Chapter One: The End of the Map

In every picture, one more crow perched upon the broken neck. The coach fell quiet. Nine guests had paid the price of a car for twelve days in river-view suites. Now their champagne sat locked in cabin refrigerators while they rode a bus that smelled of mildew. Honeymooners Mia and Luca shared a blanket. True-crime host Henry balanced a recorder on one knee. Neurologist Amara removed her glasses and stared outside. Retired watchmaker Roman kept touching the empty pocket of his waistcoat. At the back, collector Evelyn had not spoken since boarding. Their driver, Sergei, wore a leather glove on his right hand. Without warning, he spun the wheel. The saint did not appear a fourth time.