noon
I could not wait in calm . I was afraid you would n't come -- yet I was afraid of your coming . My face worked of its own accord , and my words would not say what I knew -- '' `` When was that ? '' `` It was worse when I reached the jungle a little before noon and began to watch for you . '' `` And -- you ran away ? '' `` I was not good to look upon . '' `` But you are not like that now -- quite controlled -- like blue ice -- '' Skag turned his eyes slowly back the path by the river where the cough had come from .