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</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">Word count 1,247</font></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
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</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><font face="Times New Roman"><font size="3">My submission this month is the beginning of a short story.
At least I hope to keep it<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></font><font size="3">to that
scale.</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font size="3"> </font></span><font size="3">I can’t give a disclaimer about
the end because I only have a vague idea of what that will be. The characters
have sort of taken over and I hae to let them speak.</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font size="3"> </font></span><font size="3">This is a first draft, but carefully edited.</font></font></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><o:p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font></o:p></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">The title will p;robably be changed.</font></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><o:p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font></o:p></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><o:p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font></o:p></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><o:p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font></o:p></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">See you next Tuesday.</font></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><o:p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font></o:p></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">Leonard</font></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><o:p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font></o:p></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">-------</font></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><o:p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font></o:p></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">Art and Character</font></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
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</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><font face="Times New Roman"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font size="3"> </font></span><font size="3">By </font></font></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><o:p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font></o:p></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">Leonard Tuchyner</font></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><o:p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font></o:p></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><o:p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font></o:p></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><o:p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font></o:p></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><font face="Times New Roman"><font size="3">The Master Artisan came to call upon Lord Forester, who had
been expecting her, for the news had blown in on the wind. She arrived on a
river sailboat, whose billowing silver sails were as pretty as a picture.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></font><font size="3">The Forest Lord greeted her on a wharf of
polished river rock sculpted by river millennium fairies for over a thousand
years. The Lord was dressed in his finery of bark-brown leggings and
boots.</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font size="3"> </font></span><font size="3">His chest bore a pine-green tunic
wrapped in a rhododendron-purple cloak.</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font size="3">
</font></span><font size="3">His hair was the texture of thistle. </font></font></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><o:p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font></o:p></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">“Welcome to my woodlands, My Lady,” he said, extending a
hand to escort the beautiful Master Artisan. “You look absolutely marvelous.
Nobody, man or god, could paint a more delightful picture.”</font></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><o:p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font></o:p></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">“Don’t be so sure, Forest. You would be amazed what a woman
can do with a little makeup.”</font></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><o:p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font></o:p></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><font face="Times New Roman"><font size="3">“Ahem . . . If you say so.” He scrutinized her from top to
bottom, trying not to be obvious.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></font><font size="3">“You
haven’t aged at all since last we met.”</font></font></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><o:p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font></o:p></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">With rolling eyes, she retorted, “I guess after a girl passes
her three thousandth birthday, it’s hard to judge her age.” </font></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><o:p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font></o:p></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">“I’m sure your beauty runs as deep as the deepest ocean,” he
said with a courtly bow.</font></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><o:p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font></o:p></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><font face="Times New Roman"><font size="3">“Oh come off it, </font><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on"><font size="3">Wood</font></st1:city><font size="3">
</font><st1:state w:st="on"><font size="3">Man.</font></st1:state></st1:place><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font size="3"> </font></span><font size="3">I’m too tired for all this nonsense. I could
use a stout drink.”</font></font></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><o:p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font></o:p></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><font face="Times New Roman"><font size="3">Lord Forester’s head dipped down slightly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></font><font size="3">Then his back relaxed, and a little smile
cracked his seemingly wooden face. “Forgive me, Lady. I get little practice in
talking to a fellow immortal. I’m not very good at it.”</font></font></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><o:p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font></o:p></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">He was about to say more when she interrupted him in
exasperation. “If you say ‘forgive me’ one more time, I’ll scream.”</font></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><o:p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font></o:p></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><font face="Times New Roman"><font size="3">His smile broadened, and he chuckled. “That’s exactly what I
