...of vandalism

From his room in the locanda, Michel could see the window of a glass shop across the way. It was before dawn; he had returned to bathe and rest and wait until it was time to call Lauren. He had told Lauren he would call at her hotel, and he intended to, Jason's return notwithstanding. Watching from his room, he could see a vandal at work in the glass shop at this moment; the fog parted just enough that a face and arm were visible, and the breaking glass. Everything was showered in blue; the sound of the glass was inaudible, so each methodic explosion burst like a silent bubble. On one top shelf was a string of glass heads, angelic and seductive; he could see them clearly even from this distance. He became attached to the glass heads and wondered if the vandal might overlook them. The boy was about sixteen; there was no sign of any pleasure in what he was doing. Michel deliberated, trying to decide if it was a political act, like blowing up a train station.

[Days Between Stations, Erickson, S.]