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           Sheunderstoodinpartwhyhefeltso,andperhapsbecauseherowncareerlayinanotoriouslynarcissisticprofession,sheratherapprovedofhisattitudetowardhisappearance.Whatshecouldn’tbegintounderstandwaswhyhepositivelyloathedhislooks,insteadofsimplyignoringthem.

           Norwashehighlysexed,forwhatreasonshewasn’tsure:whetherhehadtaughthimselftosublimatehispassionsalmostperfectly,orwhetherinspiteofhisbodilyendowmentssomenecessarycerebralessencewasinshortsupply.Probablytheformer,sinceheplayedsomesortofvigoroussporteverydayofhislifetomakesurehewenttobedexhausted.Sheknewverywellthathisinclinationswere"normal,"thatis,heterosexual,andsheknewwhattypeofgirlappealedtohim—tall,darkandvoluptuous.Buthejustwasn’tsensuallyaware;hedidn’tnoticethefeelofthingswhenheheldthem,ortheodorsintheairaroundhim,orunderstandthespecialsatisfactionofshapeandcolor.Beforeheexperiencedasexualpulltheprovocativeobject’simpacthadtobeirresistible,andonlyatsuchraremomentsdidheseemtorealizetherewasanearthlyplanemostmentrod,ofchoice,foraslongastheypossiblycould.

           HetoldherbackstageattheCulloden,afteraperformance.IthadbeensettledwithRomethatday;hewasdyingtotellherandyetheknewshewasn’tgoingtolikeit.Hisreligiousambitionsweresomethinghehadneverdiscussedwithherasmuchashewantedto,forshebecameangry.