Jack walks a slow circle around the grounds. He pauses at the rear corner, near the abandoned girls’ lodge, and walks his eyes up the ascending tiers of the tapered structure and watches the chimney smoke puff out and float away on the breeze. “What are you doing, Jack?” He snaps his head around and sees a group of sledge workers dawdling around by the stage. “Just looking.” “It is beautiful. It’d better be.” “How’s the soldier’s life treating you? Karus said you’d probably be a hero by now.” “It’s treating me fine. Still training. I should probably be getting back there now.” “It’s not even lunch yet, what’s the hurry?” “Practice.” “Oh, clear the way, the young master needs his practice.” The men let out a wry laugh as he passes.
