Subtext? Nope, no subtext here. >_>
From the novel 12 O'Clock High:
(Also, those poor abused adverbs!)
Original post has
comments.
He studied Gatley's unrelenting expression. And then he also found himself studying the young officer's individual features--the handsome, long-lashed eyes, the sensitive nostrils, the full lips--conscious that he had not taken the trouble before ever really to examine them. It was a stronger face than he had realized, but almost too good-looking. That, reflected Savage, must be what threw me off. Way, way off. He moved a little closer to Gately. He cleared his throat.
"You don't hate me," he said softly. "You just think you do." He waited. No answer.
"You never did hate me. You hated the things inside yourself that didn't belong there. You thought you hated me when I dragged them out in the open... and showed them to you."
Still no answer. Then the general perceived that Gately had begun to look terribly tired.
"I'm shoving off now." He reached out his hand halfway to Gately's but the latter, making no move, merely stared up at him blankly. Savage lingered a moment longer, his eyes dropping to the floor. He looked up. "Get some shut-eye," he added gently.
*howling*"You don't hate me," he said softly. "You just think you do." He waited. No answer.
"You never did hate me. You hated the things inside yourself that didn't belong there. You thought you hated me when I dragged them out in the open... and showed them to you."
Still no answer. Then the general perceived that Gately had begun to look terribly tired.
"I'm shoving off now." He reached out his hand halfway to Gately's but the latter, making no move, merely stared up at him blankly. Savage lingered a moment longer, his eyes dropping to the floor. He looked up. "Get some shut-eye," he added gently.
(Also, those poor abused adverbs!)
Original post has