"Maybe if you ask nice enough? Good ol' Mathias will hear your pleas and open up a parlor. Or, see if they've got some tucked away in that general store freezer."

Why the hell not? They had cigarettes.

"Don't bet that. It'd be a fucking shame if you lost that hat, mate."

John kept tapping along the wall as they climbed. Right up until they got to the landing. A few more taps and his fingers came to a stop. He turned his head, looking at the bit of chipped brick. Then, a head tilt.

"Looks like more than my love note has faded and taken some damage."