i think i 'm about to watch her go right by me , but she grabs my upper arm and drags me behind her . an endless procession of empty days . cool air rushed into his oxygen mask . `` do i want to know how you found out about the 'nothing else ' ? '' well , what passes for human these days ! we were surrounded by a nearly perfect circle of the tall , pale tree trunks . well , lets see if she knows how to write . he 'd given me nine billion pieces of power . 