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no unease at the prospect。 This wasn't the business of the visible world； where fear got fat because there was so much to win and lose。 This was a place for lovers； where there was only ever gain。
She felt him draw her other leg up to his head and immerse it in the same heat； then felt him take hold of her hips and use them as purchase to impale himself upon her； inch by inch。 Perhaps he'd bee vast： his maw monstrous； his throat a tunnel； or perhaps she was pliant as silk； and he was drawing her into him like a magician threading fake flowers into a wand。 She reached up towards him in the darkness； to feel the miracle； but her fingers couldn't interpret what buzzed beneath them。 Was this her flesh or his？ Ankle or cheek？ There was no way of knowing。 Nor； in truth； any need to know。 All she wanted now was to do as the lovers in the book had done and match his devouring with her own。
She reached for the edge of the bed and turned herself half over； bringing him down beside her。 Now； though her eyes were besotted by darkness； she saw the outline of his body； folded into the shadows of her own。 There was nothing changed about his anatomy。 Though he was consuming her； his body was in no way distorted。 He lay beside her like a sleeper。 She reached out to touch him a second time； not expecting to make sense of his body now but finding she could。 This was his thigh； this his shin； this his ankle and foot。 As she ran her palm across his flesh a delicate wave of change came with it； and his substance seemed to soften beneath her touch。 The scent of his sweat was appetizing。 It； quickened the juices in her throat and belly。 She drew her head towards his feet and touched her lips to the substance of him。 Then she was feeding； spreading her hunger around him like a mouth and closing her mind on his glistening skin。 He shuddered as she took him in； and she felt the thrill of his pleasure as her own。 He had already consumed her to the hips； but she quickly matched his appetite； taking his legs down into her； swallowing both his prick and the belly it lay hard against。 She loved the excess of this； and its absurdity； their bodies defying physics and physique； or else making fresh proofs of both as the configuration closed upon itself。 Was anything ever so easy and yet so impossible； besides love？ And what was this； if not that paradox laid on a sheet？ He had slowed his swallows to allow her to catch up； and now； in tandem； they closed the loop of their consumption； until their bodies were figments； and they were mouth to mouth。
Something from outside…a shout in the street； a sour saxophone chord…threw her back into the plausible world again； and she saw the root from which their invention had flowered。 It was a monplace conjunction： her legs crossed around his hips； his erection high inside her。 She couldn't see his face； but she knew he wasn't here in this fugitive place with her。 He was still dreaming their devouring。 She panicked； wanted to regain the vision but not knowing how。 She tightened her grip on his body and； in so doing； inspired his hips to motion。 He began to move in her； breathing oh so slowly against her face。 She forgot her panic and let her rhythm once again slow until it matched his。 The solid world dissolved as she did so； and she returned to the place from which she'd been called to find that the loop was tightening by the moment； his mind enveloping her head as she enveloped his； like layers of an impossible onion； each one smaller than the layer it concealed： an enigma that could only exist where substance collapsed into the very mind which begged its being。
This bliss could not be sustained indefinitely； however。 Before long it began once more to lose its purity； tainted by further sounds from the outside world； and this time she sensed that he was also relinquishing his hold on the delirium。 Perhaps； as they learned to be lovers again； they'd find a way to sustain the state for longer： spend nights and days； perhaps； lost in the precious space between a breath expelled and another drawn。 But for now she would have to be content with the ecstasy they'd had。 Reluctantly； she let the tropic night in which they'd devoured each other be subsumed into a simpler darkness； and；'without quite knowing where consciousness began and ended； she fell asleep。
When she awoke she was alone in the bed。 That disappointment apart； she felt both lively and light。 What they'd shared was a modity more marketable than a cure for the mon cold： a high without a hangover。 She sat up； reaching for a sheet to drape around her； but before she could stand she heard his voice in the predawn gloom。 He was standing by the window； with a fold of curtain clipped between middle and forefinger； his eye to the chink he'd opened。
〃It's time for me to get working；〃 he said softly。
〃It's still early；〃 she said。
〃The sun's almost up；〃 he replied。 〃I can't waste time。〃
He let the curtain drop and crossed to the bed。 She sat up and put her arms around his torso。 She wanted to spend time with him； luxuriating in the calm she felt； but his instinct was healthier。 They both had work to do。
〃I'd rather stay here than return to the studio；〃 he said。 〃Would you mind？〃
〃Not at all；〃 she replied。 〃In fact； I'd like you to stay。〃
〃I'll be ing and going at odd hours。〃
〃As long as you find your way back into bed once in a while；〃 she said。
〃I'll be with you；〃 he said； running his hand down from her neck to rub her belly。 〃From now on； I'll be with you night and day。〃
10
Though Jude's memory of the night before was vivid； she had no recollection of either herself or Gentle taking the telephone off the hook； and it wasn't until nine…thirty the following morning； when she decided to call Clem； that she realized that one of them had done so。 She replaced the receiver； only to have the telephone ring seconds later。 At the other end of the line was a voice she'd almost given up expecting to hear again： Oscar。 At first she thought he was breathless； but after a few stumbling sentences she realized his pantings were barely suppressed sobs。
〃Where have you been； my darling？ I've rung and rung since I got your note。 I thought you were dead。〃
〃The phone was off the hook； that's all。 Where are you？〃
〃At the house。 Will you e？ Please。 I need you here！〃 He spoke with escalating panic； as though she were punctuating his appeals with refusals。 〃We don't have much time。〃
〃Of course I'll e；〃 she told him。
〃Now；〃 he insisted。 〃You've got to e now。〃
She told him she'd be on his doorstep within the hour； and he replied that she'd find him waiting。 Putting off her call to Clem and putting on a little makeup； she headed out。 Though it wasn't yet midmorning the sun was blazing hot； and as she drove she remembered the monologue that she and Gentle had been treated to on their ride back from the estate。 Monsoons and heat waves all through the summer； the doomsayer had predicted； and how he'd relished his prophecies！ She'd thought his enthusiasm grotesque at the time； a petty mind indulging in apocalyptic fantasies。 But now； after the extraordinary night she'd had with Gentle； she found herself wondering how these bright streets