quezhanjie1962

@@@@@The sidewalk abutted a long row of ships chandlers, narrow buildings with tightly shuttered shops on street level and the darkened windows of living quarters aboveMany of the windows were open to the almost-summery warmth of the nightA dog barked half-heartedly at the sound of their stepsRhett commanded it to be quiet, his own voice mutedThe dog whimpered once, then was still They walked forward, past widely spaced street lampsRhett adjusted his long stride automatically to match Scarlett's shorter one, and the sound of heels on brick became a single clack clack clack clack-testimony of the comfortable unity of the momentOne street lamp had gone outIn the patch of greater darkness Scarlett noticed for the first time that the sky seemed very near, its spangling of stars brighter than she could remember them ever beforeOne star looked almost close enough to touch"Rhett, look at the sky," she said softly"The stars look so close He stopped walking, put his hand over hers to signal her to stop, too"It's because of the sea," he said, the sound of his voice low and warm "We're past the warehouses now, and there's only waterListen and you can hear it breathing They stood very stillScarlett strained to hearThe rhythmic slap slap of the moving water against the invisible pilings of the seawall became audible Gradually it seemed to get louder, until she was amazed she hadn't been hearing it all the timeThen another sound merged with the cadence of the tidal riverIt was music, a thin high slow procession of notes The purity of them made her eyes fill with unexpected tears"Do you hear it?" she asked fearfullyWas she imagining things? "Y