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"But do you really believe what I told you of Rebecca's ghost?" I asked "I can't tell even now People find a host stories And people vary in their fascination as to ghosts, and I have never been very sure of where you stand Now's a good ti mood "

I was reddening, I knew it, and my voice had a break in it which I didn't like Oh, the thunder of ghosts and their after Oliver inon the bed Blunders, blunders!

"Where I stand," she said with a sigh, looking directly fro to think he's entered a house of lunatics if we don't break off with this But Quinn, tellwill upset ht I ever told such stories to you and your friend if it sends you back to them "

"No, Aunt Queen," I answered But I knew I had reached my limit as to how much I could conceal if this painful conversation went on I tried to rejoice again quietly in the fact that ere all together, butvery still, trying to keep all tight in my heart

"Don't go into that swa to o to that accursed Sugar Devil Island I know your adventuresoo You must stay away from that place "

I was hurt through no fault of hers I prayed I could soon confess to Lestat or sos were now too late They had been timely once, but a veil had fallen over all the past, with its impetuosity and sense of invincibility The mysterious he was no mystery whatsoever to me

"Don't think about it, Aunt Queen," I said as gently as I could "What did your father tell you? That there was no devil in Sugar Devil Swamp "

"Ah, yes, Quinn," she responded, "but then ue in those dark waters to roam that island as you do Nobody ever found that island before you, Quinn That wasn't randfather's nature to do anything so impractical himself Oh, he hunted near the banks and trapped the crawfish, and we do that now But he never went in search of that island, and I want you to put it behind you now "

Keenly, I felt her need of me, as vividly as if I'd never felt it before

"I love you too much to leave

you," I said quickly, the words rolling froht of precisely what they meant And then as suddenly: "I'll never leave you, I swear it "

"My dear,with the ca up Rebecca at the Well, one, two, three, four and five

"They have no taint, Aunt Queen," I said looking at those particular cahost can wear a cae its trunks in the attic?

Aunt Queen nodded and smiled "My boy, my beautiful Little Boy," she said Then she looked to Lestat again His deed one jot

"You know, Lestat, I can't travel any ht that hty-five I can't wear er, at least not out of this room "