was going to say.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></font><font size="3">Then he put two
fingers in his mouth and whistled.</font></font></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><o:p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font></o:p></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">In response, there was the sound of huge wings flapping, and
a white pegasus swooped down out of the clouds.</font></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><o:p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font></o:p></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">“My Lady, our steed awaits.”</font></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><o:p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font></o:p></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><font face="Times New Roman"><font size="3">“I’ll get on that pretentious flying horse only if you stop
calling me My Lady.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></font><font size="3">As you perfectly
know, I am Dionysia, but please don’t call me that. Just call me Dee, like you
used to.</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font size="3"> </font></span><font size="3">Okay?”</font></font></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><o:p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font></o:p></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><font face="Times New Roman"><font size="3">“As you wish, My ---uh, <st1:place w:st="on">Dee</st1:place></font><font size="3">.”</font></font></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><o:p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font></o:p></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">“Don’t let your deity go to your head,” she admonished, one
corner of her mouth turned down with distaste.</font></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><o:p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font></o:p></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">“Deal,” Lord Forester said, his shoulders relaxing slightly
more.</font></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><o:p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font></o:p></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">“There, doesn’t that feel better?” she said.</font></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><o:p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font></o:p></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">“I suppose so. But it’s not easy when you’re made of wood.”</font></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><o:p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font></o:p></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">“I can only imagine,” she said mockingly.</font></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><o:p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font></o:p></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><font face="Times New Roman"><font size="3">Without another word, Forester leapt to the pegasus’s back. In
contrast, <st1:place w:st="on">Dee</st1:place></font><font size="3"> practically floated up behind
him; her gold lame cape flowing from her shoulders and her silver-silk gown
riding up over perfectly formed thighs.</font></font></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><o:p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font></o:p></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><font face="Times New Roman"><font size="3">It took over an hour to reach Forester’s castle, for his
holdings were quite extensive.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></font><font size="3">On the
flight, Dionysia clutched herself tightly to his back with arms surprisingly strong
for her soft body. Despite his hard wooden physique, she could feel his heart beating
feverishly. It excited her, and she hardly noticed the passage of time until
the pegasus flew steeply down toward the castle which appeared to be a mountain,
densely covered in landscaped vegetation and waterfalls. </font></font></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><o:p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font></o:p></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><font face="Times New Roman"><font size="3">They landed in the mountain’s foothills.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></font><font size="3">The creature folded his wings and they seemed
to melt into his body and became invisible. The white stallion appeared to be
no more than a normal, though majestic, horse, who casually started to chew
green grass growing in a small glade which had served as their airport. </font></font></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><o:p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font></o:p></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">Reluctantly, Dionysia released her hold and, with a sigh,
slid lightly to the ground, to be followed by Forester, who landed heavily. The
release of the maiden’s arms around his waist had affected his equilibrium.</font></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><o:p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font></o:p></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">He took a breath to say something, but she interrupted. “If
you say ‘welcome to my humble castle’, I’m going to turn around and walk back
home.”</font></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><o:p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font></o:p></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><font face="Times New Roman"><font size="3">“That’s exactly what I was going to say, uh… <st1:place w:st="on">Dee</st1:place></font><font size="3">.”</font></font></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><o:p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font></o:p></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><font face="Times New Roman"><font size="3">Before he could take another breath, Dionysia was walking up
a pebbled path toward a cave-like opening in the mountain castle, as though she
had been there before, which she had been, of course.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></font><font size="3">She had been there only a thousand years ago,
or so, when Forester and she had had a plentitude of trysts. </font></font></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><o:p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font></o:p></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><font face="Times New Roman"><font size="3">A long corridor made of polished grey stone was lighted by ambient
light from the outside, which gradually dimmed as the cave opening receded
behind them. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></font><font size="3">As the darkness increased,
the stone emanated its own emerald green illumination. Abruptly,</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font size="3"> </font></span><font size="3">the corridor ended</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font size="3"> </font></span><font size="3">at the opening of a huge cathedral-like
cavern which</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font size="3"> </font></span><font size="3">shone with
bio-luminescence</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font size="3"> </font></span><font size="3">pulsating from untold
