“As the heavy latticed iron beetled abovetheir heads, Damen found himselfwanting it, wanting disruption, a cry ofoutrage, or of challenge, wanting it as arelease to this--feeling. Traitor. Stop.But none came.”
“I want people to react to my work, to think, to question, to challenge, to cry and laugh and feel.”
“I stand holding the apple in both hands. It feels precious, like a heavy treasure. I lift it up and smell it. It has such an odour of outdoors on it I want to cry.”
“It was a terrifying feeling. And if it was love, he wanted none of it.”
“It made you feel very small, very lost, and yet it was not altogether depressing, that feeling. After all, if you were small, the grimy beetle crawled on - which was just what you wanted it to do.”
“Contrary, aren’t you,’ said Damen softly, thumbing over Laurent’s cheek.‘Fuck me,’ said Laurent.‘I want to,’ said Damen. ‘Can you let me?”