[Gonturan] is a true friend, but a friend with thoughts of her own, and the thoughts of others are dangerous.

But the uproar this caused was nothing compared with the uproar when Katronia noticed [Rosie] had also cut her eyelashes. Various negotiations (including, finally, such desperate measures as "supposing you ever want to eat again") eventually produced the grudging promise that, in return for Katronia keeping her hair cut short, she would leave her eyelashes alone.

I've always been fascinated by the grassroots folktale level of a culture, and as a storyteller, I have to follow what seems to be leading me on.

I found that the only way I could control this sorrow was not to think of [it] at all, which was almost as painful as the loss itself.

Can you trust me, he said. Not will you. Can you. Can I trust him? What do I have to lose?

He didn't look insane or inhuman. He did look uncooperative.

I didn’t want to know that the monster that lived under your bed when you were a kid not only really is there but used to have a few beers with your dad.