Chris Holm - Dead Harvest

"Those are bedtime stories, Collector, nothing more. You of all people should know that."

"I do know that, but I also know that most of them contain a kernel of truth as well. Tell me, how long did it take you to tempt So'enel to your cause? Years? Centuries? Millennia? And how long, now that he's failed, before you try again?"

"You can't expect me to answer that."

I smiled and shook my head. "I suppose not."

"Nor can you prove a single word of what you just said."

"No, I guess I can't."

"So where does that leave us, then?"

I thought a moment. "Right back where we started, I suppose."

"Yes," she said carefully, "I suppose it does."

She strolled over to me, rising on tiptoes and kissing me softly on the cheek.

"You should take some time here with your friend," she said. "This work of ours can wait. After all you've seen, you deserve some rest — and believe me, you're going to need it. I have a feeling there's a storm brewing."

I said nothing: I just stood there watching as she strolled toward the open door. As she reached the threshold, she called to me, not looking back.

"See you 'round, Collector." Her voice hung in the air for what seemed like forever, long after she'd disappeared from sight.

Yeah, I thought. I bet you will.