They were saying goodbye, now. She heard polite voices saying it. Then the voices ended. “No, no, it is not to be borne, It is the last twist of the vise.” Her will snapped then. When she looked at him, she knew that the knives were edgeless. In an instant life would begin, life would be forever.

His eyes wavered. There was a thin noise in her ears, A noise from the road. The instant fell and lay dead Between them like something broken.

She turned to see what had killed it.