QUOTE : Quickly again, cracking the next toe and the next, while Luca squirms in pain and lashes out her other foot against her sister. Dolores moans and shifts over to the far edge of the bed. The hands are moist from this quick work. They can feel the tremble of shock rippling under the child's skin. And then a quiet laugh, a comforting sound, a nice sound even, as if this pain is a gift brought noiselessly to a favorite daughter in the safety of darkness. Kisses the arch of the foot where the skin is softest, covers it again with the blanket and goes away.