Alka had already arrived at 28 Mast Street. The door to this shop had long been closed, looking exceptionally conspicuous on a bustling street. Sparing it only a glance, Alka headed into a nearby alley corner. As he stepped into the alley, the world seemed to quiet down a bit, and no one seemed willing to enter.
He arrived at the spiral staircase and went up.
DING-DONG!
A gentle chime sounded as Alka pushed the door open.
Upon entering, he immediately saw Balazs, still sitting in the same corner as last time and waving at him. The one-eyed owner behind the counter looked at Alka and nodded slightly. Alka returned the gesture politely and went to sit in front of Balazs in the corner.
"Sorry to keep you waiting."
"Not at all, I should be the one apologizing for keeping you on the island for a week," Balazs said with a smile, then poured Alka a glass of wine. After a light clink of their glasses, their conversation began.
