Around us the night creatures have their say. We are surrounded by a symphony of crickets and frogs. Neither of us feels the need to speak, and I suppose that is one of the qualities I find comforting in Kartik. We can be alone together.

I'm a librarian, not an oracle.

The face staring back at me isn't beautiful but she isn't something that would scare the horses, either.

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Oh, sure. Of course, they say now that we’ve got Freud and the motorcar, God is dead.” “He’s not dead; just very tired.

I know I've done the right thing but I couldn't feel worse about it, and I suppose that is part of what it is to lead.

I'm sorry,' he says simply. 'People make mistakes, Gemma. We take the wrong action for the right reasons, and the right action for the wrong reasons.