Chapter 9: Chapter 9

“And Baker and Murray?”

“Passed on.” Bergman’s eyes became misty. He looked up at the ceiling, blinking his eyes. “Everyone in the story, apart from me, has passed on. You think it’s remarkable I’ve lived so long, and I’d have to agree. But it’s also lonely. Extremely lonely. Desperatelylonely sometimes.”

“Surely there are people…”

Bergman shook his head. “Not people I grew up with, or even people I grew old with. Even my son, Taylor, has gone. No, the loneliness I feel can’t be remedied. I’m lonely for my friends, for my fathers, even for times gone by when life was exciting, but most of all I’m lonely for Hastings.”

Tears slipped down the old man’s cheeks and Sawyer hurried to offer him a piece of cloth to wipe his eyes with.

“Do you have a partner, Sawyer?”

“Not really. There’s someone I’m interested in, though.”

Bergman continued dabbing at his tears. “I can only hope the man you choose loves you as completely as Hastings loved me.”