“Pretty dark in there, says Ash. Did you git lost? I feel a hot flush crawl up my neck. Lucky for me, Hermes trots over an I busy myself strokin his neck. It uh . . . took us longer than we thought to put out the fire, says Jack.”

“Jack grins. Anyways, Saba likes to look at my bare chest.Lugh looks at me. Frowns. Is that a fact? he says.I feel myself go bright red. It is not a fact, I says. You stinker, Jack.”

“Jack lifts his mug. Me an Ike do the same.To Molly Pratt, says Jack.Ike scowls at him. Watch yer mouth, he says.Jeez, Ike, says Jack. All I’m sayin is … to Molly Pratt.Ike looks sly. Leans in an waggles his eyebrows. To Molly Pratt, he says, an her frilly red bloomers.One helluva woman, says Jack.One helluva pair of undies, says Ike.Then they throw their drinks down their necks.”

“Don’t worry, says Ike, I didn’t do yer pretty face no harm. I should of though. After what you done to me.He glares at Jack an Jack actually looks shame-faced. Ike jabs him in the chest with a big meaty finger.You left me, you sonofabitch, he says, hangin upside down, stark naked, with all them women in their—Jack grabs his hand. Not now, Ike, he says. We’ll talk about it later.”

“It towers above us, dark an jagged an dangerous. Behind it, more mountains stretch as far's the eye can see.Is this th'only way to Freedom Fields? I says.No, says Jack. I brought you this way because I thought you'd enjoy the scenery.”

“Oh, don't sit there blushin, he says, git on with it. Life's too short. Take her off in the bushes, my friend, an make her yer own. If you don't, somebody else will. Hell, I might jest make a play fer her myself. That 'ud put a rocket in yer pocket. Ha ha! How's about it, Red? You an me?”

“I grab his face an' kiss him on the lips. Then I step back. We stare at each other. All the air gits sucked outta the tunnel. The heartstone burns into my skin. The blood pounds in my ears.Yer timin stinks, he says.”