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Fascinated, she came into the shadows and ascended creaking steps,
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hesitating on each one.
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When she was three steps from him the hands flew apart and his wrecked
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face and the terror of eyes gloried in burst veins stopped her.
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"Can I help?"
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She was shaking, tired. "My wife's in Fresno," he said.
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He wore an old double-breasted suit, frayed gray shirt, wide tie,
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no hat. "I left her so long ago
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I don't remember.
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This is for her."
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He gave Oedipa a letter
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that looked like he'd been carrying it around for years.