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Leadem, Christopher

"The Mantooth"

' She took a deep breath
and rolled onto her back in frustration. But still the warmth that was
in her made her reach out and touch his face, his neck.
'The only thing that frightens me is not knowing what you're
feeling. You never tell me. You keep it all inside. I know it hurts,
Kalus, a lot. But you have to try. I'm not going to judge you, or
think you're weak..... I care for you very much. In my way. . .I
love you.' Kalus gripped the edge of the fur and curled it tightly in
his hand, as if needing to use his body over mind. The night was quiet
and still around them.
'I don't know what we'll do if he doesn't come back.'
'Well, what are our choices?' She truly wanted to know, and she
thought it might give him something concrete to discuss. She knew, or
thought she knew, he didn't deal well with abstractions.
As he spoke the words, Kalus felt reluctance giving way. Almost it came
as a relief to let go. And as he spoke it took his mind from the place
they were, and into something like a dream, however real, that gave him
some escape from himself. Though his worry was not abated.
'I've thought about returning to Carak Mesa, where my people live
in warmer weather. There are several caves, joined by short
passageways, and one chamber that is large enough for all of us.


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