Virginia," Billy said urgently. "Don't do this." "Shut up,Billy." "Think of the people in San Francisco." "I don't know any of the people in San Francisco," Virginia answered, then paused. "Well,actually I do,and I don't like them. But I do like you,Billy, and I'm not going to allow you to end up as lunch for some raggedy lion-monster-thingy." "A sphinx," Machiavelli corrected her. He was standing at the bars again. "Mistress Dare," the Italian said carefully. "I absolutely applaud you for what you want to do for your friend. But I urge you to think of the bigger picture.

He came to a decision and looked at Dagon before climbing into the car. "Find the Disir." Dagon stiffened, showing a rare sign of emotion. "Is that wise?" he asked. "It is neccessary.

Often the greatest act of courage is admitting that one has made a mistake...Follow your hearts. Protect one another, trust one another, because, at the end of the day, all of these people want something from you, or want you to do something for them, or be something that you are not. Your own responsibility is to one another.

He is many things - dangerous and devious, cunning and deadly, a good friend and an implacable enemy - but he comes from an age when a man's word was indeed precious.

A boy and a girl, dressed in the T-shirts and denim that are the shabby uniform of this age.

The research. It is always the best part of writing. And, of course, it is the great excuse to travel.

We do not always get what we want. Sometimes life presents us with surprises.