“Yes—and had we one, you’d probably never see us at all.” Mrs. Locke adds jokingly.Emily pulls ecstatically against my clothing, a new found joy in her eyes.“Samuel! We must find a piano for the Lockes! It is the very least we can do!”

“I wondered whether you and Mr. Locke had any recollection about the past.I see now that we all suffer the same.”

“Do we not each dream of dreams? Do we not dance on the notes of lostmemories? Then are we not each dreamers of tomorrow and yesterday, since dreamsplay when time is askew? Are we not all adrift in the constant sea of trial and when all is done, do we not all yearn for ships to carry us home?”

“Her eyes sparkle with a rising dampness. “I’ve seemed to overstep myself,Samuel.”

“Look Samuel!” She points to the couple—I noticing a twig sticking out of her hair. “Mannequins.”

“Another like me? Don’t leave me out here with myself! I’d go mad. Pleasedon’t leave me alone, Samuel! Just take me home!” Tears stream down her face.“Please take me home!”

“I steal one glance over my shoulder as soon as we are far from the foreboding luminance of the neon glow, and it is there that my stomach leaps into my throat. Squatting just shy of the light and partially concealed by the shade of an alley is a sinister silhouette beneath a crimson cowl, beaming a demonic smile which spans from cheek to swollen cheek.”