…Petriv walks out of the small cottage. A large smile plastered on his pale face. The small gotee he started last week, framing his chin. Making Mánta think of actors like Pierce Brosnan, only slightly shorter, and with more muscles and tatoos. Petriv strolls up, stopping short of the car, but making no attempt to help rangle the dogs. Mánta’s apparent unease unnoticed. The neighbor is saying words now, his small mouth is moving, looking…