There will always be one more touch I want, and I'll begin writing it down, and you know it will end up in the lab.There will always be one more touch I want, and I'll begin writing it down, and you know it will end up in the lab. There's nothing I can do. And it's just going to keep on fucking up your lives, Carroll, yours and everybody elses." She smiled and said, "But that's what you're here for, Ken. To make our lives more interesting. It's not a curse, It's a blessing." "I only wish I felt like it sometimes." I hugged her close to me and she responded, holding my tightly. Then she said, "Well, what do you think?" I blinked, wondering who she meant. She couldn't have been talking to me. Then I heard a voice behind me say, "You're right. He can be redeemed. It just takes the right person." I turned around to find myself staring at Karen Walton's big brown eyes. I let go of Carroll and sank down to the floor, pulling her close and wrapping my arms around her neck, this time concentrating on the feelings of soft black fur against my cheek and throat and the sound of her heartbeat. "You set me up, didn't you?" She growled gently and said, "Not me. Her." I looked back up at Carroll and she nodded. I hugged Karen just a little more fiercely with one arm, the other trailing under her torso and scratching her lightly. "Tomorrow," she said. "Under the trees, just like yesterday." I nodded against her head, burying my face into the fur of her shoulder, feeling her against me and just feeling relieved. Then I finally eased back and stood, going back and hugging Carroll. "Thank you," I said. "You're welcome." There was a pause, the sort where I felt out of control again, and I said. |