Page 66 (1/2)

"It tastes like--" She frowned the thought away "No, that’s not right"

"For God’s sake," Lear moaned, "don’t be such a tease"

"Quiet" Another htened "Like…the air of the coldest day"

I was aht: her words, rather than functioning as a mere decoration of the experience, actually deepened its reality It was the first tie to intensify life The phrase was also, co whistle through his teeth "That’s a good one"

I was frankly staring at her "How did you do that?"

"Oh, just a talent I have That and twenty-five cents will get you a guhed "God, no Have you met those people? Total drunks, every one"

"Liz here is one of those Englishabout," Lear said "A burden on society, totally unemployable"

"Spare me your crass opinions" She directed her next words toyou is that he’s not quite the self-involved bon vivant he makes himself out to be"

"Yes, I am!"

"Then why don’t you tell him where you were for the last twelve months?"

In my state of infor drinks, I had overlooked the most obvious question in the room Why had Jonas Lear, of all people, needed a floater for a rooanda"

I looked at hianda?"

"Oh, a little of this, a little of that As it turns out, they’ve got quite a civil war going on Not what the brochure proee ca latrines, handed out bags of rice It doesn’t make me a saint"

"Compared to the rest of us, it does What your new roons on saving the world I’o is the size of a house"