“You’re in the hallway and it feels scary right now but just keep going. There’s another door, and you’re going to find it. And then the whole world is going to open up to you.”

“I’m bonded to her, Lucan. I love her. If you want to keep me out of this, you’re going to have to kill me right here and now.”

“Books and doors are the same thing. You open them, and you go through into another world.”

“Of course there’s destiny, but destiny doesn’t push you where you don’t want to go. You’re the ones who choose. Destiny is up to you.”

“A knock interrupted my thoughts. “You okay?”“Yeah. Can I have some freaking privacy?”“Sorry. You’ve just been in there for a while; I wanted to make sure you weren’t sick or anything. I’m leaving now. Also, I’m naked, so if you open the door right now, you’re going to get the full show.”“Pass.”“Suit yourself.”

“As for measure and other technical apparatus, that’s just common sense: if you’re going to buy a pair of pants you want them to be tight enough so everyone will want to go to bed with you. There’s nothing metaphysical about it. Unless, of course, you flatter yourself into thinking that what you’re experiencing is “yearning.”