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"Yes, and each tier than the one before it," I added "The last ti onwounds, h the , shattering all the glass ht He's never been so destructive before "

"He has to be destructive now," she said "He's foolishly increased theWhereas once he was aly, he now has considerable h solid walls as he once did On the contrary, he needs a doorway or a"

"That's exactly right," I said "I've been witnessing it I've been feeling the air change, feeling him leave "

She nodded "It's in our favor that he's subject to gravity, but it's always so with ghosts It's only more so noith him because he's developed an appetite for blood, and so encu else about this fusion?"

I hesitated, then confessed "It's very pleasurable It's likelike an orgasm It's likeit's like our contact with our victims It's like the fusion with them, only it's much much milder "

"Milder?" she asked "Do you lose your equilibrium when you take your victims?"

"No, no I don't," I answered "I see your point But the pleasure isn't as strong with Goblin I'd ad with mild pleasure "

"Very well Is there anything more that you can tell me?"

I thought for a long time "I feel sad," I said, "terribly sad because he's my brother, and he died, and he never had any life except the life I gave hio on And I think -- I know -- I should die with him "

She studied me for several minutes, and so did Lestat, and then Lestat spoke up, his French accen

t rather sharp as he looked at me:

"That's not required, Quinn, and besides, even if you did try to take hio "

"Precisely," said Merrick "He ue someone else After all, he chose to be with you because you were his brother But he couldand he learns quickly "

Lestat said,

"I don't want you to die, Little Brother "