As for the giant, Ba'tiste, with his outlandish clothing, his corduroy trousers and high-laced, hob-nailed boots, his fawning, half-breed dog, his blazing shirt and kippy little knit cap, the surprise was all the greater.

But that surprise, it seemed, did not extend to the other listener.

Thayer had bobbed his head as though in deference to an authority.

When he spoke, Barry thought that he discerned a tone of enthusiasm, of hope: "Do they ever get over it ?" "Sometime, yes.

Sometime--no.