18 "Damn you!" screamed Sweet Blossom, "Damn
you!" she started to run out of the crypt but Bullet grabbed her arm,
spun her around, and slapped her face. She stepped back, surprised.
19 "Don't ever damn me," he snapped, "don't ever damn any man, unless
you have damning reason. You've got a problem, lady, and you know it.
I'm not really a Hood any more. And you know how I'm beginning to feel
about you. Our young friend knows things. He reads us like pages of a book. You
know what's going to happen as well as I do and neither one of us has a
prayer of stopping it."
20 Sweet Blossom looked at him with fear in her eyes. "I hate you!" she
screamed, "I HATE you!” She went to run from the crypt and this time
Bullet did not stop her. She only went a few paces, however, and
stopped. She sat down on the ground and began to cry. Bullet just stood
back and let it happen.
21 "Will you take it easy?" he pleaded. "I don't want you hurting your
leg."
22 "Let me worry about my leg," muttered Sweet Blossom.
23 "I won't," agreed Bullet, "when you realize you're using it as a
crutch, as a symbol of your shame because you're still alive, and, of
your hatred. When you accept that I'll never mention it again."
24 "You're cruel!" she cried, "Like all your kind, you're cruel."
25 Bullet put out his hand and helped her to her feet. He suddenly put
his arms around her and kissed her. She backed away for a moment and
started to raise her hand, but then she stopped, stared into the crypt,
then turned and started walking down the hill.
26 "I think I'd better leave," announced Bullet.
27 "No," snapped Sweet Blossom, "he wanted you to stay, you WILL stay."
28 "I'm not his slave," argued Bullet, "I don't do