Gustav Klimt Hygieia (II)

Gustav Klimt Hygieia (II)Gustav Klimt Goldfish (detail)Salvador Dali TigerSalvador Dali The Sacrament of the Last Supper
'How old are you?'
'Sixteen.'
'Oh, my.' Albert rolled his eyes. 'How long have you been sixteen?'
'Since I was fifteen, which was like hot brown water. Albert's cocoa had fat floating in it; if you turned the mug upside down, it would be a little while before anything fell out.
'Your mum and dad,' said Albert, when she had a chocolate moustache that was far too young for her, 'did they ever . . . explain anything to you?'
'Miss Delcross did that in Biology,' said Susan. 'She got it wrong,' she added.
'I mean about your grandfather,' said Albert., of course. Are you stupid?''My, my, how the time does pass,' said Albert. 'Do you know why you're here?''No . . . but,' Susan hesitated, 'but it's got something to do with . . . it's something like . . . I'm seeing things that people don't see, and I've met someone who's just a story, and I know I've been here before . . . and all these skulls and bones on things . . .' Albert's rangy, vulture‑like shape loomed over her. 'Would you like a cocoa?' he said.It was a lot different from the cocoa at the school