The boy's ears were duller than his. But presently he smiled and said, "So that's how they're going to do it. Vibration, that will shake Ben Beatha into a cloud of dust, and me with it. They must believe I'm still asleep." He shrugged. "What matter? It's death."
Ciaran slung the harp across his back. There was a curious finality in the action.
"There's a way from here into the pit. Where is it?"
Bas pointed across the open space. Ciaran started walking. He didn't say anything.
Bas said, "Where are you going?"
"Back to Mouse," said Ciaran simply.
"To die with her." The crystal maze bummed eerily. "I wish I could see Marsali again."
Ciaran stopped. He spoke over his shoulder, without expression. "The death of the Stone doesn't mean your death, does it?"
"No. The first exposure to its light when it landed, blazing with the heat of friction, made permanent changes in the cell structure of my body. I'm independent of it—as the androids are of the culture vats they grew in."