Therem waves Jack into a chair. "My child and I have written to one another much over the years. I had never seen his face, nor he mine. He has come from a little over a year in my own future." Nothing at all in Therem's voice betrays knowledge of what Sorve told him. Knowing of his own death.

Sorve offers no elaboration as to how different their two times might be, instead leaning forward to stare at Jack.

"You are very pale," he observes. "As are many here. How did you change the air?"