She remembered the story from her childhood, about Adam and Eve in the garden, and the talking snake. Even as a little girl she had said - to the consternation of her family - What kind of idiot was Eve, to believe a snake? But now she understood, for she had heard the voice of the snake and had watched as a wise and powerful man had fallen under its spell. Eat the fruit and you can have the desires of your heart. It's not evil, it's noble and good. You'll be praised for it. And it's delicious.

But whether there's some grand design really matters little to me. My only hope was this: to see what might be, to believe that it should be, and then to do all I could to bring it to pass, whatever the cost.

And yet.. even if you had been right, it would only have been by accident. A broken clock is right two times a day.

Firequencher raised his hand. "I've been staying out of family conversations. Do I get credit for that?

When you really know somebody you can’t hate them. Or maybe it’s just that you can’t really know them until you stop hating them.

Dona Crista laughed a bit. "Oh, Pip, I'd be glad for you to try. But do believe me, my dear friend, touching her heart is like bathing in ice." I imagine. I imagine it feels like bathing in ice to the person touching her. But how does it feel to her? Cold as she is, it must surely burn like fire.

I didn't want to see you." "They told me." "I was afraid that I'd still love you." "I hoped that you would.