but laurence said , `` of course i am not dead , my dear ; i am here , '' and temeraire bent down his head and peered at laurence very closely , and put out his tongue experimentally to sniff at him , and then at last he cautiously , so cautiously , put out his forehand to curl about laurence and lift him up , and oh , he was quite solid : he was there , and he was not dead at all , and temeraire gave a low joyful cry and curled around him tightly and said , `` oh , laurence ; i shall never let anyone take you from me again . ''