Kate's had to find her own way through more than enough trauma in her still-too-few years. If the others concern themselves with how slowly Marian comes back to them, Kate almost certainly never will. Marian's been there through some of Kate's more self-destructive years. They share that bond, if nothing else.

"Well 'nough. I always envied folk who'd talk of sailing the stars, seein' distant worlds, an' discoverin' new things the way Lewis an' Clark did. Now I'm here."

She laughs, a little helpless and a little thrilled, all wrapped up in the same sweet song.

"Takes some gettin' used to, don't it?"