Author's note: the abbreviated passage below beginning with "This month" and ending with "this night" comes from the book of Exodus in the Bible.
Except that he was not moving slow, not at all. In the time it took to push two hot heartbeats of blood through his body, he was close enough to reach out and touch her. Instead he regarded her, his face a stone mask beset with rubies, as mysterious and unreadable as a granite god underground. His countenance was of ice and indifference, and Starling once again felt her flesh shiver instinctively.
Oh, what have I done?
At the same time and perhaps in the same heartbeat, there was raging under the ice, and the god began to tremble at its foundations.
Clarice, what have you done?
Savage her, savage her for making me feel this way, for doing it this way, her way, I could not save Her but will, by all that is unholy take her blood, wallow in it and make it mark me forever, mark myself with the lamb's blood-
"The smell of blood, blood all around cooling when it hits the light..." He drops to his knees before her, and lowers his dark sleek head to her breast. She feels his warm breath counter the cool air and is aware that he continues to speak.
"This month shall be unto you the beginning of months. It shall be the first month of the year to you. Your lamb should be without blemish, and you shall kill it in the evening. Take of the blood and strike it two side posts, and of the upper door post for I will pass through the land this night..." his voice faded to whisper.
Starling by necessity breathed. Lecter's head lowered still farther, and his tongue caught the drop of wine which still impossibly remained.
To be continued.
