11-07-2008, 01:05 AM
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Oh, he had struck a nerve. That was just as well—it was something imbedded in his blood, brought on from his long-dead father. Another flick of the wrist, another bundle of leaves joined the mass in his right hand. “Oh, you would be surprised.” One act had bound him to that family, lock and load. One girl, one mistake, one child. You should have killed her. His eyes darkened suddenly, as if a cloud had passed over the sun.
Just as quickly, Ahren was on his feet. He moved back to the pile, found it adequate (for now, at least) and settled down Indian-style. The knife was sheathed in one fluid motion, and from his pouch he drew twine. This he dropped in his lap. “You might not take after her,” he added, drawing a cigarette and sparking flame. Another flick of the wrist shook out the match, and another breath sent smoke into the air. “Then again, you have that same self-righteous air going for you.” A pause to inhale, and the cloud he let out, he proposed a question. “You got a sister?” This idea struck him as remarkably funny, and he let out a half-mad laugh, eyeing her like a serpent or a hunting-cat might.
Oh, he had struck a nerve. That was just as well—it was something imbedded in his blood, brought on from his long-dead father. Another flick of the wrist, another bundle of leaves joined the mass in his right hand. “Oh, you would be surprised.” One act had bound him to that family, lock and load. One girl, one mistake, one child. You should have killed her. His eyes darkened suddenly, as if a cloud had passed over the sun.
Just as quickly, Ahren was on his feet. He moved back to the pile, found it adequate (for now, at least) and settled down Indian-style. The knife was sheathed in one fluid motion, and from his pouch he drew twine. This he dropped in his lap. “You might not take after her,” he added, drawing a cigarette and sparking flame. Another flick of the wrist shook out the match, and another breath sent smoke into the air. “Then again, you have that same self-righteous air going for you.” A pause to inhale, and the cloud he let out, he proposed a question. “You got a sister?” This idea struck him as remarkably funny, and he let out a half-mad laugh, eyeing her like a serpent or a hunting-cat might.