burn between us
Keys left with Tomás, who received them with the same vast Atlantic composure with which he received everything, and who stood on the dock as their boat left for the mainland and raised one hand — a single, complete gesture — and then turned back to his island.
Elian watched the island recede. Dante watched Elian watching.
"The novel is set here," Elian said. "Part of it."
"I know," Dante said.
"So it doesn't entirely leave," Elian said.
"Nothing does," Dante said. "That's what persists."
Elian turned from the receding island and looked at Dante and then at the water ahead of them — the mainland, the coast, the Alentejo somewhere south of where they were going, waiting.
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