The slender salamander. The intended meaning of the author. Gold sacks in bank vaults. The most sensitive spot on her neck. The flavor in this dish. The squirrel’s nut hoard. Who your parents really were before you were born. One’s motivations. His wits. The child who doesn’t want to leave. A body’s abilities. The compounding impact of violence. The wolverine at the zoo. Quicksand. The prey flattened in the grass. The point of all of this. Her last will and testament. The only ripe lemon on this tree. The lessons learned. Tripwires under leaves and debris. The kiss to his mistress. The allergen outside. That time capsule we buried in the third grade. Your longing for another life. His eyes. Whatever is bubbling beneath the surface of the lake. The sun’s intentions for the day. What she actually meant when she said that. Many of the people in our bloodlines, and the ones who somehow got out alive.