"Ash. Oh, Ash. Wake up." To Sutton's ears came the muted mutter of the coasting rockets, the hollow, thrumming sound of a small ship hurtling through space. "Johnny," said Sutton's mind. "We're in a ship, Ash." "How many are there?" "The android and the girl. The one called Eva. And they are friendly. I told you they were friendly. Why don't you pay attention?" "I can't trust anyone." "Not even me?" "Not your judgment, Johnny. You are new to Earth." "Not new, Ash. I know Earth and Earthmen. Much better than you know them. You're not the first Earthman I've lived with." "I can't remember, Johnny. There's something to remember. I try to remember it and there's nothing but a blur. The big things, of course, the things I learned, the things I wrote down and took away. But not the place itself or the people in it." "They aren't people, Ash." "I know. I can't remember." ''You're not supposed to, Ash. It was all too alien. You can't carry such memories with you…you shouldn't carry such alien memories, for when you carry them too closely, you are a part of them.
