the monster 's shadow , like one off a ski lift over snow , hovered off an indeterminate depth , hung over our characters , just long enough to trip tien out onto that long icy slalom that slides head over heels , off both skis , into love : hoang-ha was so lonelythat was the thought that camethat pierced herhis sense of humorno , propriety , uh uhit was , just , the way his hair just touched the edge of his ear , and that was all .