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time with one another you'll see what's really going on here。〃
〃And what's that？〃
She half…turned from him； as though she might leave； which was the last thing he wanted her to do。 〃You know maybe we'd be better leaving this for another night；〃 she said。
〃No；〃 he said hurriedly。 She halted； but didn't turn back。
〃I'm sorry；〃 he said。 They were rare words from his mouth。 〃Truly？〃 she said。 Still she didn't turn。 He found himself longing to feel her gaze on him； as though…absurd as this was…she might go some way to filling the void in him。
〃Please；〃 he said。 〃I'm truly sorry。〃
〃All right；〃 she said； apparently placated。 She looked back at him。 〃You're forgiven。 For now。〃
〃So tell me what I've missed。 In the house。〃
〃Oh； all that can wait。〃
〃At least give me a clue。〃
〃Have you been downstairs？ I mean all the way down to the bottom？〃
〃No。〃
〃Then don't；〃 she said； lowering her head and looking up at him with a veiled gaze。 〃I'll take you there myself。〃
〃Take me now；〃 he said； thinking it would be a good opportunity to find out how real all her claims were。 〃No； not tonight。〃
〃Why not？〃
〃It's Oscar Night。〃
〃So？〃
〃So it's got you all stirred up。 Look at you。 You think you can drink the pain away？ It doesn't work。 Everyone here's tried that at some point or other…〃
〃Everyone？〃
〃In the Canyon。 There are a lot of people here who are feeling exactly like you tonight。〃
〃And how's that？〃
〃Oh； just wishing they'd had a few prizes for their efforts。〃
〃Well they don't give Oscars to actors like me。〃
〃Why not？〃
〃I guess they don't think I'm very good。〃
〃And what do you think？〃
He mused on this for a moment。 Then he said： 〃Most of the time I'm just being me； I guess。〃
〃That's a performance；〃 Katya said。 〃People think it's easy。 But it's not。 Being yourself。。。that's hard。〃
It was strange to hear it put that way； but she was right。 It wasn't easy； playing yourself。 If you let your attention drop for a moment； there was nothing there for the camera to look at。 Nothing behind the eyes。 He'd seen it； in his own performances and in those of others： moments when the concentration lapsed for a few seconds and the unforgiving lens revealed a vast vapidity。
〃I know how it hurts；〃 she said； 〃not to be appreciated。〃
〃I get a lot of other stuff； you know。〃
〃The other stuff being money。〃
〃Yes。 And celebrity。〃
〃And half the time you think： it doesn't matter； anyway。 They're all ignoramuses at the Academy； voting for their friends。 What do you want from them？ But you're not really convinced。 In your heart you want their worthless little statues。 You want them to tell you they know how much you work to be perfect。〃
He was astonished at this。 She had articulated what he'd felt on a decade of Oscar Nights； an absurd mixture of contempt and envy。 It was as though she was reading his mind。 〃How did you figure all that out？〃
〃Because I've felt the same things。 You want them to love you； but you hate yourself for wanting it。 Their love isn't worth anything； and you know it。〃
〃But you still want it。〃
〃You still want it。〃
〃Damn。〃
〃Meaning yes？〃
〃Yes。 That's it。 You got me。〃
It felt good； for once； to be understood。 Not the usual nodding； what…ever…you…say…Mr。…Pickett bullshit； but some genuine prehension of the mess inside him。 Which made the mystery of its source all the stranger。 One minute she was telling him lies （how could she possibly have known Brahms as a child？） the next she was seeing into his soul。 〃If you really do own this house；〃 he said； 〃why don't you live in it？〃
〃Because there are too many memories here；〃 she said simply。 〃Good and bad。 I walk in here and；〃 she smiled； though the smile was thin； 〃it's filled with ghosts。〃
〃So why not move away？〃
〃Out of Coldheart Canyon？ I can't。〃
〃Are you going to tell me why？〃
〃Another time。 This is a bad time to tell that story。〃 She passed her delicate hand over her face； and for a moment； as the veil of her fingers covered her features； he saw her retreat from her beauty； as though for a moment the performance of selfhood was too much for her。 〃You ask me a question；〃 he suggested。
Her hand dropped away。 The light shone out of her face again。 〃You swear you'll answer me truthfully if I do？〃
〃Sure。〃
〃Swear。〃
〃I said so。〃
〃Does it hurt behind the bandages？〃
〃Oh。〃
〃You said you'd answer me。〃
〃I know。 And I will。 It's unfortable； I'll tell you that。 But it doesn't really hurt anymore。 Not like it used to。 I just wish I'd never messed with this。 I mean； why couldn't I be happy the way I was？〃
〃Because nobody is。 We're always looking for something we haven't got。 If we weren't； we wouldn't be human。〃
〃Is that why you came spying on me？〃 he said； matching her mischief with some of his own。 〃Looking for something you haven't got？〃
〃I'm sorry。 It was rude of me： watching you； I mean。 Spying。 You've as much right to your privacy as I have to mine。 And it's hard to protect yourself sometimes。 You don't know who's a friend and who's not。 That can make you crazy。〃 Her eyes flashed； and the playfulness was back。 〃Then again； sometimes it's good to be crazy。〃
〃Yes？〃
〃Oh sure。 Sometimes it's the only thing keeps you sane。〃
〃You're obviously talking from experience。〃
〃Of getting crazy once in a while？ Sure。 I'm talking from intimate experience。〃
〃Care to give me an example？〃
〃You don't want to know。 Really you don't。 Some of the things I've done in this very room。。。〃
〃Tell me。〃
〃I wouldn't know where to begin。〃
Her gaze flitted off around the room； as though she was looking for some cue for her memories。 If it was an act； it was a very good one。 In fact this whole performance was looking better and better。
Finally； she said： 〃We used to play poker here。 Sometimes roulette。〃
〃Marco and I figured that out。〃
〃Sometimes；〃 she said； her gaze returning to him； 〃I was the prize。〃
〃You？〃
〃Me。〃
〃I don't think I understand。〃
〃You understand perfectly well。〃
〃You'd give yourself to the winner？〃
〃See？ You understood。 I didn't do it every night。 I'm not that much of a slut。〃 She was smiling as she spoke； lapping up his disbelief。 She began to walk towards him； slowly； matching her approach to the rhythm of her words。 〃But on the nights when you need to be crazy…〃
〃What did you give them？ A kiss！〃
〃Pah！ A kiss！ As if I'd be satisfied with so little。 No！ Down on the floor in front of the losers； that's what I'd give them。 Like dogs； if we felt like it。〃
The way she stared at the ground as she spoke； it was clear she was remembering something very specific。 The subtlest of motions went through her； as though her body was recalling the sensation of pressing back against a man； to take him； all of him； inside her。
〃Supposing somebody won that you didn't like？〃
〃There was no such man。 Not here； in my house。 They were all gods。 Beautiful men； every single one。 Some of them were crude at first。 But I taught them。〃 She was watching Todd closely as she spoke； measuring his response。 〃You like hearing this？〃
He nodded。 It wasn't quite th