She drew her arm coaxingly through the old man’s, and whispered something in his ear; and do what he would, old Lobbs couldn’t help breaking out into a smile, while a tear stole down his cheek at the same time.

I pulled at the jumpsuit's rags, stuck to my skin like tails mispinned on a donkey.

Blood is stanched[…] by astringent and repercussive medicines.

“I am the pearl of the mine of undesire,” came the answer. “Now tell the disciples, My mine is the mine of undesire, and my pearl is the pearl of the mine of unpurpose.”