When she let him in, she wouldn't look at him, and his insides seemed to turn to ice. He straightened himself and went to the cabin they had shared so often. She walked just behind him, robes swishing back and forth. She had lost some of her vitality. Elvox didn't say anything until they were alone and the door was shut.
"What happened yesterday?" he asked, trying to be cheerful and casual. She smiled weakly and said everything had been worked out. Then she told him that Kawashita wanted to see Japan.
"Won't be anything like what he remembers," he said.
"Some parts are still preserved," she said. "But he knows how different it will be."
"What does he want to wander for? Why not just settle here and tend his property?"
She laughed a short, hard laugh. "There's nothing here. Even his memories are falling apart with the stuff in the dome."
"It's just about gone now." Elvox said.
"I hope we'll part as friends."
"I've never known anyone like you," he said, almost in the same instant. "I've been wanting to—"
"Clarify," she said. "All this should be made clear."
"Yes."
"A lark," she said.
"Not to me." He felt his eyes water and resisted the pressure. "Very serious."
"We gave each other relaxation in a hard time."
"That's all?"
"And affection. I appreciate it."
"What was so hard about it? You got everything you wanted."
"Which turned out to be nothing."
"You got me."
"Julio, it isn't—"
"It was," he said. They were quiet for a few moments. "Given time."
"Not for me." And that was it. He had to salvage something, so he said, "Not expedient, hm? I couldn't accept a position on your ship, anyway. I have better opportunities elsewhere."
"Of course."
"I can see where you might have a lot of work to do. I'd only be in the way." She did feel for him, Elvox thought, more than she was letting on—but something had come up. That was it. A stronger motive was making her back away. "Kawashita knows more, right?"
"What are you talking about?"
"I'll leave. I won't even report it."
"Report what?"
"The Waunters will never hear of it."
"Jesus Christ, what are you talking about?"
He left the cabin, bumping past Kawashita on the way to the cargo lock. He gave the Japanese a wild, desperate glance, almost a question, then made his features blank and walked quickly down the ramp. He picked up his environment pack and pushed through the bubble. Nestor watched from the cargo lock, tears welling in her eyes, feeling like the youngest, cruelest child. She shrugged off Kawashita's hand and ran to the left to go to the bridge.
Elvox gave terse orders and sent a quick message to the orbiting USC ship. "Our job's done here," he told Tivvers. "They're leaving in a few days. Kawashita's going with them. Everything's okay, no problems, so why should we stay." His voice was level. Tivvers nodded.
"There's a lot of work to do before we go," Elvox said.