Worlds Without End

18

"You must send me back," Thais said.

We'd returned to the darkened interior of my liv- ing room shortly after sunrise. Thais was not fond of the light. He said it was too cruel. 139

"Why don't you stay here with me?" I asked. Caimbeui gave me a sharp look, which I ignored.

"I cannot," Thais said. "And you know why. But there is something I will tell you. Ysrthgrathe is not the only one of the Enemy here. There is another, just as subtle and as deadly."

"But where… how…"

"Deal with Ysrthgrathe first," Thais said.

I tried to get him to tell me more, but he refused. Finally, I had no other choice than to send him back.

The house seemed empty after Thais was gone. How I wanted to spend time with him. Get to know him. Figure out his peculiarities. But I had denied myself that long ago. And there was no going into the past to fix things.

We closed up the house again. Sheets covered the furniture. The alarms were set. I didn't look back as we drove away.