human
Seems like I been away a long time.
gpt
A very long time,
human
Is it true, what Buck said? About you?
gpt
Oh, my dear, my dear! she cried.
human
Don't you see?
gpt
Seems like you're kind of pale, Kate.
human
The colour went while I waited for you, Dan.
gpt
But there comes a touch of red--like morning--in your throat, and runnin' up your cheeks.
human
Don't you see? It's because you've come back!
gpt
I remember we was close--closer than this. We were sittin' here--in this room--by a fire. And then something called me out and I follered it.
human
The wild geese--yes.
gpt
Wild geese? he repeated blankly, and then shook his head.
human
How could wild geese call me? But things happened. I was kept away. Sometimes I wanted to come back to you, but somehow I could never get started. Was it ten years ago that I left?
gpt
Months--months longer than years.
human
What is it? he asked.
gpt
I been watchin' you, and waitin' to find out what was different in you. Black Bart seen something in you. I dunno what. Today I sort of guessed what it is. I can feel it now. It's something like a pain. It starts sort of in the stomach, Kate. It's like bein' away from a place where you want to be. Queer, ain't it? I ain't far from you. I've got your hands in mine, but somehow you don't feel near. I want to walk--a long ways--closer. And the pain keeps growin'.