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Show 117 one of his aunts. In the next hour Karl was able to dance with Yulyona three more times, although not consecutively. Between the second and third times he'd fortified himself with another sip of slivovice, from a glass he'd poured for himself, but only half full, or maybe three-quarters. He felt wonderful -- not tipsy, he assured himself, just happy. Yulyona hadn't gone back to her chair since the time Karl first invited her to the dance floor. Man after man begged her to dance, but Karl was the swiftest, darting forward to claim her the second he sensed the music was going to stop. Glowing color filled her cheeks; her eyes were brilliant; her off-center smile never disappeared. On his fifth or sixth dance with her -- the party had lasted for hours, and Karl lost count -- Vaclav Hrenko dashed out in another of his bull like charges toward a group of women. As he passed, Vaclav bumped into Yulyona and knocked her off-balance. She stumbled against Karl, clutching his neck for support while she tried to regain her footing. As Karl held her up, he pressed her against him for a fraction of time longer than necessary. His heart beat so wildly it might have choked him if his head hadn't been floating freely in a cloud of slivovice. "Oh Karl, I'm sorry, forgive me for bumping into you," she said, righting herself as quickly as she could. "I have to sit down now -- I'm exhausted. Would you please take me back to my chair? I'm going to catch my breath for a moment, and then I'll say goodby to Veronica. It must be terribly late!" |
