Specklovedtobebymovingwater.Mystromemoryisofheranimatedbythecurrehetictotheflow.Isawheronce,yearsago,strippedtotheskin,sittingwithherlegstuckedbehher,asthewaterrolledaroundherwaistandthesunshinecaressedhershoulders.Undernormalcircumstances,Iwouldhavejumpedandsplashedinthecreekwithher,butstruckbythegraceofhernedlimbs,thetoursofherface,Icouldnotmove.Onanotheroccasiohetownsfolkshotofffireworksinthenight,wewatchedtheexplosionsupriver,andsheseemedmoreentedbythewaterflowthanbytheloudflinthesky.Whilethepeoplelookedup,shewatchedthelightreflegontheripplesandthesparksastheyhissedonthesurface.Fromthebeginning,Ihadguessedwhereshehadgoneandwhy,butIdidnotactuponthatintuitionbecauseofafuallackofce.Thesamefearsthathadpreventedmefromcrossingattheriverbendalsomademebreakofftheseardebap.Ishouldhavefollowedthewaters.

    Thepathtothelibraryneverseemedaslongandforebodingasonthenightofmyfirstreturn.Thewayhadgedsincearted.Theforestthinnedarounditsedge,andrustys,bottles,andotherrefuselitteredthebrush.Noneofushadvisitedintheyearssincesheleft.Bookslaywherewehadleftthem,thoughmicehadnibbledthemarginsofmypapers,lefttheirsourolddleholdersandcoffeemugs.HerShakespearewaslousywithsilverfish.Stevenshadswollenwithdampness.Bydimdlelight,Ispentthenightrestorder,pullingdowncobwebs,shooingcrickets,lingeringoverwhatshehadonceheldinherhands.Ifellasleepediyblahathadlongagolostherst.

    Vibrationsaboveannouhearrival.Thelibrariansstartedtheirday,joistscreakinguheirweightaernsoftheirroutines.Icouldpicturethe