Chapter 67

Joe glanced around. They were attracting attention. He suddenly wanted to find a dark corner to hide in with Christophe. “I don’t know,” he muttered, disoriented for a moment. “Whatever you wanna do.”

“I’m sorry, Joe, I’m making your head spin.” Christophe’s face grew serious, and he released Joe’s arm, stuffing his hands down into his pockets. One of them had a hole in it.

“What happened to your fancy clothes?”

Christophe shrugged, but wouldn’t answer him.

They walked in silence, through the crowd of men, their mood a little more somber now. Joe wasn’t sure where they were heading anymore. He looked over at Christophe, who was searching the street as if he’d lost his way.

Where were all these people going? The city seemed to be holding its breath, waiting for relief. Women scurried along with empty hands—there was no money. Nothing to buy.

“Maybe I should see my mother,” Joe said, after a while. “She’s waited so long.”