wont you offer but a measure of patience ? she thought , fully expecting some kind of sarcastic remark from the voice , but for once it was silent . i fought to keep a blank face , and knew i was losing . to add , i guess , to the sense of occasion , i feel myself drenched in light from a spot lamp , im guessing , from high above . finally , at mid-morning , they all slept quietly for a couple of hours . `` but it was n't really a choice , was it ? 