What he said sounded very important. Under other circumstances, Zen knew he would have considered it important. But other things seemed more significant now. "Did she blow?" he asked.
"All of ten minutes ago," West said exultantly. "Do you know what this means, Kurt? Do you know what it means?"
"Yeah," Zen answered. "I won't have to be an eel." There was still this other thing that was important. "Say—"
"An eel?" For an instant the craggy man was puzzled. Then he grasped the meaning. "You're right, Kurt. No eels—for any of us."
"That's good," Zen said. "Nedra—"
"She's right here beside you, still out from exhaustion. But she will be all right."
"Good," Zen said again. This other fact was still in his mind. As he tried to think what it was, the answer came to him. He looked up at the craggy man. "You're not Sam West," he said.
"No?" the craggy man said, the ghost of a smile on his lips. "Then who am I?"
"You're Jal Jonner. Nobody but Jal Jonner could have done all the things you have done."
"You're right, Kurt. I'm Jal Jonner. And you're Kurt Zen. And this is Nedra—" Zen saw the smile on the face of the craggy man. It was a very good smile, the best he had ever seen. Then it faded away as he sank into the deep slumber of exhaustion. He did not even feel Jonner place Nedra's hand in his as he went to sleep.