I had never even intended to meet family in Alencourt. Hadn’t known that any existed. But now I did. That was a fact I couldn’t go back on. Maybe the librarian in the floral dress had something to tell me. I’d straight-up forgotten about her. But most importantly, I hadn’t even seen my cousin, Gilles Vaugeois, who’d been injured in a violent attack. Didn’t I have a burden of duty to at least lay my eyes on him?

A train crew member passed through the carriage. He was warning friends and family members of passengers that the train was about to depart. Telling people to get off the train if they didn’t have a ticket. The boy was excited that the train was leaving. Maybe they were traveling to meet up with Dad.

I stood up. Put on the backpack. The woman was feeding her baby. She looked up at me in dismay. “I hope we’re not disturbing you. I’m sorry for the noise.”

I reassured her, “Not at all. I’ve just realized that I left something behind. I have to go back.”

She looked at me strangely. But she didn’t argue. Ultimately she was pleased to have the carriage to herself. I stepped off the train. Whatever, I wasn’t done with Alencourt.

Chapter Ten

The rain had stopped and a breeze was blowing through town. I got something to eat and then found a hotel. Paid in full and got a keycard for both the room and the front door, which the guy at the counter said was locked after ten. The room had a window, a bed, a chair, and a flat screen TV bolted to the wall at an unusable angle. I threw my backpack on the chair and sat on the bed. It was good enough.

I opened the window to let some air in. The evening wind was fresh and easy, riding the cusp between late spring and early summer. I lay fully clothed on the bed. Alencourt was quiet for a Saturday night. Nothing happening outside. No noise really. A couple of cars once in a while. Not a party town. I was beat. The hotel was old. I considered going out for a beer. But the establishment would be small. Locals would know each other. I would attract attention. I didn’t want to attract attention.

I visualized.

The kid with the Adidas stripe in his head. I’d broken his wrist. So he’d be wearing a bandage or a cast now. Then the second one. Side part gelled hair and leather jacket. A case of bruised testicles possible. Finally the ponytail guy with the manicured beard, a sore chest, injured pride. Three of them. Footsoldiers of some kind. Curious.