Guy nodded foolishly. How was he going to tell Joan the whole story in
short of a lifetime?
She looked around. "This isn't the _Orionad_. Why did you bring me
here?"
"I ... we--"
"Guy!" she came from the table, put her hands on his shoulders, and
looked up into his face. "It's been long, hasn't it?"
He nodded.
She searched his face understandingly, comprehended the suffering and
worry there, and said: "Tell me."
* * * * *
It came then, all in a burst of words. The entire tale from start to
finish with nothing withheld. It took an hour solid, and when Guy
finished, Joan looked up and asked:
"You're still going on?"