tellwhichcursemakesahingg."

    "Thatsnottrue."Shelohtatme."Youtell,ifyouthinkaboutit.Andunlessyou,yourself,personallybreakthecurse,itllstickwithyoulikeatoothache.Itlltortureyoutillyoudie.Andnotjustyou.Me,too."

    "You?"

    "Well,Imyourbestfriendnow,arentI?Whydoyouthinkwerebothsohungry?Inever,ever,onmylifefeltahungerlikethisuntilImarriedyou.Dontyouthinkitsabnormal?Yourcurseiswooo."

    IhenIbrokeuptheringofpull-tabsandputthembatheashtray.Ididntknowifshewasright,butIdidfeelshewasontosomething.

    Thefeelingofstarvationwasback,strohanever,anditwasgivingmeadeepheadache.Everytwingeofmystomachwasbeingtransmittedtotheyheadbyaclutchcable,asifmyinsideswereequippedwithallkindsofplicatedmaery.

    Itookanotherlookatmyunderseavolo.Thewaterwasclearerthanbefore--muchclearer.Unlessyoulookedclosely,youmightnotevennoticeitwasthere.Itfeltasthoughtheboatwerefloatinginmidair,withabsolutelynothingtosupportit.Icouldseeeverylittlepebbleoom.AllIhadtodowasreachoutandtouchthem.

    "Weveonlybeenlivingtogetherfortwoweeks,"shesaid,"butallthistimeIvebeenfeelingsomekindofweirdpresence."Shelookeddirectlyintomyeyesandbroughtherhandstogetheroabletop,herfingersinterlog."Ofcourse,Ididntknowitwasacurseuntilnow.Thisexplaihing.Youreunderacurse."

    "Whatkindofpresence?"

    "Liketheresthisheavy,dustycurtainthathasntbeenwashedforyears,hangingdownfromtheceiling."

    "Maybeitsnotacu