numbers of organisms</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font size="3"> </font></span><font size="3">that clung to the
walls or flew</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font size="3"> </font></span><font size="3">in the upper regions</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font size="3"> </font></span><font size="3">of</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font size="3"> </font></span><font size="3">the
vault.</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font size="3"> </font></span><font size="3">Some of the creatures stayed
motionless on the stone like glowing jewels, while others crawled along the
surface.</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font size="3"> </font></span></font></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><o:p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font></o:p></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><font face="Times New Roman"><font size="3">“You’ve made changes to the lighting, I see.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></font><font size="3">It’s beautiful!</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font size="3"> </font></span><font size="3">Did you do it by yourself, or did you hire an
interior decorator?” she asked. </font></font></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><o:p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font></o:p></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><font face="Times New Roman"><font size="3">“<st1:place w:st="on">Dee</st1:place></font><font size="3">, it’s been over one
thousand years since you last saw it. The mutations were unassisted. The
lighting changes itself.”</font></font></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><o:p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font></o:p></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">“Of course. I should have known that. I’m in the mood and
need for refreshment. Can we eat in our own little dining room, or is it
occupied?” </font></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><o:p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font></o:p></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><font face="Times New Roman"><font size="3">“No, it hasn’t been used since you left.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></font><font size="3">Forester’s voice was soft. He knew that </font><st1:place w:st="on"><font size="3">Dee</font></st1:place><font size="3"> was fishing for information about how he might have
changed in his feeling about her after a thousand years.</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font size="3"> </font></span><font size="3">Even the question about the source of the
lighting design changes was probing for information about possible amorous
relationships.</font></font></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><o:p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font></o:p></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">Dionysia turned to face him. “I’m sorry I left so abruptly,
but I was unable to concentrate on my work.”</font></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><o:p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font></o:p></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><font face="Times New Roman"><font size="3">Forrester knew that she was not telling the whole story. He
knew that Apollo had had something do with her leaving so abruptly, but he was
afraid to push her for information. After all, Apollo was a full god, and
Forrester was only a demigod.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></font><font size="3">The Sun
God had awesome powers and was, in a sense, Dionysia’s boss.</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font size="3"> </font></span><font size="3">There were so many questions to which Forester
did not want to know the answers.</font></font></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><o:p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font></o:p></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><font face="Times New Roman"><font size="3">“You could have at least given me a warning.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></font><font size="3">I had to send a zephyr to look for you.</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font size="3"> </font></span><font size="3">He finally located you in the Elysian Fields.”</font></font></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><o:p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font></o:p></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">“Yes, I was doing some revisions to the décor. I had been
neglecting my responsibilities. I had to leave. I didn’t have a choice.”</font></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><o:p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font></o:p></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><font face="Times New Roman"><font size="3">“Have you come here to be distracted again?” he asked.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></font><font size="3">He hoped she would respond to the deeper
meaning of his question.</font></font></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><o:p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font></o:p></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><font face="Times New Roman"><font size="3">Her face flushed, but she answered honestly. “I’ll admit,
that’s part of it, maybe a big part. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></font><font size="3">But
there is actually a project I’m working on that will need your services.”</font></font></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><o:p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font></o:p></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">“That sounds interesting. And just how can I be of service?”
The last word was pronounced with an air of bitterness. </font></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><o:p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font></o:p></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><font face="Times New Roman"><font size="3">“To start with, you can feed and bed me. We’ll talk about
the other project afterwards.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></font><font size="3">But
remember, Forester, I must be gone in no less than thirty to fifty years.”</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font size="3"> </font></span><font size="3">She said those things in a matter-of-fact
manner that hid her complicated feelings. </font></font></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><o:p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font></o:p></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">Lord Forester felt like his wooden body had turned to sap in
anticipation of the immediate future, even though he knew in the end his heart
would turn to heartwood, when she would leave him again.</font></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><o:p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font></o:p></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><o:p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font></o:p></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
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