Exhausted finally they lay down on their backs to recover breath. The sky above them was another country. Winter stars, close enough to lick, had come out before sunset. For a moment, looking up,Sethe entered the perfect peace they offered. Then Denver stood up and tried for a long,independent glide. The tip of her single skate hit an ice bump, and as she fell, the flapping of herarms was so wild and hopeless that all three — Sethe, Beloved and Denver herself — laughed tillthey coughed. Sethe rose to her hands and knees, laughter still shaking her chest, making her eyeswet. She stayed that way for a while, on all fours. But when her laughter died, the tears did not andit was some time before Beloved or Denver knew the difference. When they did they touched herlightly on the shoulders.

　　Walking back through the woods, Sethe put an arm around each girl at her side. Both of them hadan arm around her waist. Making their way over hard snow, they stumbled and had to hold ontight, but nobody saw them fall.

　　Inside the house they found out they were cold. They took off their shoes, wet stockings, and puton dry woolen ones. Denver fed the fire. Sethe warmed a pan of milk and stirred cane syrup andvanilla into it. Wrapped in quilts and blankets before the cooking stove, they drank, wiped theirnoses, and drank again.

　　"We could roast some taters," said Denver.

　　"Tomorrow," said Sethe. "Time to sleep."She poured them each a bit more of the hot sweet milk. The stovefire roared.

　　"You finished with your eyes?" asked Beloved.

　　Sethe smiled. "Yes, I'm finished with my eyes. Drink up. Time for bed."But none of them wanted to leave the warmth of the blankets, the fire and the cups for the chill ofan unheated bed. They went on sipping and watching the fire.

　　When the click came Sethe didn't know what it was. Afterward it was clear as daylight that theclick came at the very beginning — a beat, almost, before it started; before she heard three notes;befor............