Chapter 10
§10. Great river Thames
Quack quack quack!
The Thames River appeared to seethe with fury. Despite the torrential downpour, the levees that had never breached before were now rendered futile, as floodwaters cascaded onto the streets. Workers clad in raincoats persisted in their tasks, huddling at the harbor's edge.
"Is there no vessel arriving?"
"Are you mad to expect one in this tempest?"
I muttered curses under my breath and turned away. It was a futile endeavor. I had entertained the notion of renting a boat, but in such weather, even the sturdiest of ships refused to stir.
With neither carriages nor automobiles in operation, the streets were quieter than ever. A single panicked horse spooked by thunder could provoke calamity. Perhaps as a result, the customary traces of horse dung and gasoline stains were absent from London's streets.
The scent of the sea pervaded the air.
The distinct stench of London that invariably wrinkled my nose was swept away by the rain, replaced by the salty aroma typical of the sea more than 30 kilometers to the east. The scent blurred the boundary between the city and the ocean.