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"It makes all the sense in the world, on this island" Thisby is defined by things that are Malvern’s and things that aren’t "Itto Malvern You don’t"

"So, freedoard hi incredibly well kept and domesticated in his clean sweater and his pressed slacks But his expression is anything but vapid I still don’t think that freewheeling George Holly, A George Holly, American investor, but for the first tiardless

"So why don’t you buy Corr from him?"

I smile thinly

Holly readsDo you have no leverage? Surely he needs more from you than to win the races I’o Pretend I didn’t say anything"

But he did say so, and it can’t be unsaid The truth is this: For eleven months of the year I make myself valuable to Malvern, and then for one ive up that oneto risk it?

We stand back on the high ground; Holly is white against the green and I alad to leave the contents behind, and Holly wordlessly watches me scoop up a handful of clean dirt and whisper to it before scattering it back over the ground again

"Magic," says Holly

"Is a snaffle bit ic?" I ask him

"All I know is that when I whisper to dirt, ful"

He watches me treat the other two paths up from the cliffs He doesn’t ask how I do it, and I don’t tell hi for hi"

"No, I can’t," George Holly says ilad to be invited to speak "Because it’sas I’ve poked a stick in ain"

I raise my eyebrow

Holly scuffs off his hands as if he’s been handling soht, then So what’s going on between you and that girl? Kate Connolly, right?"

I let out a breath, stack my buckets, and head back down the road toward the yard

Holly says, "If you think by not answering that you’ll convince , it won’t work"

"That’s not why I’ain "I won’t say there’s nothing I just don’t knohat it is"

I can see her clearly, standing on the rock beside Peg Gratton, unflinching before Eaton and the rest of the race committee I can’t remember when I’ve been that brave, and it sha fascinated and repelled by her: She’s both a mirror of myself and a door to part of this island that I’oddess looked into my eye; I felt that there was a part of myself that I didn’t know

"I’ll tell you what it is in Aht not want to hear it"

I cast hiood humor

"This is worth every day away froamble on her, then?"

"You should save yourwinter"

"Not," says Holly, "in California" And he laughs, and fro I turn