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rest； for it is in man's study of himself； wherein all other studies find their origin； that he most closely contemplates perfection。
These； reader； are my wisest friends； who among them have learned what I have not； knowledge that in prior times was foreign to all men。 One by one they have agreed to my single demand： each man； unbeknownst to the others； devised a riddle to which only I and he know the solution； and which only another lover of knowledge could solve。 These riddles； in turn； I have placed within my text in fragments； according to a pattern I have told to no man； and the answer alone can produce my true words。
All this I have done； reader； to protect my secret； but also to transmit it to you； should you find what I have written。 Solve but two more riddles； and I will begin to reveal the nature of my crypt。
Katie didn't wake me up the next morning to go running。 The rest of that week； in fact； I spoke to her roommates and to her answering machine； but never to Katie herself。 Blinded by the progress I was making with Paul； I didn't see how the landscape of my life was eroding。 The jogging paths and coffee shops fell away as our distance grew。 Katie didn't eat with me at Cloister anymore； but I hardly noticed； because for weeks I rarely ate there myself： Paul and I traveled like rats through the tunnels between Dod and Ivy； avoiding daylight； ignoring the sounds of bicker above our heads； buying coffee and boxed sandwiches at the all…night WaWa off campus so that we could work and eat on our own schedule。
The whole time； Katie was only one floor removed from me； trying not to bite her nails as she moved from clique to clique； searching for the right balance between assertiveness and pliance so that upperclassmen would look on her favorably。 That she wouldn't have wanted my interference in her life at that moment was a conclusion I'd e to almost from the beginning； another excuse for spending long days and late nights with Paul。 That she might've appreciated some pany； a friendly face to return to at night； a panion as her mornings grew darker and colder…that she would've expected my support even more now that she'd e to the first important crossroads in her time at Princeton…was something I was too preoccupied to consider。 I never imagined that bicker might've been a trial for her； an experience that tested her tenacity much more than her charm。 I was a stranger to her； I never knew what she went through on those Ivy nights。
The club accepted her； Gil told me the following week。 He was bracing himself for a long night of breaking the news； good and bad； to each candidate。 Parker Hassett had thrown some roadblocks in Katie's way； fixing on her as a special object of his anger； probably because he knew she was one of Gil's favorites； but even Parker came around in the end。 The induction ceremony for the new section was the following week； after initiations； and the annual Ivy ball was slated for Easter weekend。 Gil listed the events so carefully that I realized he was telling me something。 These were my chances to fix things with Katie。 This was the calendar of my rehabilitation。
If so； then I was no better a boyfriend than I'd been a Boy Scout。 Love； deflected from its proper object； had found a new one。 In the weeks that ensued； I saw less and less of Gil； and nothing at all of Katie。 I heard a rumor that she had taken an interest in an upperclassman at Ivy； a new version of her old lacrosse player； a man in a yellow hat to my Curious George。 But by then Paul had found another riddle； and we'd both started to wonder what secret lay in Colonna's crypt。 An old mantra； long dormant； rose up from its slumber and prepared for another season of life。
Make no friends； and kick the old。
All I want is silver and gold。
Chapter 17
I wake in daylight to the sound of a phone。 The clock reads half…past nine。 Stumbling out of bed； I get to the cordless before it can wake Paul。
〃Were you sleeping？〃 is the first thing Katie says。
〃Sort of。〃
〃I can't believe that was Bill Stein。〃
〃Neither can we。 What's going on？〃
〃I'm at the newsroom。 Can you e over？〃
〃Now？〃
〃You're busy？〃
There's something I don't like in her voice； a touch of distance I'm awake just enough to notice。
〃Let me jump in the shower。 I'll be there in fifteen minutes。〃
I'm already undressing when she hangs up the phone。
While I get ready； I've got two things on my mind： Stein and Katie。 They toggle in my thoughts like someone flicking a switch to check a bulb。 In the light I see her； but in the dark I see Dickinson courtyard； canvassed in snow； in the silence after the ambulance has left。
Back at our quad； I throw my clothes on in the mon room； trying not to rouse Paul。 Searching for my watch； I notice something： the room's even cleaner than when I went to bed。 Someone has straightened the rugs and emptied the trash cans。 A bad sign。 Charlie didn't sleep last night。
Then I catch sight of a message written on the whiteboard。
Tom…
Couldn't sleep。 Gone to Ivy for more work。 Call when you're up。
…P。
Back in the bedroom； Paul's bunk is empty。 Looking at the whiteboard again； I spot the numbers above the text： 2：15。 He's been gone all night。
I raise the receiver again； about to dial the President's Room； when I hear the voicemail tone。
Friday； the automated voice says when I punch in the digits。 Eleven fifty…four P。 M。
What follows is the call I missed； the one that must have e while Paul and I were at the museum。
Tom； it's Katie。 A pause。 I'm not sure where you are。 Maybe you're already on your way over。 Karen and Trish want to serve birthday cake now。 I told them to wait for you。 Another pause。 I guess I'll see you when you get here。
The phone is hot in my hand。 The black…and…white photo I bought for her birthday looks dull in its frame； a cheaper thing than it was yesterday。 To name a photographer other than Ansel Adams and Mathew Brady； I'd had to ask around。 I never learned enough about Katie's pastime to feel confident about her taste。 Thinking it over； I decide not to bring the photo with me。
On the walk to the Prince office； I keep a brisk pace。 Katie meets me at the entrance and leads me toward the darkroom； locking and unlocking doors as we go。 She's dressed the same way she was at Holder： in a T…shirt and an old pair of jeans。 Her hair is pulled back crookedly； as if she wasn't expecting pany； and the neck of her shirt is bent out of shape。 I can see a gold necklace crossing her collarbone on one side； and near the thigh of her jeans my eyes linger on a tiny hole where the white of her skin peeks through。
〃Tom；〃 she says； pointing to someone at a puter in the corner； 〃there's someone I want you to meet。 This is Sam Felton。〃
Sam smiles as if she knows me。 She's dressed in field hockey…issue sweatpants and a long…sleeve shirt that says IF JOURNALISM WERE EASY； NEWSWEEK WOULD DO IT。After reaching for a button on the microrecorder beside her； she pulls the bud of an earphone out of one ear。
〃Your date tonight？〃 she says to Katie； just to make sure she heard right。
Katie says yes； but doesn't add what I expect： my boyfriend。
〃Sam's w