| Chapter 6: The Graveler |
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She kept her face concealed. "I said, leave me alone."
"I can't." A vibration of anger ran through him. "You wouldn't be here if you hadn't followed me. I need to know why you did it. So I can decide whether to trust you." Her head snapped up. "I'm a doctor." "That's not enough," he said rigidly. The light from the window was growing slowly. Now he could read parts of her countenance--her mouth clenched and severe, her eyes like dark gouges below her forehead. She regarded him as if he were trespassing on her essential privacy. After a long moment, she said softly, "I followed you because I thought you were strong. Everytime I saw you, you were practically prostrate on your feet. You were desperate for help. But you stood there acting as if even exhaustion couldn't touch you." Her words were fraught with gall. "I thought you were strong. But now it turns out you were just running away from your guilt, like anybody else. Trying to make yourself innocent again by selling yourself for Joan. What was I supposed to do?" Quiet fury whetted her tone. "Let you commit suicide?" |