Chapter One: The End of the Map

They crossed the square. Signs lit one by one: YESTERDAY'S PHOTOGRAPHS. THE SILENT PHARMACY. THE MISSED HOUR. No shopkeeper stood inside. Roman stopped at the watch shop. On blue velvet lay a gold pocket watch. Inside its lid was the photograph of a smiling woman. The price card held no number, only a sentence: THE SOUND OF MARGUERITE SAYING YOUR NAME FOR THE LAST TIME. Roman lunged toward the door. Lin caught his arm. From within came the click of engaging gears. An old woman in black lifted her face. She had no eyes; a turning clock dial filled each socket. “The owner has arrived,” she said. Every clock on the street began running backward.