Humphrey held Lou’s gaze as best he could. When he finally spoke, he abandoned his shorthand speech and did his best to carefully enunciate every word.

“I believe your friend is dying, Lou, and there is nothing anyone can do about it.… Except me.”

With those few words, it felt as if Humphrey had completely altered the dynamics of their connection. He was suddenly not the affable, upbeat, indomitable cripple, struggling along despite his limitations and the disregard of so many. He was no longer desperately grateful for Lou’s understanding and respect. He was, instead, a stern, deadly serious man.

“Go on,” Lou said, sensing he was as much annoyed as engaged by the change in his unusual new friend.

“Before we talk. Before I show you what I mean, there’s something you need to watch.”

Humphrey didn’t give Lou the chance to question the order. He depressed a large button on the right side of his tray, and a modest-sized computer screen rose smoothly in front of him, already booted up.

“Game versus Henri Delacourt,” he said.

Many might have had trouble discerning Humphrey’s thick speech, but the computer had none at all. In seconds a chessboard appeared on the screen. Lou could play a half-decent game, but over the last six months or so, Emily, a fierce game player at everything from jacks to Monopoly, had begun to win their encounters more often than not. He knew enough to see that the game on the screen was already in progress, but it wasn’t clear whether white or black was winning.

Henri, it’s Humphrey. Are you there?

The words he spoke printed out in a dialogue window below the board.

Right here, my friend.

How are things in Paris?

Rainy as usual. And there in Atlanta?

Hot. I believe you are in some trouble, good sir.

I believe you are right, Monsieur Miller. One more move, and if it is the right one, I am afraid you will have beaten me once again.

In that case, it is time for us to plan our next encounter. Ng1-f3 discovered check.

On the screen, the black knight moved from the first space in the G row to the third space in the F row.

There was a prolonged pause, and then the word RESIGN appeared on the screen, followed by a few words of gentlemanly congratulations, and the promise to schedule another match as soon as time allowed.

The chessboard was replaced by a screen saver showing an eagle in constant flight.

“Nice going,” Lou said, not bothering to ask the obvious question regarding the connection between Cap’s situation and Humphrey’s victorious online encounter. He did not have to wait long for at least a part of the answer.

“Henri Delacourt’s bio,” Humphrey said to the console.