" My Ona Elena once told me something important," Adam said, hesitant now that the force of Levec's anger had deserted him. " Happiness is like a seed." Before Levec could speak, Adam lifted a hand. " She said that anger and hatred and love are like seeds as well. All the things we feel that endure, are." " And we are?" " Dirt," Adam replied." I might agree with that statement, but I'm certain you intend to go elsewhere with it." " We are earth. But we are like different types of earth, in different climates. Not all seeds that fall from a tree take root. Not all things that take root survive. We cannot be given happiness. Only the seed of it. We might not recognize the seed," he added. " Because we can't see the tree it might become. We are surrounded by trees, and the seeds in our hands looks nothing like them." For some, the earth is damp and fertile, and all seeds take root. But for others, the earth is hard, and water scarce. Elena believed that no man--or woman--starts life as a desert. But without trees, any many or woman can become one." - Adam "