What is she to me? Except a menace — a danger you’ve chosen to inflict on all of us.

You’ve never been a teenager, sweetie. You know what’s best for you.

You're awfully small to be so hugely irritating.

Good luck, little Wanderer, good luck. How I wish you didn't need it.

Billy wanted me to stay a safe distance from the most important person in my life. It turned out that his concern was, in the end, unnecessary. I was all too safe now.

It is a strange world," I murmered, more to myself than to the native soul. "The strangest," he agreed.

The waves of pain that had only lapped at me before now reared high up and washed over my head, pulling me under. I did not resurface.