Then he said sincerely.
'If there is a God, he knows now.'
She looked up at him, so grateful, then embraced him with all the
mingled love and sorrow for persons and places forever lost, and others
found. He held her warmly, and after a time he added.
'At least the season is mild and safe. Perhaps the safest of the
year. We will be free to move about with less worry.'
'And a month from now?' she could not help asking. Then she
looked up quickly, hoping she had not repaid his kindness unfairly.
'It's all right,' he said, knowing her enough by now to read
this in her face. 'In a month I will think of something else. I ask
only this: that you don't punish yourself for what is gone, and what
can never be..... Don't worry for the future, at least today.'
'All right.' She turned toward him, taking both his hands in hers.
'Did I ever tell YOU, Kalus? That I love. . .you?' She looked
into his eyes, her spirit naked before him.
'Yes, my sweet Sylviana. Though you never said the words like this,
you told me many times. You showed me.' He struggled. 'You know
that I would die for you---' She put a finger to his lips.
'Live for me, instead.' And they quietly embraced.
A moment later, Sylviana saw beyond his shoulder the outline of what
appeared to be a stalking predator.
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