The old hand that gripped his arm was oddly gentle. "Bless you, Captain. But it would never work. I'm under orders to remain here."
"Nobody can order a man grounded forever. You're coming with me if I have to drag you, Mr.—"
"Ahasuerus."
The old man hesitated, as if expecting the name to mean something. Then he sighed and lifted his dark glasses.
Clifton met the other's gaze for less than a second. Then his own eyes dropped, though memory of what he had seen was already fading. He vaulted over the balcony railing and began running away from Ahasuerus, toward his ship and the unconfined reaches of space.
Behind him, the eternal wanderer tarried and waited.