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“She ran down the street and round the corner and up two more streets and crossed the road. ‘Will I be safe from him?â€� the girl had said. And will I be safe from Samuel? She reached her car and threw her bag on the front seat and sat holding the steering wheel. Where to go, where to run to?”
― A MAN WHO SEEMED REAL: A story of love, lies, fear and kindness
― A MAN WHO SEEMED REAL: A story of love, lies, fear and kindness

“«La muerte no es más que una transición de esta vida a otra existencia donde ya no hay dolor ni angustia.”
― Sobre el duelo y el dolor
― Sobre el duelo y el dolor

“I also fear an attack directly upon us which shall be considerably aided by the French colonists! I therefore support your plan to act first and stage a preemptive strike against the French by launching “Operation Bright Moonâ€�, which is now the code name for the Japanese coup d Ä›tat which will disarm the Vichy French Forces by or during the 9th of March 1945!â€� Â
(A Gracious Enemy & After the War Volume Two)”
―
(A Gracious Enemy & After the War Volume Two)”
―

“I walked past Malison, up Lower Main to Main and across the road. I didn’t need to look to know he was behind me. I entered Royal Wood, went a short way along a path and waited. It was cool and dim beneath the trees. When Malison entered the Wood, I continued eastward.Â
I wanted to place his body in hallowed ground. He was born a Mearan. The least I could do was send him to Loric. The distance between us closed until he was on my heels. He chose to come, I told myself, as if that lessened the crime I planned. He chose what I have to offer.
We were almost to the cemetery before he asked where we were going. I answered with another question. “Do you like living in the High Lord’s kitchens?�
He, of course, replied, “No.�
“Well, we’re going to a better place.�
When we reached the edge of the Wood, I pushed aside a branch to see the Temple of Loric and Calec’s cottage. No smoke was coming from the chimney, and I assumed the old man was yet abed. His pony was grazing in the field of graves. The sun hid behind a bank of clouds.
Malison moved beside me. “It’s a graveyard.�
“Are you afraid of ghosts?� I asked.
“My father’s a ghost,� he whispered.
I asked if he wanted to learn how to throw a knife. He said, “Yes,â€� as I knew he would. He untucked his shirt, withdrew the knife he had stolen and gave it to me. It was a thick-bladed, single-edged knife, better suited for dicing celery than slitting a young throat. But it would serve my purpose. That I also knew. I’d spent all night projecting how the morning would unfold and, except for indulging in the tea, it had happened as I had imagined.Â
Damut kissed her son farewell. Malison followed me of his own free will. Without fear, he placed the instrument of his death into my hand. We were at the appointed place, at the appointed time. The stolen knife was warm from the heat of his body. I had only to use it. Yet I hesitated, and again prayed for Sythene to show me a different path.
“Aren’t you going to show me?â€� Malison prompted, as if to echo my prayer.”
― Sheever's Journal, Diary of a Poison Master
I wanted to place his body in hallowed ground. He was born a Mearan. The least I could do was send him to Loric. The distance between us closed until he was on my heels. He chose to come, I told myself, as if that lessened the crime I planned. He chose what I have to offer.
We were almost to the cemetery before he asked where we were going. I answered with another question. “Do you like living in the High Lord’s kitchens?�
He, of course, replied, “No.�
“Well, we’re going to a better place.�
When we reached the edge of the Wood, I pushed aside a branch to see the Temple of Loric and Calec’s cottage. No smoke was coming from the chimney, and I assumed the old man was yet abed. His pony was grazing in the field of graves. The sun hid behind a bank of clouds.
Malison moved beside me. “It’s a graveyard.�
“Are you afraid of ghosts?� I asked.
“My father’s a ghost,� he whispered.
I asked if he wanted to learn how to throw a knife. He said, “Yes,â€� as I knew he would. He untucked his shirt, withdrew the knife he had stolen and gave it to me. It was a thick-bladed, single-edged knife, better suited for dicing celery than slitting a young throat. But it would serve my purpose. That I also knew. I’d spent all night projecting how the morning would unfold and, except for indulging in the tea, it had happened as I had imagined.Â
Damut kissed her son farewell. Malison followed me of his own free will. Without fear, he placed the instrument of his death into my hand. We were at the appointed place, at the appointed time. The stolen knife was warm from the heat of his body. I had only to use it. Yet I hesitated, and again prayed for Sythene to show me a different path.
“Aren’t you going to show me?â€� Malison prompted, as if to echo my prayer.”
― Sheever's Journal, Diary of a Poison Master

“But that was always the case â€� people hardly ever saw their children as they really were.”
― A Fine Balance
― A Fine Balance
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