"She felt attracted by their weakness as by vertigo. She felt attracted by it because she felt weak herself. Again she began to feel jealous and again her hands shook. When Tomas noticed it, he did what he usually did: he took her hands in his and tried to calm them by pressing hard. She tore them away from him. "What's the matter?" he asked. "Nothing." "What do you want me to do for you?" "I want you to be old. Ten years older. Twenty years older!" What she meant was: I want you to be weak. As weak as I am."