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A terrible chill ca the tears down my face Were they blood? "Don't look at me," I said "Benji, Sybelle, look away Just put the cover into my hands "

Her tender eyes squinted as she stared, disobediently, steadily, one hand up to close the collar of her fliainst the wind, the other poised above me

"What's happened to you since you came to us?" she asked in the kindest voice "Who's done this to you?"

I sed hard, and ain I pushed it up froency of breath

"No, don't do it anymore," said Sybelle "It weakens you and you suffer terribly "

"I can heal, my sweet," I said, "I promise I can I won't be like this always, not even soon Only take me off this roof Take et to ain It's the sun that did this Only the sun TakeHide me in the darkness "

"Enough, don't say any more," cried Benji

I opened e wave of brilliant blue settle overI felt the soft pile of the velvet, and even this was pain, pain on the blazing skin, but it was pain that could be borne because theirhands were on me, and for this, for their touch, for their love, I would have endured anything

I felt ht, and yet how dreadful it was to be so helpless, as they wrapped me

"Ah to carry?" I asked My head had fallen back, and I could see the snow again, and I fancied that when I sharpenedtheir time beyond the haze of one tiny planet

"Don't be afraid," whispered Sybelle, her lips close to the covers

The smell of their blood was suddenly rich and thick as honey

Both of theether over the roof I was free of the hurtful snow and ice, almost free forever I couldn't let myself think about their blood I couldn't let this ravenous burnt body have its way That was unthinkable

Down through theturn after turn, their feet stru with agony I could see the ceiling above, and then the sether, overpoweredthe leathery flesh crack as I did so I dug my nails into my palms

I heard Sybelle at ht, on't let you go It isn't far Oh, God, but look at you, look what the sun's done to you "