Neri refused the third repair on the second page.
The keeper opposite her looked down at the line she had crossed out.
“You haven’t seen it.”
“I’ve seen the hours you’ve allowed.”
“It’s one guide.”
“On the winter walk. Above a drop. With a morning of freight passing beneath it.”
The keeper rubbed the side of his nose.
Dessa waited beside the stove without rescuing either of them from the silence. Jem had gone to inspect the lower steps, leaving his clean drawing on the table and his dirty boots by the door. The room smelled of drying wool and the bitter tea somebody had forgotten to take off the hot plate.
