Chapter 32

           BENCAXTONHADAWAKENEDnotknowingwherehewasnorwhattimeitwas.Itwasdarkaroundhim,perfectlyquiet,hewaslyingonsomethingsoft.Notabed–wherewashe?

           Thenightcamebackinarush.ThelastheclearlyrememberedhehadbeenlyingonthesoftflooroftheInnermostTemple,talkingquietlyandintimatelywithDawn.Shehadtakenhimthere,theyhadimmersed,sharedwater,growncloser–franticallyhereachedaroundhiminthedark,foundnothing.

           "Dawn!"

           Lightswelledsoftlytoagentledimness."Here,Ben."

           "Oh!Ithoughtyouhadgone!"

           "Ididn’tintendtowakeyou."Shewaswearing–tohissuddenandintensedisappointment–herrobeofoffice."ImustgostarttheSunrisers’OuterService.Gillianisn’tbackyet.Asyouknow,itwasafairlybigclass."

           Herwordsbroughtbacktohimthingsshehadtoldhimlastnightthingswhich,atthetime,hadupsethimdespitehergentleandquitelogicalexplanations?andshehadsoothedhisupsetuntilhefoundhimselfagreeingwithher.Hestillwasnotquitestraightinhismindhedidn’tgrokitall–but,yes,Jillwasprobablystillbusywithherritesashighpriestess–atask,orperhapsahappyduty,thatDawnhadofferedtotakeforher.BenfeltatwingethathereallyshouldhavebeensorrythatJillhadrefused,hadinsistedthatDawngetmuchneededrest.

           Buthedidnotfeelsorry."Dawn?doyouhavetoleave?"Hescrambledtohisfeet,puthisarmsaroundher.

           "Imustgo,Bendear?dearBen."Shemeltedupagainsthim.