I'm just not a natural teacher.

A certain luxury when you get to writing a novel is to have the space to have your characters just banter.

I've never flown a kite.

Siempre he envidiado a las personas que se duermen con facilidad. Sus cerebros deben de estar más limpios, los suelos del cráneo bien barridos, y todos los pequeños monstruos de la mente encerrados en un baúl a los pies de la cama.

Markov's not important,' she said. 'I'm not important. You're not important. Winning the war, that's the only important thing.'
'No,' I said, 'I disagree. Markov was important. So am I and so are you. That's why we have to win.

I didn’t know if we were heading for the gallows or an interrogation chamber. The night had passed without sleep; save for a swig from the German’s flask, there hadn’t been a sip to drink since the rooftop of the Kirov; a lump the size of an infant’s fist had swelled where my forehead had cracked the ceiling- it was a bad morning, really; among my worst- but I wanted to live.