“Well,” she asked, “have you made up your mind?”
Alvin’s reply seemed frank enough.
“Yes,” he said. “I will return to Diaspar.”
“I’m sorry, and I know that Theon will miss you. But perhaps it’s best: this is not your world and you must think of your own people.”
With a gesture of supreme confidence, she stood aside to let Alvin pass through the door.
“The men who can obliterate your memory of Lys are waiting for you: we expected this decision.”
Alvin was glad to see that Seranis was leading him in the direction he wished to go. She did not look back to see if he was following: her every movement told him: “Try and run away if you like-my mind is more powerful than yours.” And he knew that it was perfectly true.
They were clear of the houses when he stopped and turned to his friend.
“Good-bye, Theon,” he said, holding out his hands. “Thank you for all you’ve done. One day I’ll be back.”
Seranis had stopped and was watching him intently. He smiled at her even while he measured the twenty feet of ground between them.