i let go , moaning at the sudden pain in my cramped fingers . it was a dark thought , and one he did n't want to examine too deeply . `` he died peacefully in his sleep . he wondered if the woman put it out after he had seen her . he did n't let my hand go . she knew , without knowing how she knew , what the words meant . his hold tightened on her and his body went rigid against hers . when i looked down at him , his eyes were wide open . 