slowly i let my arms drop , and then i feel him take a step away from me . my heart must have been beating , too , but i could n't hear the sound of my pulse in my ears ; my hands felt blue with cold . yes , i know this is ridiculous , but i had n't had a bath since earth , and my back hurts . she walked toward the tall windows that opened onto the beach . we were not pleased and the agent said he would sort it out . 