title: The Thief of Words
author:  Starling Lawrence 
description: In his lovely new novel, Starling Lawrence asks whether once something has happened, is there anything to do other than regret or forget. In <em>The Thief of Words</em>, Nora probes events long ago on a college summer in Africa, and the man who loves her can only listen and wait. The ending is beautiful and sad and all-too-human.<br /> - <strong>Christopher Tilghman, author of <i>The Right-Hand Shore</i></strong><br /><br /><em>The Thief of Words</em> is a dazzling novel. It explores the complexities of different cultures as well as those of the human heart. Starling Lawrence is a splendid writer.<br /> - <strong>Alistair MacLeod, author of <i>Island and No Great Mischief</i></strong>
zlib_text: CHAPTER SIX
  The sack tossed on top of the table stole their attention, for it belonged
  to Col, who should have been headed far away from there to the town
  of Kieschen.
  The words highwayman, thief, and bandit immediately raced
  through Lawrence’s head. No matter how mighty Col’s spirit, it would
  have been useless before ruthless physical force.
  But it was still odd. He could not piece things together in his head.
  As Lawrence lifted his face, there was a slender man beside the
  table wearing a hood low over his eyes. Lawrence instantly searched
  his own memory, but the man’s silhouette did not fit any person
  Lawrence could recall. Moreover, Lawrence was confused at the lack
  of a malicious aura. If anything, the man somehow had a refined air
  about him.
  Then, the mysterious person wandered on his way, as silent as a
  ghost. It did not even occur to Lawrence to give chase as the man
  slipped away from the table.
  He regained his senses when Holo grabbed the sack on top of the
  table and rose from 