In 1565 Brussels, the reclusive mathematician Jan van den Bossche receives shattering news that his lifelong friend, the renowned and controversial anatomist Andreas Vesalius, has died on the Greek island of Zante returning from a pilgrimage to the Holy Land. Jan decides to journey to his friend’s grave to offer his last goodbye.

On his journey from Brussels to Zante, Jan visits old friends and recounts many memories from his life with Andreas. In this excerpt, Jan and his assistant Marcus have stopped at the University of Padua, a school where Andreas was formerly the chair of surgery and anatomy. While Marcus explores the campus, Jan sits alone in Andreas’ old classroom. As he rests his weary knees in the quiet and dark classroom, he’s startled by an unexpected guest and then overcome with conflicting emotions.

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