It is fortunate that I have a place up there to which I can take you, and where you will be safe." As they were preparing to go, Joanne glanced ruefully at the table.
"I am ashamed to leave the dishes in that mess," she said.
He laughed, and tucked her hand under his arm as they went through the door.

When they had passed through the little clearing, and the darkness of the spruce and balsam walls shut them in, he took her hand.
"It is dark and you may stumble," he apologized.

"This isn't much like the shell plaza in front of the Cape Verde, is it ?" "No.

Did you pick up any of the little red bloodshells?
I did, and they made me shiver.

There were strange stories associated with them." He knew that she was staring ahead into the blank wall of gloom as she spoke, and that it was not thought of the bloodshells, but of Quade, that made her fingers close more tightly about his own.