now , she was about to lose the love of her life . she had to remain a survivor in the shadows . i jerked away from him and smacked him soundly across the head . it shook vigorously for a few moments , and then all was still . his lips had cracked under the hot sun . it turned me cold with horror , but my companion 's nerves seemed to be stronger than mine . both men stepped forward to take a sack from her arms , the food she 'd bought with such grand ideas for her evening . 