1984

           Heknewthattherewasnodanger,nobodywouldtakeanyinterestinhim. Shedidnotspeak. Shewalkedobliquelyawayacrossthegrassasthoughtryingtogetridofhim,thenseemedtoresignherselftohavinghimatherside. Presentlytheywereinamongaclumpofraggedleaflessshrubs,uselesseitherforconcealmentorasprotectionfromthewind. Theyhalted. Itwasvilelycold. Thewindwhistledthroughthetwigsandfrettedtheoccasional,dirty-lookingcrocuses. Heputhisarmroundherwaist. 

           Therewasnotelescreen,buttheremustbehiddenmicrophones: besides,theycouldbeseen. Itdidnotmatter,nothingmattered. TheycouldhavelaindownonthegroundanddoneTHATiftheyhadwantedto. Hisfleshfrozewithhorroratthethoughtofit. Shemadenoresponsewhatevertotheclaspofhisarm; shedidnoteventrytodisengageherself. Heknewnowwhathadchangedinher. Herfacewassallower,andtherewasalongscar,partlyhiddenbythehair,acrossherforeheadandtemple; butthatwasnotthechange. Itwasthatherwaisthadgrownthicker,and,inasurprisingway,hadstiffened. Herememberedhowonce,aftertheexplosionofarocketbomb,hehadhelpedtodragacorpseoutofsomeruins,andhadbeenastonishednotonlybytheincredibleweightofthething,butbyitsrigidityandawkwardnesstohandle,whichmadeitseemmorelikestonethanflesh. Herbodyfeltlikethat. Itoccurredtohimthatthetextureofherskinwouldbequitedifferentfromwhatithadoncebeen. 

           Hedidnotattempttokissher,nordidtheyspeak. Astheywalkedbackacrossthegrass,shelookeddirectlyathimforthefirsttime. Itwasonlyamomentaryglance,fullofcontemptanddislike. Hewonderedwhetheritwasadislikethatcamepurelyoutofthepastorwhetheritwasinspiredalsobyhisbloatedfaceandthewaterthatthewindkeptsqueezingfromhiseyes.