Spectred Isle

Well, we came across Miss Kay and Mr. Feximal in the display hall, and my father presented me as if he rather thought they might wish to kiss my hand, and I have never seen such withering contempt on human faces. Mr. Feximal just looked at me, and Miss Kay pointed at me with those dreadful nails of hers, and said, ‘You should beware of arrogance, young man.’ My father asked if that was a divination, and she said, ‘No, just his face.’”

“How do you feel about the sin of Sodom?” Saul asked with a silvery shadow of a smile in the darkness, and that effort to brave it out made Randolph’s chest hurt. “Dear boy, your Biblical exegesis is either terrible or superb.” “What?” “The sin of Sodom was arrogance. Which I will freely grant describes me to a T. But if you want a fuck, that also suits.” “You really are the most exasperating— Fine. Fuck me arrogantly.”

When one expects terrible things to happen for long enough, it’s almost a relief when they do.