he led me to my bed , then gently laid me down and covered his body with mine . a miniature gong sat on the table between them . we have laid hands on the letters . `` if you think you 're going to collect ten thousand , four hundred and fifty bucks from me , think again . '' he stopped too , the snow whirling around his slight frame . it was all plain to him now . i put the shot to my lips , my stomach already burning , tipped my head back and emptied the glass . 