Otter Creek untroubling and untroubled where i lie

he traced the rise of her delicate wrist; fine, thin-boned. it rested against her throat, and the man studied the impalpable flutter of bounding blood that stirred under her pale coat. the motion she conjured received no answer -- unless the flicker of his dull eyes were answer in their own right.

and then the strange stone was proffered to him; just glancing upon its smooth surface iliksis was left with the impression whatever power it wielded was far beyond his control. he somehow was struck with the unerring sensation that the cricket was not his to command.

when he looked from the stone he found her cool turquoise gaze upon him; the sentiment was clearly conveyed. he answered with a shrug of his shoulders, for whatever meaning the stone had, it had very little meaning to him.