Ready when you are, Sergeant Pempbry.

He was numb except for dreading the loss of numbness.

A census taker tried to quantify me once. I ate his liver with some fava beans and a big Amarone. Go back to school, little Starling.

He moves smoothly and slowly, carrying his concentration like a brimming cup.

Evil's just destructive? Then storms are evil, if it's that simple. And we have fire, and there there's hail. Underwriters lump it all under 'Acts of God.

He sees very clearly - he damn sure sees through me. It's hard to accept that someone can understand you without wishing you well. At Starling's age it hadn't happened to her much.

It occured to Starling how much Roden would benefit from an elbow smash in the hinge of his jaw.