And you wanted no part of me when I had so much to give.

As I dug in behind one of the bales we were using as protection, I grudgingly found myself agreeing with Oso's logic, especially when I imagined what would have happened to Missy if Old Knife's large party of screeching warriors had overrun our company.

In the brief moment I had to talk to them before I took my post on the ring of defenses, I indicated I was sickened by the methods men employed to live and trade on the river.

Next to him was a young boy I was sure had sat near me at one of the trading sessions.

At first I thought he had missed.

I saw the clergyman kneel for a moment by the twitching body of the man he had shot, then run back to his position.

Later I would remember what this pompous little man had told me about the worth of a ticket.

One afternoon, upon receiving permission and the necessary instructions from the clerk, I had visited the toilet adjoining the hall.

For although I had crossed a corner of the hall on my way to the toilet I still could not tell for sure how far to the rear the darkness extended.

I could observe the two fans down at the end, but their size in themselves meant nothing to me as long as I had no measure of comparison.

I had for some time been hoping, in vain, for one of the dim figures to pass between the fan vents and myself.

It was, I felt, possible that they were men who, having received no tickets for that day, had remained in the hall, to sleep perhaps, in the corners farthest removed from the counter with its overhead light.

And I had hardly finished my business in the toilet on the aforementioned occasion when the lights in that place, like the hall lights controlled from the switch in the office, flicked off and on impatiently.

I had signed it off on the forms.

Although I had been inside it I had not yet seen it functioning.

I remember being told it would happen so fast people would think it took place overnight.

`` I thought I told you to stay home ''.

I was shown, instead, a batch of white tickets of the sort handed out, he told me, every morning.

Though I doubted that he would understand me, I told the director my motives for applying.

I just do what I'm told, and '' --

I was waiting in front of it when she showed up and told me of my Uncle's indisposition.

I was aware of a humid look in her eyes that told me the time was opportune.

When I show up he will know you are a good wife to have told him about it ''.

I felt that he looked at me coldly and appraisingly and seemed to be uncertain what his attitude towards me should be, but he did not say one word which might indicate that he had been told of advances to his wife.

Though I had a great dread of the island and felt I would never leave it alive, I eagerly wrote down everything she told me about its women.

I told him no, that I had had a very happy childhood.

My great-grandmother, I have been told, made her garden her great pride ; ;

After making a short statement about human rights, and the freedom to travel, I told them I would be going to the Kehl bridge the next morning in order to cross the Rhine into Germany.

`` Well, I might not get that far '', I told them, `` as actually I have no papers to enter Germany and, as a matter of fact, no permit to return to France once I leave ''.

`` No, I have no permission to enter Germany '', I told him.

I just can't take any chances on getting her pregnant, and if we were sleeping together ''

`` I saw your fire '', she said, speaking slowly, making an effort to control her anger.

`` I won't force Beth to come against her will.

`` Got a lot to tend to, but I'll get back quick as I can '', he assured her.

`` I've got her as neat as I can '', Donovan said, as he dropped the straps of the Seton harness over Greg's shoulders.

I let up on the accelerator, only to gradually reach again the 60 m.p.h. which would, I hoped, overhaul Herry and the blonde, and as there were cars whose drivers apparently had something more important to catch than had I, Mrs. Major Roebuck settled down to practicing on Corporal Johnson the kittenish wiles she would need when making her duty call on Colonel and Mrs. Somebody in Sante Fe.

How lightly her `` eventshah-leh '' passed into the crannies where I was storing dialect material for some vaguely dreamed opus, and how the word would echo.

I guided her to the divan, turned off the TV, faced her.

She was still hugging the stained coat around her, so I said, `` Relax, let me take your things.

She stood up, pulled the coat from her shoulders and started to slide it off, then let out a high-pitched scream and I let out a low-pitched, wobbling sound like a muffler blowing out.

There had been a good second or two during which my muffler had been blowing out, and now I was certain I'd seen her somewhere before.

I sat by her on the divan.

She realized I'd have to notify the police, but fervently hoped I could avoid mentioning her name.

But I promised Joyce I would mention her name, if at all, only as a last resort.

I showed her the shower and tub, and she said, smiling, `` If you really don't mind, I think I'll get clean in the shower, then soak for a few minutes in your tub.

One Monday morning I saw him approach the store with a woman and introduce me to her as my new Aunt.

You must forgive me if I seem to dwell too much on her physical aspects but I am an artist, accustomed to studying the physical body.

And that is the way I first saw her when my Uncle brought her into his antique store.