"I might have been a little crazy then. But five years out in the tetron mines has brought me pretty close to my senses."
"You're a murderer...."
"It was in self-defense, and you know it. Those guards that converged on me weren't kidding. I didn't kill him on purpose. I just didn't want to get my head seared off."
"So you seared one of their heads off first. Jon Koshar, I think you're crazy. What are you doing here anyway?"
"It would take too long to explain. But believe me, the last thing I came back for was to see you again."
"So you come in, steal my clothing" Suddenly he laughed. "Oh, of course. I'm dreaming all this. How silly of me. I must be dreaming."
Jon frowned.
Uske went on. "I must be feeling guilty about that whole business when we were kids. You keep on disappearing and appearing. You can't possibly be more than a figment of my imagination. Koshar! The name! Of course. That's the name of the people who are giving the party that I'm going to once I wake up. That's the reason for the whole thing."
"What party?" Jon demanded.
"Your father is giving it for your sister. Yes, that's right. You had quite a pretty sister. I'm going back to sleep now. And when I wake up, you're to be gone, do you understand? What a silly dream."