Chapter 2
He was being followed.
It was a prickling sensation at the nape of his neck, a sixth sense that the young man—he had a name, but it wasn’t his real one—had somehow acquired during childhood. And it has saved my neck on more than one occasion.
After crossing the harbor square of Bristol’s bustling port— the city was a hub of commerce between America and Britain— he slowly picked up his pace, then turned down a busy market street. As the young man wove his way in and out of the stalls, he kept his gaze moving, searching, searching …
Quick as a flash, he darted into a sliver of an alleyway and took cover in a recessed niche. His deliberately colorless clothing allowed him to blend into his surroundings, a precaution that had become second nature, even though the threats of long ago had faded to naught but fuzzy memories.
Perhaps he was being spooked by old grudges that had long since given up the ghost. His life had changed. In truth, the young man barely remembered his old self.
He was, as his mentor liked to say, a tabula rasa. A slate wiped clean. The New World had given him a new beginning. And he meant to make the most of it.
But perhaps the Old World did not forgive and forget …
Crunch … crunch.
The approaching footsteps were slow and deliberate. As if someone was seeking something—which was why they stood out from the rest of the ambient sounds.
A shadow passed over the alleyway entrance.
A pause. And then a query. “Anyone seen a cully with brown hair and wearing a mud-colored coat pass by here?”
No response.
“I’m willing to pay for information.” The muffled clink of coins hitting up against coins within a leather purse punctuated the announcement. “But only if I find him.”
Murmurs and shuffling greeted the offer, but still, none of the vendors or shoppers responded.
That was the beauty of being unremarkable.
After a long moment, the footsteps moved on. But the young man was in no hurry to abandon his hiding place.
Patience.
He had patience in spades, and it had always served him well.
Hunching closer to the sooty brick, he pulled his hat down lower and retreated into his own thoughts to pass the time.
There were always interesting things to contemplate, and when he finally chose to slip out and be on his way, nobody would notice the nondescript fellow blending into the crowd.
And then, he could continue with his mission. He must find a way to get himself to Bath. From there, his choices on how to reach his ultimate destination would become easier …