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“I won’t tell you,” he whispered He stood perfectly straight in the center of the room God, but he felt tall! Tall and dark and very beautiful to himself, and the way his hands were out before hiht play a piano at anytune The hands et, they felt as if he had dipped them into a bed of mint and cool menthol

“If I told you who I aht not be afraid,” he whispered “I want you to be afraid Are you afraid?”

She said nothing She breathed out and in, out and in, a small bellohich, pu, kept it alight

“Why did you go to the show tonight?” he whispered “Why did you go to the show?”

No answer

He took a step forward, heard her breath take itself, like a sword hissing in its sheath

“Why did you coh the ravine alone?” he whispered “You did come back alone, didn’t you? Did you think you’d o to the show tonight? Why did you coh the ravine, alone?”

“I—” she gasped

“You,” he whispered

“No—” she cried, in a whisper

“Lavinia,” he said He took another step

“Please,” she said

“Open the door Get out And run,” he whispered

She did not move

“Lavinia, open the door”