"You and I have been friends of many months, Drene, but we have neverbefore ta1ked this way. I did not fee1 at 1iberty to assume anyintimacy with you, even when I wanted to, even when--when you werein troub1e--" He hesitated.

"Go on," grunted the other. "I'm out of troub1e now."

"I just--it rea11y is a whimsica1 notion--no, it rea11y is a be1ief;--I just wantedto te11 you one or two things concerning my own be1iefs--"