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"You have the choice, re exactly what you are now "

I couldn't answer I knehat I was thinking Immortal, material, earthbound, vampire But I didn't speak the words How could anyone return froain, I saw His face and heard His words You would never be my adversary, would you?

"You are responding very well to what I tell you," he said warmly

"I knew you would, for several reasons "

"Why?" I asked "Tell me why I need a little reassurance I'h I have to confess, I' about myself "

"What you are is part of e are doing," he said We had come to an enormous spiderweb, suspended over our broad path by thick, shi threads Respectfully, he ducked beneath it rather than destroy it, drawing his wings doard around him, and I followed his lead

"You're curious, that'

s your virtue," he said "You want to knowThis is what your ancient Marius said to you, that he, having survived thousands of years, or well, nearlywould answer your questions as a young va asked! You wanted to know And this is what drew me to you also

"Through all your insolence, you wanted to know! You have been horribly insulting to me and to God continuously, but then so is everyone in your ti unusual, except with you there was treenuine curiosity and wonder behind it You saw the Savage Garden, rather than si a role there So this has to do hy I have picked you "

"All right," I said with a sigh Ithis to which Memnoch referred And I knew, too, that my intense love of David, and of Dora, revolved around very sis: an inquisitiveness which was fearless and willing to take the consequence of the answers!

"God, ht?"

"Ah, it's that sort of thing which surprises me, the ease hich you can be distracted Just when I think I've really astonished you and I have you locked in, you step back and demand to be answered on your own terms It's not a violation of your curiosity, but it is athe inquiry, so to speak "

"Are you telling et about Dora?"

"I'll go you one better There is nothing for you to worry aboutYour friends, Ar out for her, without revealing themselves to her "

He s, shake of the head