Chapter 8

           Outside,inthedustandamongthegarbage(therewerefourdogsnow),BernardandJohnwerewalkingslowlyupanddown.

           "Sohardformetorealize,"Bernardwassaying,"toreconstruct.Asthoughwewerelivingondifferentplanets,indifferentcenturies.Amother,andallthisdirt,andgods,andoldage,anddisease..."Heshookhishead."It’salmostinconceivable.Ishallneverunderstand,unlessyouexplain."

           "Explainwhat?"

           "This."Heindicatedthepueblo."That."Anditwasthelittlehouseoutsidethevillage."Everything.Allyourlife."

           "Butwhatistheretosay?"

           "Fromthebeginning.Asfarbackasyoucanremember."

           "AsfarbackasIcanremember."Johnfrowned.Therewasalongsilence.

           Itwasveryhot.Theyhadeatenalotoftortillasandsweetcorn.Lindasaid,"Comeandliedown,Baby."Theylaydowntogetherinthebigbed."Sing,"andLindasang.Sang"Streptocock-GeetoBanbury-T"and"ByeBabyBanting,soonyou’llneeddecanting."Hervoicegotfainterandfainter...

           Therewasaloudnoise,andhewokewithastart.AmanwassayingsomethingtoLinda,andLindawaslaughing.Shehadpulledtheblanketuptoherchin,butthemanpulleditdownagain.Hishairwasliketwoblackropes,androundhisarmwasalovelysilverbraceletwithbluestonesinit.Helikedthebracelet;butallthesame,hewasfrightened;hehidhisfaceagainstLinda’sbody.Lindaputherhandonhimandhefeltsafer.