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rth at his feet （yes； there were tiles there too； painted with as much love as forest or cloud） was a surfeit of glories： a worm his heel had half…killed was lovely in its knotted agonies。
Nothing was inconsequential here。 Except perhaps； Todd Pickett。 And if that was the case； then he wasn't about to dispute the point。 He would not wish anything here other than the way it was； including…for the first time in his life…himself。
This thought…that he was finally at peace with himself…came over him like a breaking wave； cooling a long and exhausting fever。 If he was nothing here； he thought； except the eyes with which/these strangenesses could be glorified； then that suited him fine。 And if in the end the witnessing burned him up； and made an end to him； that was fine too； perfectly fine； to die here； watching this shining world。 It would hear no plaint from him。
〃You like it？〃
Ah； there was Katya。 Off to his right； a little distance； staring up at the glamorous sky。
He followed her gaze； and saw something he'd missed until now： the sun was three…quarters eclipsed by the moon。 That was why the light was so peculiar here； it was the light of a world in permanent semi…darkness； a murk which had inspired everything that lived here to catch its own particular fire。 To snatch every last gleam of light out of the air and magnify it； to be its own exquisite advertisement。
〃Yes；〃 he said to her； hearing something very close to tears in his voice。 〃I like it very much。〃
〃Not everybody does； of course；〃 she said； glancing over at him。 〃Some I brought here were so afraid that they ran。 And of course； that's not a very smart thing to do here。〃
〃Why not？〃
She wandered over to him； assessing him as she did so； as though to see if he was telling the truth； and that he really liked what he saw。 Apparently satisfied； she laid a light kiss on his cheek： it almost felt as though she was congratulating him。 ing here had been a test； he realized； and he'd passed。
〃You see over there； just beyond the hill？ The deep forest there？〃
〃Yes。〃
〃Then you also see the horsemen ing through the trees？〃
〃They're the reason we shouldn't run？〃
〃They are。〃
〃Why？〃
〃They're hunters。 The Duke Goga； who leads them； counts all these lands as his own。〃
〃They're getting closer。〃
〃Yes they are。〃
〃How is that possible？〃
〃What do you mean？〃
〃I mean： how is it possible that they're getting closer to us？ They're in the walls。〃
〃Is that what you think？〃 she said； ing closer to him。 〃Is that what you really believe？〃
He stood still for a moment； and listened to his heart。 What did his heart tell him？ The wind gusted； cold against his face。 It was not a Californian wind。 Overhead； the sun remained eclipsed； though he knew there was no possible way to see the sky from this deep a place in the house。
〃I'm in another world。〃
〃Good；〃 she said。
〃And it's real。〃
〃Again； good。 And does it trouble you； to be in the middle of such a mystery？〃
〃No；〃 he said。 〃I don't know why and I'm not sure I care。〃
She put her arms around him； holding him tighter than she'd held until now； and looked deep into his eyes； looking deeper than she'd ever looked。 〃It doesn't matter； my love。 Whether it's in my head； or your head； or the head of God…〃
〃…or the Devil？〃
〃…or the Devil。 It doesn't matter。 Not to us。〃 She spoke the last three words as a near whisper； close to his ear。 He kissed her。 He realized now how cannily she'd led him…teasing him with outlandish visions…ghosts and ungodly pleasures； slowly deconstructing his beliefs about what was real and what was not。 All in preparation for this wonder of wonders。
〃Nothing matters to us； huh？〃 he said between kisses。
〃We're above it all；〃 she said。 As she spoke she put her hand down between his legs。 He was like a rock。
〃You want to make love to me？〃
〃Of course I do。〃
〃You want to go back up to bed？〃
〃No。 I want to do it right here。〃 He pointed to the hard ground at their feet。
Again； she laughed。 This new…found fire in him seemed to entertain her。 She lifted up her dress； so that he could have sight of her。 She was naked。
〃Lie down；〃 he told her。
She did so without a second instruction； lifting and parting her legs as she lay at his feet； so that he should have full disclosure of her。 She ran her hand over herself。 Into the groove； and out again； wet； to touch her anus。 He could hear the rhythm of the hunters' horses in the ground underfoot。 Duke Goga and his party were getting closer。 Todd glanced up towards the trees。 He could no longer see the men： the forest had bee too deep。 But they were nearby。
No matter。 He could watch the hunters another day。 Right now he had sport of his own。 He unbuttoned his pants and let his dick spring out。 Katya sat up instantly and took it in her hand； rubbing it。 〃So big。〃
Maybe it was； maybe it wasn't。 He liked the fact that she said it； and there was an appetite for it in her eyes； the likes of which he'd never seen on a woman's face before。 She started to pull on his cock； not to pleasure him； simply to bring him down to her； into her。
He went down on his knees between her legs。 Such was the lightness of her dress that it could be lifted up almost to her neck； to expose her belly and breasts。 He put his face down against her flat stomach； licking her navel then going up to her breasts。 It had always been a fantasy of his to wash a woman with his tongue； every inch of her； from the corners of her eyes； to the cleft of her buttocks； simply to be her servant； bathing her with his tongue。 This was the woman he would realize that fantasy with； he knew。 This was the woman he would realize every fantasy with； and hers was the body with which he could play freely； doing anything his heart desired； anything。
That was the only word of this sexual delirium that escaped him： 〃。。。anything。〃
But she seemed to know what it meant because she raised his face from her breasts； and smiled at him。 〃Yes； I know；〃 she said。 〃Anything you want。 And for me…〃
〃Anything you want。〃
〃Yes。〃
She took hold of the collar of his shirt； and drew his face closer to hers。 They kissed； while she moved beneath him； seeming not to care about the hard dirt against her naked buttocks； her naked back。 He had his hands either side of her； to support himself。 But that was all he needed to do。 She was perfectly capable of doing the rest。 She lifted her hips a little and caught the head of his cock between her labia； then； sighing； she delivered herself up and upon it in one sweet motion。
Now she put her arms around his neck； and let out a most extraordinary sigh： a sound of plete abandonment。
Todd looked down at her face with something that began to feel like helpless adoration。 The polishers who'd put a shine on everything in this strange world must have saved their best labors for her。 The down on her cheek； the dark curve of her lashes； the fabulous hierarchy of lilacs and blues and turquoise in her eyes； all were perfect。 She was almost unbearably beautiful： his eyes stung at the sight of her。
〃I love you；〃 he said。
The words came out with such ease that they