She was appalled by his
apparent calmness.
'You've got to DO something. You've got to swim out and get
it.' But he only shook his head, clearing his eyes with the back of
his wrist.
'Would you have me drowned for a piece of wood?'
'But how can you be so indifferent?'
'I am not indifferent, if only for the pains it cost me. But I have
not yet given up hope that the boat will return to us. The tide took it
out, perhaps the waves will bring it back farther north. And if it is
lost, I think I can now construct a better one, more worthy of our
trust.'
'But you worked so hard to bring us here.'
'Yes,' he said. 'I raged at both the sea and wind, cursing
them and calling them demons. Then, when I surrendered in despair,
something pulled us through, and gave us another chance. We are far out
on this limb, Sylviana. We must believe in something. I will trust in
the Tao that I have found, and which in all my life, has never fully
betrayed me.'
But now he drew back. His eyes grew hazy, and far less confident. He
paused as if in fear, for all his resolve, at the words he must now say
to her.
'I give you your freedom, also..... I LOVE you. But whatever is to
come, I cannot chain you to me. You must return to me, if you would, of
your own free will.
Pages:
252
253
254
255
256
257
258
259
260
261
262
263
264
265
266
267
268
269
270
271
272
273
274
275
276