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"You recoil, Mr. Frazier," she said calmly. "It is rather frightening to live with the reality of our most darkly harbored desires, is it not?" |
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"What . . . what happened to her?" Charlie stammered. |
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The Caron woman somberly studied the wavering flame of the candle, waiting before she answered. When she looked up, her voice was husky and muted. "I will say only this. The young woman's fate was decreed by youand you alone." |
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"But, I didn't say anything about mutilating her or killing her," Charlie protested. |
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Jubell sighed. "It was the lesser of evils," she said dreamily. "The mutilation without death would have been a terrible injustice for a young woman with her needs. She would have been deprived of everything she desired in this life. For that, even I have compassion." |
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Charlie didn't know why, but he got up and slowly began walking toward the woman. He was trembling; his heart was pounding. |
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Harry Driver was standing before him, no longer arrogant, no longer the officer and gentleman personified. There was a gaping hole in his chest, and the front of his ravaged pale blue military shirt was discolored by crusted blood. He stood dejectedly, his mouth hanging open as though it had been unhinged by the trauma. His face was drained of color. |
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