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           Herkeelandfalsekeelaredowntherenow—andsound.ShelterIslandvirginoaktheywere,andherkneestoo."

           "How’ditstart?"

           "Ineverthoughtitstarted.Iwasashore."

           "Who’dwanttoburnher?"

           "Why,herowners."

           "Youownedher."

           "Iwashalf-owner.Icouldn’tburnaship.I’dliketoseethosetimbers—liketoseewhatshapethey’rein."

           "Youcangonow,Cap’n,sir."

           "That’sslimfaretohateon."

           "It’sbetterthannothing.I’llgetthatkeelup—soonasI’mrich.I’lldothatforyou—linethethirdrockwithPortyPointathighwater,fiftyfathomsout."Iwasnotsleeping.MyfistsandforearmswererigidandpressedagainstmystomachtopreventoldCap’nfromfading,butwhenIlethimgo,sleeplappedoverme.

           WhenPharaohhadadreamhecalledintheexpertsandtheytoldhimhowitwasandwouldbeinthekingdom,andthatwasrightbecausehewasthekingdom.Whensomeofushaveadream,wetakeittoanexpertandhetellsushowitisinthecountryofourselves.Ihadadreamthatdidn’tneedanexpert.Likemostmodernpeople,Idon’tbelieveinprophecyormagicandthenspendhalfmytimepracticingit.

           InthespringtimeAllen,feelinglowandlonely,announcedthathewasanatheisttopunishGodandhisparents.Itoldhimnottogooutonalimborhewouldn’thaveleewaytonotwalkunderladdersandcancelblackcatswithspitandthumbandwishonthenewmoon.

           Peoplewhoaremostafraidoftheirdreamsconvincethemselvestheydon’tdreamatall.