5
" Hello," She said.
There was a long silence.
"Hello," said Artemis again.
"Are you talking to me?" said the tree. It had a faint Australian accent.
"Yes," said Artemis. "I am Artemis." If the tree experienced any recognition, it didn't show it. "I'm the goddess of hunting and chastity," said Artemis.
Another silence. The the tree said, "I'm Kate. I work in mergers and acquisitions for Goldman Sachs."
"Do you know what happened to you, Kate?" said Artemis.
The longest silence of all. Artemis was just about to repeat the question when the tree replied.
"I think I've turned into a tree," it said.
"Yes," said Artemis. "You have."
"Thank God for that," said the tree. "I thought I was going mad."
Then the tree seemed to reconsider this. "Actually," it said, "I think I would rather be mad." Then, with hope in its voice: "Are you sure I haven't gone mad?"
"I'm sure," said Artemis. "You're a tree. A eucalyptus. Subgenus of mallee. Variegated leaves."
"Oh," said the tree.
"Sorry," said Artemis.
"But with variegated leaves?"
"Yes," said Artemis. "Green and Yellow."
The tree seemed pleased. "Oh well, there's that to be grateful for," it said. "
― Marie Phillips , Gods Behaving Badly
6
" Just shut up. Shut the fuck up, you stupid, uptight, don't drink, don't smoke, don't fuck, don't do anything that might almost be interpreted as fun, sanctimonious little fucking virgin. Fuck, fuck, fucking fuck, I've had enough. I'm not going to this fucking meeting, I don't care what happens to the fucking family, you can tell Athena what the fuck you like, just as long as you get out of my fucking face and stay out of it. - Apollo "
― Marie Phillips , Gods Behaving Badly
9
" I've never had sex," repeated Artemis. "Never wanted to." It was her turn not to look at him as she spoke. "Not with a man or with a woman, or with an animal, though my family joke about it. And I never will. The thought of it disgusts me. But the others - my family - they think that means I haven't got any feelings. That I could never care about anyone, that I don't know what love is, just because I don't-" she shuddered. "But you know what?" she said, turning to him now. "I really loved my dogs. Everyone laughs at me for it, but it's true. The time I spent with them, running, hunting, those were the happiest times of my life. They understood me. They were animals but they understood me far better than anyone in my family ever will. We shared something, we were the same. And they made me kill them. "
― Marie Phillips , Gods Behaving Badly
11
" Neil tudatában volt az idő múlásának, ám az idő alapvető tulajdonságai újabban igencsak eltértek attól, amihez ő szokva volt. Először is az idő két részre esett. Volt az „azelőtt”, az az idő, amely valósnak tűnt, körvonalai élesen kirajzolódtak, rövid volt, no és hát… és hát vége volt. Aztán volt az „azután”, a most. Ennek az időnek nem voltak tulajdonságai, és nem látszott a vége. Lassú, siralmas jelen, jövő nuku, remény nuku. Ocsmány „most”, melybe örökre beleragadt, a kegyetlen, hajthatatlan, befejezett múltnak immár mindig a rossz oldalán. Mely múltat elnézegette, amikor csak kedve támadt, és gyakran olyankor is, amikor semmi kedve nem volt hozzá, megérinteni azonban soha többé nem érinthette meg. "
― Marie Phillips , Gods Behaving Badly
20
" Fölöttük sorakoztak a könyvei. Neil lakásában mindenütt könyvek voltak, itt-ott elszórva – ugyanis úgy érezte, bármely szoba meztelen nélkülük, ráadásul annyi volt belőlük, hogy el sem fértek volna egy helyen –, itt a kuckóban csak a kedvenceit őrizte: klasszikus sci-fik, fantasyk (csakis a legjobb fajtából) és egy csomó kézikönyv – súlyos, történelmi témájú kötetek, főleg háborúkról, melyek közül nem mindegyiknek ért a végére. Ezeket műfajok szerint csoportosította, azon belül pedig ábécérendben tárolta őket. "
― Marie Phillips , Gods Behaving Badly
