His hand lashed out, but she was faster, and although he raced up the path after her, she once was a dancer, remember.
'N-o-o-o,' he screamed as she ran inside the gate. 'For gods' sakes, Claudia, don't do this to me. Don't, please don't, do this to us.'
But she was inside the precinct, where no man may tread. With her hands clamped over her ears.
Around the cave, the spirits hovered like invisible bees, and the bees made honeycombs for young men so that they might wipe off the drizzle from the lips of young women, and then lick their thumbs slowly.
The house of Rumour buzzed with their sound.