stiffly Putting on one light he dressed As he sat on the side of the bed gathering himself he stared at the small pill bottle on the bedside table Beside hi back and forth, his eyes bright, a fluorescent yellow tennis ball in hisit there Then he placed it in his pocket and walked quietly downstairs,sure not to waken Émile Gamache put on his parka, his scarf, his toque and mitts Lastly, he picked up the Chuck-it and they stepped out into the night

Up the street they walked, their feet squeaking on the hard snow At rue St-Louis they turned out the gate through the walls of the fortified and frozen city and past the ice palace Bonhomme’s palace

Then onto the Plains of Abrahaeneral’s fatal ent Morin

THIRTEEN

Armand Gamache slid the diary across the wooden table toward Éht"

Élasses As he exalanced out theand patted Henri, sleeping beneath the table They were having breakfast at Le Petit Coin Latin, a tiny restaurant on rue Ste-Ursule It had been there forever and was a local favorite, with its dark wood interior, the fireplace, the sih off the main streets not to be found by accident People went there on purpose

The owner put their bowls of café au lait on the table and withdrew Gamache sipped and watched the snow fall It always seeh the New World was actually a particularly beautiful snow globe

Finally Élasses