JUNE, 1997 CE

THREE DAYS AFTER KOSH FEYE’S SEVENTEENTH BIRTHDAY, HE HUGGED his brother for the last time. Adrian, older by ten years, was an awkward hugger. Kosh wasn’t much better. They held each other for about two uncomfortable seconds, then let go and stepped back. Adrian, the taller and leaner brother, nodded to Kosh, acknowledging the relief they both felt at having gotten past that awkward ritual, and the unbreakable bond that remained between them. Kosh faked a punch at Adrian’s right shoulder, but Adrian did not respond by fake-punching back. He had become so serious over the past several years. Kosh couldn’t remember the last time he had heard Adrian laugh.

“You two are ridiculous,” said Emily Ryan, a half smile on her face, tears welling in her eyes.

They were standing on the train station platform in Winona. The Amtrak Empire Builder, bound for Chicago, was about to depart. In Chicago, Adrian would be joining a group of Bible scholars on a seven-month pilgrimage to the Holy Land.

Adrian turned his head toward Emily. “The time will pass quickly,” he said, holding out his long arms. “I’ll be back by the end of January.”

“I know.” Emily stepped into his embrace. Adrian Feye’s arms came around her like two jointed sticks; his oversize hands flapped against the back of her T-shirt. He kissed her forehead and then, clumsily, her lips. Kosh watched, his mouth curved into a wide smile. He couldn’t help it — any emotion other than anger produced a smile on his long, angular features. Kosh hated that about himself. His only family — Adrian — was leaving for the other side of the world, and here he was, grinning like an idiot. He still remembered the time Adrian caught him smiling at their father’s funeral. He had only been nine years old then, but still carried the shame of it with him.

Emily, who did not have an awkward atom in her body, squeezed Adrian so hard that Kosh thought he heard ribs cracking. He imagined what it would feel like to be held so tightly by a woman as beautiful as Emily Ryan.

A barely intelligible voice came over the loudspeaker. Time to board. Emily released Adrian.

“God bless you, my love,” he said to Emily. “God bless you, too, Curtis,” he said to Kosh. “And remember — if you need any help, call the Krauses.”

“Or he could call me,” said Emily.

“Or call Emily. But do not —” His eyes bored into Kosh. “Do not even think about driving my Mustang.”

“Don’t worry,” Kosh said. He hated that Adrian didn’t completely trust him, but he was unable to stop his mouth from stretching into a grin.

“I’m not kidding,” Adrian said.

“Oh Ade, leave him alone!” Emily said. “Kosh has the pickup and his motorcycle. He doesn’t need your old Mustang.”

Adrian gave a sharp nod, satisfied. Kosh grabbed Adrian’s bag, an oversize backpack stuffed to bursting.

“Come on,” he said. “You’re going to miss the train.”

The two brothers crossed the platform.

Adrian stepped up into the train. Kosh handed him the backpack.

Adrian said, “Take care of her, okay? Take her to a movie or something now and then.”

“Sure,” said Kosh, straining to keep a sober expression on his face.

“Take her shopping. Bring her flowers for her birthday. Tell her they’re from me.”

Kosh nodded.

“Take care of yourself, too. And the house.”

“Don’t worry,” Kosh said. “I got it.”

Adrian held his eyes for a moment, gave another of his sharp nods, then disappeared into the train car.

Kosh walked back to where Emily was waiting.

“I guess that’s that,” he said.

Emily was staring up at something, a puzzled expression on her face.

“What are you looking at?” Kosh asked.

Emily shook her head and smiled quizzically. “I thought I saw something, like a funny cloud.”

Kosh looked up at the cloudless sky.

“I see things when I’m riding sometimes,” Kosh said. “Especially at night. But it usually turns out to be something ordinary, like a puff of smoke, or a wisp of fog.”

“Greta says I was born with an overactive imagination.”

“I think, to Greta, any imagination at all is overactive.”

Emily laughed again, a deeper, more natural sound, and gave Kosh a loose-knuckled punch to the shoulder. “I suppose Adrian told you to look out for me,” she said. “Make sure I don’t get in trouble.”

“He said I should take you to a movie sometime.” They started toward the parking lot. “Or shopping. We could drive to the Mall of America, up in the cities.”

“Hmph. While he’s gallivanting all over Israel looking for Noah’s Ark or whatever, I get to go to the megamall with a teenager.”

“It’s better than staying in Hopewell twenty-four–seven. Besides, you’re a teenager yourself.”

“I’ll be twenty soon.”

“You’re nineteen today.”

Emily grinned and bumped him with her shoulder. “I suppose you think I’m too young to be engaged.”

“I don’t think anything like that,” said Kosh.

“Yeah, right.”

When they reached Kosh’s pickup truck, an aging Ford F-150, Kosh opened the door for her. Being charged by his brother to care for Emily during his absence had stirred up a courtly impulse. Emily gave him a quizzical smile. Kosh grinned and shrugged.

“Thank you, kind sir,” said Emily.

As Kosh walked around the truck, Emily reached over and unlocked his door. He climbed in, started the engine, and pulled out of the parking lot. Emily was staring out the window, lost in her private thoughts.

“Do you think he’ll change?” Kosh asked.

Emily blinked and licked her lips. “What?”

“Do you think going to Jerusalem and all that will make him even more religious?”

“Adrian?” She shook her head. “How could he possibly be more religious? Besides, people are who they are. Nobody changes, not really.”

“I do,” said Kosh. “I change all the time.”

Emily once again fell silent. After a few miles had passed, she spoke.

“You know, you don’t have to babysit me, Curtis.”

“Kosh.”

“Kosh . . . why do you want people to call you Kosh?”

“I just like it.” Kosh was embarrassed to tell her he had stolen the name from a character on a TV show.

“Well, I think it’s silly. I’ll call you Koshy-poo.”

“Please don’t,” Kosh growled.

Emily laughed.

“So what about that movie?” Kosh asked, to change the subject.

“I wouldn’t mind seeing a movie,” Emily said, “but all that’s showing nearby is that new Jurassic Park movie. I don’t want to watch a show about people killing dinosaurs.”

“Starship Troopers opens in a couple months,” Kosh said.

“What’s that about?”

“People killing aliens.”

Emily made a face.

“We could drive up to Rochester,” Kosh said. “See anything we want at the multiplex.”

“I hear they’re making a movie about the Titanic.”

“That’s crazy,” Kosh said. “Who’d want to watch a boat sink for two hours?”