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Halcyon Days. iv. Imperfections They would end their days at dawn, watching the sun rise int he cold autumn winds; he would breathe softly, afraid to disrupt the sacred silence of the vigil that welcomed them into sleep, and which would bring them into the world once more at dusk, when the shadows pressed firm over the land. He dreamed often of the sunlight that he had forsaken in this adventure: bright and warm and soothing, golden over the grasses, shimmering in the steam coming off the ponds and streams - until the red oceans beyond the horizon swarmed over the sky and washed the world away; stranding him on a sandy strip with red all arou

Halcyon Days iii. Normalcy A frenzy of house-cleaning and laundry the following morning brought to Delilah the feeling of freedom that she must have subconsciously yearned for this whole time. The midday sunlight saw her leave the house in her Sunday best, bearing a great basket full of cookies, and walking down the street, almost singing with happiness. It was an uncharacteristically sunny and warm day for early April, as if the weather brought good tidings to match her own feelings. Beside her walked Sam, similarly dressed - though his clothes were a little tight, as he'd put on some muscle while he was gone. The two rounded the corner and

Halcyon Days ii. Truth Be Told... "All right, can you repeat that for my report? From the date of departure, if you will, go over it again for me, Sam." The officer, trying not to show the confusion and disbelief on his face, put pen to legal pad and wrote down the basic information at the top of the page, then waited to hear it all again. Honestly, if the one telling this story wasn't Sam Reese, wasn't the kid they all knew was the most trustworthy young man in the country, he wouldn't believe a word of it. But let the commissioner figure out whether to inquire further - he was only a grunt on the force. He wrote down what he heard. "All rig

Halcyon Days. Skin steaming in the cold autumn night, he shed the life that belonged to Sam Reese, and opened his eyes to the world as ██████████.i. When Angels Hear Your Prayers... The sun-bleached linoleum and plastic-coated cabinets in Delilah Reese's kitchen have been meticulously kept clean every day for fifty years. It was her parents' house, too, when they were young, and Delilah's life had always had its biggest moments at the polished, round table by the glass sliding door. For better or worse, it was her domain, this part of the house, and by force of habit she had drank h

(Original work excerpted from Thomas Harris' Red Dragon.) ...from paperback pg. 99: Graham stood up. "Thank you, doctor. I want to see Lecter now." The steel door of the maximum-security section closed behind Graham. He heard the bolt slide home. Graham's simmering hate for the place stirred briefly in the back of his mind at the sound -- then dispersed as goosebumps down his neck and shoulders. Graham knew that Lecter slept most of the morning. He hadn't used to, not in the Tuscan hills where gazing at the dawn could revive the dead. But here, trapped indoors, there was no sun to wake with. He looked down the corridor. At that angle he coul

Breakfast. There comes the easy glow of the morning sun, filtering through the stained-glass eastern windows, mildly reddening Will Graham's hair as he yawns and stretches in bed. It is just about dawn, and he feels energy reaching for his fingertips. Invigorated. Often, this early in the morning, he greets the sun bare-chested with a cup of tea, or a mug of hot honeyed mead, standing beside Hannibal on the back deck of their cozy cottage. This morning, Will surmises, must be some kind of special day: the scent of sweet cinnamon things wafts through the air, and Hannibal is busy in the kitchen already. Curious, the former Special Agent watche