"Even the living were only ghosts in the making. You learned to ration your commitment to them." (Chapter 3, page 46)

"He likes being dominated, as people often do who've never had to raise their voice in their lives to get other people running after them." (Chapter 7, page 108)

"He has a lot of strengths but he isn't working from strength." (Chapter 7, page 110-111)

"Poor little bugger's had a station goodbye that's lasted for days. (Chapter 7, page 112)

"The mess has scuffed no-colour lino — the colour of misery, if misery has a colour...." (Chapter 7, page 114)

"After marriage complete fidelity was required and one expression of this was that one must never utter the name of an ex-lover." (Chapter 8, page 129)

"The widow of a chief can be freed only by the taking of a head." (Chapter 10, page 170)

"The trouble is my nerves are the same old nerves. I'd be happier with a...