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Messenger was peering down at the street, not with the casual appreciation of a tourist but rather like so very specific Hopefulness and wistfulness momentarily defined his features until he coained the impassivity he wore as a mask

“It’s beautiful, don’t you think?” he asked “We see a great deal of pain Beauty can be an antidote”

It made sense, ale of scenery He was looking for so Or someone

“Tellto peer down into the town as he began to walk He had long legs and walked quickly, in a hurry, searching I had to rush to catch up We were not alone on the wall—tourists passed by speaking half a dozen different languages—but as with doors and prison bars, they see us I was sure that ere quite invisible and inaudible

“Derek’s a bully,” I said, thinking Messenger wanted the same economy of words from me that he practiced himself

“More,” he said

“Okay, he’swell, he has a hard time in school, maybe because he doesn’t study very hard andtea with BootsThat’s what I call the other boy, the one who died”

“Charles,” Messenger said with a flash of anger “Charles Francis Frohlick That’s the narown up to be a worse bully, rown up to repent and change and to add so positive to this sorry world”

“Charles,” I said, abashed at this passionate outburst “Charles Frohlick The dead boy Okay, Derek and he were friends Charles decided that Manolo was checking him out, in a sexual way”

Messenger nodded, distracted now as he squinted down at so by on the street I followed the direction of his gaze He atching a girl, irl turned to look at soe point, and her face was clear in the spill of light froer had leaned forward, and now he retreated and could not conceal his disappointment

“You’re looking for someone,” I said

He did not answer

“The girl Oriax mentioned Ariadne”

Both of his fists clenched and still he said nothing Silence stretched between us as he began again to walk quickly along the battlement

Was Ariadne a French nas as nationalities even matter to him?