"When you think of how the world's changed in your lifetime, what do you think about?" "I think of killing." Her gaze was steady. "Really? Why?" "Have you ever had to do it?" Francois sighed. He didn't like to think about it. "I was surprised in the woods once." "I've been surprised too." It was evening, and Francois had lit a candle in the library. It stood in the middle of a plastic tub, for safety. The candlelight softened the scar on Kirsten's left cheekbone. She was wearing a summer dress with a faded pattern of white flowers on red, three sheathed knives in her belt. "How many?" he asked. She turned her wrist to show the knife tattoos. Two."