The boat continued to the right. The willow and white stone stayed on the left bank, while the dock drew closer. Ahe looked down. The scratch was still in front of him.

He felt reassured. He had not noticed that the mark was travelling with the plank. It marked a place on the boat, not a place on the riverbed.

The boat covered more water, but the sword did not make that journey. It remained on the bottom. The gap between boat and sword grew wider.