"All right, Johnny. I won't. I'll try not to think of it. But Johnny—"
"Now, now, that's enough."
For fully five minutes neither of them spoke.
Then Marte asked, in a small voice, "Johnny?"
"Yes."
"I wonder how he got the bottle."
"Please, Marte...."
"I know, Johnny. But that way. It was so cruel. If he'd just waited." She looked at Johnny Nine.
"Johnny?"
He was staring at his sandals.