You will tell me what you know now," he said. "Or?" He said nothing, so I elaborated. "See, this kind of threat usually has an 'or' attached to it. Or an 'and'. 'Tell me and I'll allow you to live' or something like that.

Living in your dreams meant bitter disappointment when you woke up.

Just once I want it to be easy and neat. But no, there is never a good decision. I pick what I can live with.

Are you implying that our relationship is like a Spanish soap opera?” “I’m not implying. I’m saying it.

What is wrong with you? Many, many things.

We were not finished yet, not even close. I could still smell her. I remembered what she felt like. What she tasted like. This wasn’t a casual sexual thing. This was a mating. I would have Kate as my mate. Whatever it took, no matter how long, she would be with me.

Nice plan. Take the gullible outsiders, walk them around for a bit, then feed them to the giant tortoise.