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' 'Yes。'' Adona nodded。' 'I know you well。 You need passion。 Like with Estilo and me； there is a passion。 But your passion is for what？ This violence； living on the edge of the great abyss？'' Her eyes were sad。 〃I think this is not healthy。〃
' 'Estilo said much the same thing to me this afternoon。''
Adona smiled。 〃Estilo is very fond of you。〃 She laughed； a beautiful musical sound。 〃Did you know that in the beginning I was quite jealous of you？''
〃You had no reason to be；〃 Tori said。
〃Why not？ Estilo is no angel。 But then who is？ Me？ Are you？〃
〃No；〃 Tori said； abruptly thinking of Greg； soaring like an angel above Earth's atmospheric envelope。 And then； while crawling outside； along the skin of his vehicle； something had punctured his EVA suit； and all the oxygen had been sucked from his lungs。 A matter of seconds； that's all it had taken。 From heaven to hell； with only the brittle blue starlight for pany。 ' 'Death by hypoxia；'' his death certificate had read； but that was so cold； so clinical。 It had not described his iced body； blistered and bruised beyond recognition by the cruel vacuum of space。
〃Tori。〃 Adona was gripping her arm。 〃Here； take some brandy； you've gone white。〃
〃I'm all right。〃 But just the same； Tori downed the liquor。
Adona shook her head。 〃There was a time；〃 she said； 〃when I longed for the life you lead： armed to the teeth； in the jungle； me enemy just ahead。 It made me feel so 。。。 I don't know； alive。〃 She took the empty glass from Tori's hand。 〃But times change； I've changed。 The truth is that the only time I felt safe was when I had a MAC…10 in my hands and a knife on my hip。 Then I knew I was the equal of any man…not sexually； and certainly not emotionally。 But still I felt equal。 A man could kill； and so could I。 I was respected； even at times deferred to。 Then； at last； there was no difference between us。 You understand。〃
Tori looked at her。 〃What changed？〃
Adona shrugged。 〃The world turns on its axis； the seasons change； day into night。 Who really can say with certainty？ But I suspect that I have found that whatever I was reaching for is nonexistent or； at least； illusory。 I feel as though in trying to measure up to men's standards； I've been sucked whole into their world。 And I've discovered I don't like it。〃
〃What does Estilo say to all this？ He met you in the jungle； that's where you fell in love。〃
〃Estilo doesn't know。〃
〃But you must tell him；〃 Tori said。 〃Estilo loves you； he wants you to be happy。〃
Adona's liquid brown eyes locked with Tori's。 〃Yes； he loves me。 But happiness； now that's another matter entirely。 Estilo is the consummate businessman…he lives for the deal； it doesn't matter what the deal is。 Because each deal is well…defined； and Estilo's world is well…defined。 I have spent so much time and effort to bee a part of that world； and now； as far as he's concerned； everything meshes perfectly。 He couldn't let me go。 My role is too well…defined。 If I were to leave； a black hole would appear； an undefined gap he could not tolerate。''
〃But do you want to leave him？〃
Adona gave off a little smile； like the glow of a tiny candle as darkness falls。 〃I don't know。〃
〃Don't let him go；〃 Tori said。 〃He's a good man。〃
' 'Well； at least he's a little good。''
Adona suddenly leaned forward； kissed Tori on both cheeks。 〃Go enjoy the party。 Too much gloomy talk is bad for the soul。''
Tori squeezed Adona's hand； left her to monitor the ing food。 The rooms were filled with people…Buenos Aires' most famous artists； models； chantas… and smoke； but somehow Estilo found Tori； pushed a Kir Royale into her hand； kissed her on the cheek； murmured an endearment in German。 He used German infrequently； only when he was slightly drunk； and never in a place where he could be overheard。 He was Argentine； after all； and had his own myth to foster。
〃It is times like this；〃 he said； linking his aim in hers； 〃when I miss Munich most。'' Tori knew he traveled to Germany several times a year。 〃Have you ever eaten in Die Aubergine？〃
〃I've never been to Munich；〃 Tori said with a sense of deja vu。 They'd had this conversation many times。
〃Ah； to look out on the Maximilianplatz and dine on such food！〃 Estilo shook his head。 〃Still； Buenos Aires is home。 And； after all； Munich is not such a mysterious place。 And the Germans…ach； the Germans never change。 That is supposed to be their great strength。 But I have never found much to admire in stone and concrete。〃
He guided her outside； onto the terrace that overlooked Buenos Aires。 It faced west； and one could see the boundary； the end of the city's lights； the darkness along the wind…whipped plain where the Pampa…Argentina's great prairie； filled with cowboys； ranchers； people used to a hard； dusty existence began。
Estilo pointed to the darkness。 〃There is where I was born； schatzie。 Not in Germany； like my father。 He married the daughter of an estanciero； and I like to think I was born atop a horse。'' He laughed abruptly。 〃But that may be just another myth。 My analyst says I rely too heavily on myth。 But she doesn't understand。 I am half German； I； more than most portenos； need the sanctuary of myth in order to live with myself。 I don't know what my father did during the war and； God help me； I don't want to know。 Do you think I can tell my analyst this？〃 He shrugged。 〃It doesn't matter； really。 The truth is； I'd rather take her to bed than talk to her。〃 Estilo looked at Tori suddenly。 〃And you； schatzie。 What is the truth about you？〃
' 'I thought we had an agreement；'' Tori said。
〃We do。 Ask me no questions and I'll tell you no lies； yes？ We have helped each other out in the past without being told precisely what the other did。〃 He shrugged。 〃That does not mean we don't know； eh？〃 Estilo was very grave。 〃But I must tell you that sometimes you worry me。 I never had children； I never thought I wanted them； I am far too self…indulgent。 But I confess that often I feel as if you are my daughter。 I feel the urge to protect you even though I know that is the last thing you want from anyone。〃
All at once。 Tori understood that Estilo was afraid of offending her。 She felt a corresponding rush of emotion that threatened
to strangle her： thinking of Greg； who had only wanted to protect her。 She went immediately into prana； deep； controlled breathing that sent oxygen through her entire body。
〃You're very kind；〃 she said at last。 The lights of the city shone through the night； illuminating the undersides of lowering clouds。 The air had turned heavy； soon it would rain。 〃And you're very dear to me。〃 She gave him a tiny smile that had about it an ironic edge。 〃But it is you portenos who are mad about analysts。〃
〃In my many years on this planet；'' Estilo said；' 'I have e to realize that everyone can； at one time or another； benefit from introspection。 You are an extraordinary human being。 Tori； but in this； I think； you are no exception。〃
Tori smiled； kissed him on the cheek； embraced him briefly。 〃Thank you； Papa；〃 she said in German。
Estilo looked into her eyes； and she was reminded of Ariel； of how the younger man also had looked her in the eyes this afternoon at the Cafe la Biela； of the differ