de.

    Chewingofbhang(nonittal).

    Beforeattainingyourmajority,Thomasasked,whatdidyoudo?

    Schemed,mostly.Schemingawaynightandday,towardtheachievementofends.Iwokeupangryonemandstayedangryforyears--thatwasmyadolesgerandscheming.Howtogetout.HowtogetLucius.HowtogetMark.HowtogetawayfromFred.Howtoseizepower.Thatsortofthing.Andagreatdealofcare-of-the-body.Itwasyoung.Itwasbeautiful.Itdeservedcare.

    Isbeautiful,Thomassaid.Isbeautiful,beloved.

    Thankyou,shesaid.Thereweremanymen,Ido,itwasmothstotheflame.Itriedtolovethem.Damneddifficult.Keptaharpoonguninmytallwindow.Trackedthemastheymoveddowreet,intheirridiculousdignity.IneverfiredalthoughIcouldhave,iterable.Havingtheminmysightswasenough.Myfihetrigger,alwaysabouttogooffbutneverquite.Tensionofthemostexquisitesort.

    Ithoughtitwasadart,Thomassaid.

    Juliesmiled.

    Often,whenIwasyoung,lastyear,Iwalkedouttothewater.Itspoketomeofmyself.Imagescametome,fromthewater.Pictures.Largegreenlawns.Agreathousewithpillars,butthelawnssovastthatthehousebeseenonlydimly,fromwherewearestanding.Iamwearingalongskirttotheground,inthepanyofothers.Iamwitty.Theylaugh.Iamalsowise.Theypesturesofinfinitegrace.Theyappreciate.Forthefinale,Isavealife.Leapintothewaterallclothedandgraspingthedrowhehair,orusingthecross-chestcarry,getthesillybastardtoshore.Havetobashhimohemushtoendhiswildparuggles.Draghimtotheoldweathereddodthere,hesupine,Irampant,maheresuscitation.Standback,Isaytothecrowd,standback.Thedazedcreatureseyesopen--no,they