`` i would not mind eating you up , '' he said . it seems we both have our crosses to bear . could he mean it , she wondered ? it could take months or years . `` i mean that from a career achievement point of view , of course . 'i 'm not asking him to go as a - ' 'are n't you ? ' only there was n't just black sky to look at . she checked her schedule against the room number on the door : d-5 . 