"Annette. Does she still braid her hair?"
"Why," Kirk said slowly, feeling his palms going moist. "Why wouldn't she, Harry?"
A faint smile flickered across Loren's lips as he remembered.
Kirk watched one of the creature's claws, out of the corners of his eyes. He opened and closed the fingers of one hand, testing. The claw jerked slightly.
The blood of Kirk's new wound was drying, he knew, because it had been only a surface cut. He wondered how it would be if the thing used its claws with serious intent. Like it must have to make the cut that had been raked into Loren's back. Loren was bending forward now, and Kirk could see the tip end of that scar. Somehow Loren had managed to stay alive and befriend the creature. Eddie. The lidless eyes stared.
Kirk knew that he had to make use of the moment. It could break apart any time, the wildness could return, the unreasoning....
"Listen, Harry," he said, "we ought to get started, you know. There's no use waiting longer."
"Started?" Loren said.
"Of course," Kirk said, trying to keep his voice matter-of-fact. "You're going home."
Loren looked at Kirk and his eyes turned suddenly hard and his mouth lost the faint smile. "I am," he stated flatly.