Manchurian Books

But her brain
refused to accept the message. In the dark, she clutched at the body
against her, felt the beat of pulses distinct through the clothing, the
trembling of the hands going down through her flesh and muscle to her
heart.
"What do you mean? Where?"
"I don't know, into the mountains somewhere."
"With Zavier? Why?"
"Because he wants me to and I must."
"But-- Oh, Lucy--" she struggled from the blanket to her knees--"Oh,
Lucy!"
Her voice rose high and the hand felt for her mouth. She caught it and
held it off, her head bent back straining her eyes for the face above
her.
"Running away with him?"
"Yes. I couldn't go without telling you. I had to say good-by."
"Going with him forever, not coming back?"
"No, never!"
"But where--where to?"
"I don't know. In the mountains somewhere. There's a trail here he
knows. It branches off to the north and goes up to the places where
they get the skins."
"I don't believe you."
"It's true. The horses are waiting outside."
"Lucy, you've gone crazy. Don't--don't"-- She clung to the hand she
held, grasped upward at the arm.


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