at？〃　I　asked；　unwilling。

〃If　you　could　have　anything　in　the　world；　anything　at　all；　what　would　it　be？〃

I　could　feel　the　skepticism　in　my　eyes。　〃You。〃

He　shook　his　head　impatiently。　〃Something　you　don't　already　have。〃

I　wasn't　sure　where　he　was　trying　to　lead　me；　so　I　thought　carefully　before　I

answered。　I　came　up　with

something　that　was　both　true；　and　also　probably　impossible。

〃I　would　want　Carlisle　not　to　have　to　do　it。　I　would　want　you　to　change　me。〃

I　watched　his　reaction　warily；　expecting　more　of　the　fury　I'd　seen　at　his

house。　I　was　surprised　that　his

expression　didn't　change。　It　was　still　calculating；　thoughtful。

〃What　would　you　be　willing　to　trade　for　that？〃

I　couldn't　believe　my　ears。　I　gawked　at　his　posed　face　and　blurted　out　the

answer　before　I　could

think　about　it。

〃Anything。〃

He　smiled　faintly；　and　then　pursed　his　lips。　〃Five　years？〃

My　face　twisted　into　an　expression　somewhere　between　chagrin　and　horror。

〃You　said　anything；〃　he　reminded　me。

〃Yes；　but　you'll　use　the　time　to　find　a　way　out　of　it。　I　have　to　strike

while　the　iron　is　hot。　Besides；　it's

just　too　dangerous　to　be　human—for　me；　at　least。　So；　anything　but　that。〃

He　frowned。　〃Three　years？〃

〃No！〃

〃Isn't　it　worth　anyrhing　to　you　at　all？　〃

I　thought　about　how　much　I　wanted　this。　Better　to　keep　a　poker　face；　I

decided；　and　not　let　him　know

how　very　much　that　was。　It　would　give　me　more　leverage。　〃Six　months？〃

He　rolled　his　eyes。　〃Not　good　enough。〃

〃One　year；　then；〃　I　said。　〃That's　my　limit。〃

〃At　least　give　me　two。〃

〃No　way。　Nineteen　I'll　do。　But　I'm　not　going　anywhere　near　twenty。　If　you're