The old man trembled as he sat down. Amidst the silent silence, he sometimes looked at the surface of the lake, sometimes at the sky. The old man thought he was hiding it well, but Bologue could sense that the old man's gaze always inadvertently fell on himself, as if examining him.
"Can you do me a favor?" the old man asked.
"Tell me."
"Well... I bet with a friend, bet on which of us could make friends with a young person," the old man laughed. "I know, I don't understand the things young people talk about, but can you pretend to be having a good time chatting with me?"
Bologue found the old man before him inexplicably interesting, and he agreed, "Alright."
"This city is really beautiful, isn't it?"
The old man easily blended into the conversation and asked, "Have you lived here for long?"
"Sort of, I've worked here for quite a while."
