The attacking piece displaces its victim. The vanquished piece leaves the plane of the board entirely. But it does not, in a higher sense, cease to exist.

The world is what it is and won't be bargained with.

Evolution can't be predicted, Julian used to tell me; it's a scattershot business; it fires, but it doesn't aim.

Stupid people do stupid things, but people who are smart enough can do something really stupid.

We're as ephemeral as raindrops. We all fall, and we all land somewhere.

We'll do what life always does defy expectations.

Goddamn you," Jacob said. "There's no damnation, Jacob. No Heaven but the forest and no God but the hive.