"One day man will pay his debts."

"Man owes everything to God, whatever name one calls Him. Man, however, seems ungrateful for his blessings. He continues face-lifting the earth to suit his tastes. Truly, man is insatiable. Full of disconetent. He's a paradox, though. He hates change but loves modernity. Even calling himself modern man. Homo sapiens. But we simply are primitives in new outfits. Once we encounter the unknown, pain and suffering, we do remove our masks."

"But without them, Tom, life isn't worth living." Again she opted to change the topic.

He took out a cigarette and lighted one. He took the cue. "Only lovers appreciate nature. May they be poets, painters, writes or just simple men in love . . . like us." He added the last words without thinking and punctuated it with a billow of smoke. They came out naturally, the words and the smoke.

"The great lover boy." Marie had now the courage to laugh.

* * *