Quotes from David Maine

How could he ever scorn Henoch? It's normal enough to grow a bit impatient with the boy from time to time. Or so he hopes. But to banish Henoch from sight, the way his own father banished him --- the very idea causes his insides to clench up. He could never do such a thing.

Cain lets his gaze rest upon his son. A project of some sort is needed, something to bring them together. After all this time, there is still much they do not know about each other. Too much. And yes, he can hear the malcontent voice in the back of his mind demand, How much can any of us truly know another?

Father, the boy repeats. --- You're not going to kill me, are you? --- Of course not.

The stone rests on his hand with undeniable ease, a slightly embarrassing friend: an acquaintance from younger, more impetuous days...

A voice floats out to him. Her voice. --- Who's there? --- The man you're not afraid of.

What do you want? The answer to that is both simple and very complicated. To sit down somewhere without worrying that he soon has to run off again. To talk to people who do not shun him. To smell the air exhaled by a woman. To eat the food she hands him and see the flutter of her hands as she talks. To go home.

You know who I am. --- I know your reputation. --- Then you know I am a dangerous man. --- I know you were said to be such once.

You know who I am. --- I know your reputation. --- Then you know I am a dangerous man. --- I know you were said to be such once. --- So you know that I am shunned by man and God alike. --- Be thankful then that I am neither.

That's the second time you've presumed to know my thoughts and been wrong about it.

He is blind... He can't fear what he doesn't see.

I've wandered for many years... So much that I'm unsure where home even lies.

You have some great sadness about you. I don't know where it comes from or what form it takes but you must pass through it and leave it behind. --- Some things are simpler to say that to do.

He considers turning back but he knows what lies behind him and he wants no part of it. Just as it wants no part of him.

There are worse fates than being forgotten.

One thing he is grateful for: his mind is not so burdened as it had been with anger and self-pity and doubt and guilt and rage. The voices that whisper in his ear from time to time have fallen silent. He has only so much energy in his body and right now, all is concentrated on staying alive. So in a way, he finds some measure of peace. Or if not peace exactly, then --- stillness.