Shelaughed."Notthat,notthat.Dontgochasingafterabetterfortune."

    Ididnotuandthehalfofwhatshesaid,butIlaughedalongwithher,ariedtofindmyplaceagainwithHawkeyeandUncas.Asmthreatenedandwepackedourthingstogo,ItoldherhowmuchIhadenjoyedwhatshehadreadtomeaboutFortune.

    "Writeitdown,boy.Ifyoueacrossapassageinyourreadingthatyoudliketoremember,writeitdowninyourlittlebook;thenyoureaditagain,memorizeit,andhaveitwheneveryouwish."

    ItookoutmypendacardfromthestackIhadfilchedfromthecardcatalog."Whatdidtheysay?"

    "RosentzandGuildeheindifferentchildrenoftheearth."

    "ThelastoftheMohis."

    "Thatsus."SheflashedhersmilebefoingtotheertowakeourslumberingfriendSmaolach.

    Wewouldsnitchafewbookstotakehomewithusforthesatisfaoflyingabedonachilledwintersmunderweaksunshineandslippingoutaslimvolumetoreadatleisure.Betweenthecovers,abookbeasin.Ihavespentmanyhoursinsuchawakingdream,andoncehavinglearnedhowtoread,Icouldnotimaginemylifeotherwise.Theindifferentchildrenaroundmedidnotsharemyenthusiasmforthewrittenword.Somemightsitfoodstorywelltold,butifabookhadnopictures,theyshowedsti.

    WhenaraidingpartywenttotowencamebackwithacolleagaziimeorLifeorLook—andthenwewouldhuddletogetheruheshadeofanoldoaktolookatthephotographs.Iremembersummerdays,amassofkneesa,elbowsandshoulders,jockeyingforachoiceviewingposition,theirbareskindampagainstmiucktogetherliketheslickpagesclumpedandwrihehumidity.Newsandcelebritydidnotappealt