Beneath the Caviar Sky

rhythm in th

ash. Work.

ouldn't fake it with soil. You couldn't bluff your

But he did miss the silence of the penthouse at nigh

e quiet

g, Leo followed him

Leo said, carrying shears that looked l

vine. "You ever

op

d books

look. "Does m

Not unless Dionys

e god of wine,"

lright, Profes

ng. Chris explained nodes, cordons, and how to leave t

rt was streaked wi

y?" Chri

ead. "I didn't thin

e first time I pic

you

him. "Yeah. Too r

ut he looked at Chris

parts for the irrigation pump. Chris volunteered

c on the old portable radio someone had left behind.

n he heard the crunc

s fr

the shed, wiping h

an for Riverbend. Li

slacks and expensive impatience. His

topher

h dropped. "Th

ll this

his name. He d

ly lawyer. PR strate

ou want?"

nks. "Just came to deliver

"My father disowned me

still own 12

he Clean Water Initiative,"

s challenging that. They want your signat

happe

lose eve

k toward the she

doesn't strike me as the type who likes

didn't

anished down the road bef

ris in the fermentation shed, elbo

hing al

h. F

idn't

hone. No signal again. The towers

ted th

h, where he'd been sketch

t him?" L

ked at her

lie like most grownups. Bu

ometimes people lie because they

"So do you

ed her arms

ove Chris out past the main

yield," she said. "So we're switc

und. "That's a h

"Grapes need love. O

standing more th

g where irrigation lines would run. She

gh it slowly. "

everyt

es. "You shou

flinch. "

the folder.

rought out a plate of

biting into it.

mix. I'm thirtee

ve fool

a leave?" Leo

at him. "Do y

people always leave. Es

ened. "I'm not sad.

d. "Then

ched from

onths, the kitchen felt

has a sh

ter, a report

heap shoes.

Vale," he said. "Word is

behind the shed. "You f

ter snapp

d over. "Off

interest

hovel from t

porter

n't say t

dn't n

s found a note o

ia's handwriti

nrise. Stay.

the steps

f his fath

own c

offering

ught off vultures

ught you how to

ink touched the horizon, h

ocked

he door in a ro

out th

sta

tudie

leep," she said.

nod

, long time, he felt like someth