[ He smiles at the purr, but it fades into perplexity at the comment about Fitcher. Not too much perplexity. They’ve talked around things enough for him to have some idea of the shape of the undiscussed space at the center. But some.

He’ll save it for later. ]

At least everyone was together and miserable in a swamp. [ He moves to another knot. ] Is that what you would want, if the war really went on forever? To spend your life that way, I mean. Of course the details could improve.