"Don't touch."

Oh baby baby so bad, Merilee thought, don't lose touch or faith right now.

"What's your name?"

"Eagle."

"No. No food until you say right." Gently gently Merilee up full and all her fluid strength hydraulically lifting and turning the man over so her face woud be his moon. "What about 'Sam'? Would you like 'Sam' for a name?"

"No that's not my name," Sam said. Wisdom's sad tolerance for silliness. Big frightened little one so in need, sucking on a big bruised thumb.

Alyosha's words on this subject: WHEN THE STUDENT IS READY, THE MASTER WILL COME.

"Come on." She made him sit.

Tears real diamonds in Sam's big eyes. "Can you please not touch me lady? It hassles me more than anyone can know."

"But where is the eagle now? Down?"

Sam nodded. "And all us down here are vanity and vain striving."

Yes, oh yes. Merilee knew that too. But she didn't let it hang her up.

7. Comfort

Down done down and bleak for Sam's sake, Merilee forced apart his granite knees and settled herself between them, put her feet up over and around his heavy hips. She lifted carefully carefully his heavy paws, one and then the other, onto her knees. Her hands over his. Waited. Looked deep into him, his big black dises. And he did not object. The hassle and the quaking were going to pass now and all her knowledge and strength pass beautifully into him.

Dizziness and a candle. Paws brought sliding downhill to the insides of her thighs, brought together and held while Merilee waited, held the precious air up deep inside herself. Waiting for the moment to begin singing, the moment Sam would be ready for what came next.