The ice cream was chocolate. Ethan emerged from his room the moment he heard the
freezer open, which suggested the nominal homework had reached a natural pause, and
sat at the table with the focused efficiency of someone who had known exactly what was
happening in the kitchen and had timed his appearance accordingly.
“The Forth Bridge book,” he said to Adrian, between spoonfuls. “Did you know the
cantilever design was chosen specifically because the engineers didn’t trust suspension
at that span at that time? They were right to be cautious. The technology wasn’t there yet.”
“I did not know that,” Adrian said.
“Most people don’t,” Ethan said. He finished his ice cream. He looked at Adrian with the
assessing expression he uses when he is about to propose something. “When are you
go
