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Chapter 11
Iwasawareofbodilywell-being.Oh,itwasdelicious!Asthirstingmenonthedesertdreamofsplashingfountainsandflowingwells,sodreamedIofeasementfromtheconstrictionofthejacket,ofcleanlinessintheplaceoffilth,ofsmoothvelvetyskinofhealthinplaceofmypoorparchment-crinkledhide.ButIdreamedwithadifference,asyoushallsee.
Iawoke.Oh,broadandwideawakeIwas,althoughIdidnotopenmyeyes.AndpleaseknowthatinallthatfollowsIknewnosurprisewhatever.Everythingwasthenaturalandtheexpected.IwasI,besureofthat.ButIwasnotDarrellStanding.DarrellStandinghadnomoretodowiththebeingIwasthandidDarrellStanding’sparchment-crinkledskinhaveaughttodowiththecool,softskinthatwasmine.NorwasIawareofanyDarrellStanding—asIcouldnotwellbe,consideringthatDarrellStandingwasasyetunbornandwouldnotbebornforcenturies.Butyoushallsee.
Ilaywithclosedeyes,lazilylistening.Fromwithoutcametheclackingofmanyhoofsmovingorderlyonstoneflags.Fromtheaccompanyingjingleofmetalbitsofman-harnessandsteed-harnessIknewsomecavalcadewaspassingbyonthestreetbeneathmywindows.Also,Iwonderedidlywhoitwas.Fromsomewhere—andIknewwhere,forIknewitwasfromtheinnyard—cametheringandstampofhoofsandanimpatientneighthatIrecognizedasbelongingtomywaitinghorse.
