"They grew in power on their Asgard world, changing as the millenniums swept over them, as entropy accelerated for them. And we changed, too, in our own place, in our different way. We are not human now. But we are not monsters, as the Aesir were. We have known failure and bitterness and defeat many times, Derek Stuart. But we remember humanity. And as for love—"
Stuart said bitterly:
"You know your love. You have it forever. But Kari ... Kari is dead."
The voices were very gentle. "You have sacrificed more than we. You gave up your love and your bodies. We—"
Silence again. Then the woman, serene and gentle-voiced, "There is a way, John. But not an easy one—for us."
Stuart thought, "But Kari is dead."
The woman said, "Her body is empty of the Aesir life-force. And yours is burned out by the power we poured through it, so that no human could live in it again unless—unless one more than human upheld you."
"Lorna—"
"We must part for awhile, John. We have been one for a long while. Now we must be two again, for the sake of these two. Until the change...."