Shadow’s heart stopped. While Theo did not observe it with his eyes, he felt the life juice leave the dog’s body. In the final shudder of the death throe, Shadow gave up his ghost.

I love you, Shadow. I want you to go now,” Theo said quiet-ly. “You can go, Shadow. Walk with me. C’mon, I’m just ahead of you. Come on, climb away from that old body of yours. Walk with me. Do you see me? I’m just ahead of you on the beach. See? You can now run fast ‘cause you have all your legs, again. Can you feel them, boy?

Just as we take a train to get to Beijing or Manhattan, we take death to reach a star.

She brought a chicken from the coop to the chopping block. She kissed the hen’s beak in gratitude, knowing the hen would nourish many youngsters through her sacrifice. After the blessing, Oota Dabun took an ax to the hen’s neck. The death was instant. Painless. Such is the mercy that comes from the slayer who knows one day he or she shall also be slain.