her thin lips tightened into a straight line . your last recognition occurred 25,000 years ago . 'a place where rats could really be rats . ' i nodded , and then he let me go , and i was walking away , my heart slamming against my ribs . at first , he just did n't understand . her own husband had been like them , possessive of his wife , and everyone had gotten on perfectly . why did he have to have so many brothers ? he is exactly what we said he is . 