A drunk sailor lurched from a doorway, glassy grin spreading as he raised a mug. Mikhailis ducked beneath the man's swaying arm, never breaking stride. A startled "hey!" chased him, fading as fast as it came.
Uneven paving threatened to trip him; he let instinct guide his feet, hopping a cracked stone here, sliding along a damp plank bridge there. Somewhere above, fireworks cracked—red sparks blossomed, reflecting briefly in puddles at his feet. The gunpowder tang tightened his chest. If fireworks mask cries for help, any passer-by could miss them.
Ahead, the main boulevard forked. The left branch glowed with torchlight and stalls; the right dipped into narrower back lanes. Drag marks they went west. He veered right.
Woven mats muffled his steps as he slalomed between stacks of sleeping fruit crates. An alley cat hissed, leaping from a barrel he grazed with his cloak. The animal's eyes flashed green before disappearing into shadow.
