When they were finally satisfied, Jones said, `` I think he's going to give us work ''.

I have to think about it.

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

`` I think Montero did right '', Amy said firmly.

I don't know what makes you think you can get away with this kind of business, and I don't care about that, either.

`` I think you stink, Tom Lord!!

I think you're mean and hateful and stupid, and -- louder ''??

You think that Highlands swindled you and I helped 'em do it.

But there's one thing I never seen or heard of, one thing I just don't think there is, and that's a sportin' way o' killin' a man ''!!

`` But I still think Penny's an awful nice girl, Russ '' --

`` No, I remembered reading about you in the papers and that you lived here, and when it happened all I could think of was '' -- This time she stopped the rush of words herself.

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.

However, when there's a job to be done, I'm a monstrosity of grim determination, I like to think.

I worked for my Uncle ( an Uncle by marriage so you will not think this has a mild undercurrent of incest ) who ran one of those antique shops in New Orleans' Vieux Carre, the old French Quarter.

If I even hint at it do you think it will matter that you are his nephew -- and not even a blood nephew ''??

`` I don't want to be thrown out and I don't think I will.

I think I have a way so we can carry on without his suspecting us ''.

and now I think we can use the knowledge they passed on to us.

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

Where I go, she goes -- and the kids with us.

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.

`` And I so want the part '', she said.

As far as I was concerned, she had already and had dandily shown what she could do.

Seeming much relieved, she smiled one of those worth-waiting-for smiles, and I smiled all the way into the bedroom.

True, she was my Aunt, married to an Uncle related to me only by marriage, but why she had married a man twice her age, and more, perhaps, I did not know or much care.

Something clicked in this instance, but I treated her circumspectly and I felt that she knew it, for we both kept our distance.

And then I became aware that she, too, glanced at me surreptitiously.

I felt that her eyes were undressing me as if she were a painter and I a nude model.

Why she married him I do not know.

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

Even as she was telling me about it I became aware of a give-away flush that suffused her neck and moved upwards to her cheeks, and subconsciously I realized that when she entered the store she did not switch on the lights.

`` That was a terrible thing to do '', I said to Oso.

`` But that was war '', I said.

Still, I was disgusted with myself for agreeing with Montero's methods.

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.

Now under me I could see him for what he really was, a boy dressed up in streaks of paint.

Such was my state of mind that I did not question the possibility of this ; ;

under the circumstances I was only too willing to confess all.

I was nearly thirty at the time.

It was dark and, I sensed, very large ; ;

Sometimes I was aware of people moving about in the darkness.

This impressed me, until I realized how limited was his sphere of influence.

I felt certain he was really a spineless little man.

Once, pressing him, I learned that his job was only part-time, in the afternoons when nothing went on in the hall.

In the mornings, I was informed, fluorescent tubes, similar to the one above the counter, illuminated the entire hall.

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

Now, here was something of obvious importance to me, yet when I reached for the tickets he snatched them away from my hand.

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.

I felt certain it was self-appointed.

I decided to see no more of the clerk until the processing of my papers was completed.

I was constantly searching for clues around the neighborhood of the hall.