THEFIRSTTIMEshedreamedofhimshewokeupbesideherhusbandscreaming.

    Intheirbedroomshestareddownontothesheet,mouthopen.Herhusbandputhishandonherback.

    “Nightmare.Don’tworry.”“Yes.”“ShallIgetyousomewater?”“Yes.”Shewouldn’tmove.Wouldn’tliebatothatzoheyhadbeenin.

    Thedreamhadtakenplathisroom—hishandonherneck(shetoucheditnow),hisaowardsherthatshehadsehefirstfewtimesshehadmethim.No,notanger,alackofi,irritationatamarriedwomanbeingamongthem.

    Theyhadbeeoverlikeanimals,andhehadyokedherneckbacksoshehadbeenuobreathewithinherarousal.

    Herhusbandbroughthertheglassonasaucerbutshecouldnotliftherarms,theywereshaking,loose.Heputtheglassawkwardlyagainsthermouthsoshecouldgulpthechlorier,someingdownher,fallingtoherstomach.

    Whenshelaybackshehardlyhadtimetothinkofwhatshehadwitnessed,shefellintoaquickdeepsleep.

    Thathadbeenthefirstreition.Sheremembereditsometimeduriday,butshewasbusythenandsherefusedtolewithitssignificef,dismissedit;itwasanactalcollisiononacrowdednight,nothingmore.

    Ayearlatertheother,moredangerous,peacefuldreamscame.Ahinthefirstohesesherecalledthehandsathernedwaitedforthemoodofessbetweeoswervetoviolence.

    Wholaysthecrumbsoffoodthattemptyou?Towardsapersonyouneversidered.Adream.Thenlateranotherseriesofdreams.

    Hesaidlateritropinquity.Propinquityinthedesert.Itdoesthathere,hesaid.Helovedtheword—thepropinquityofwater,thepropinquityoftwoorthreebodiesinacardrivingtheSandSeaforsixhours.Hersweatingkneebesidethegearboxofthetruck,th