he's the finest Officer in The Fleet! Morn, have
you ever been scared? I don't just mean frightened, but I mean
absolutely terrified? Tomorrow they're going to take my brain apart and
put it back together again, and I'm terrified; absolutely, positively
terrified!"
83 "If I was in your place," comforted Morn, "I would most likely feel
the same way! You're only a man, North. There's got to be something all of us are afraid of. Most
of us can go through life without any fears at all, but we have to face
them, overcome them and do what must be done.
84 Have faith, old friend. You'll come out of this fine. You're a
fighter, a survivor. This invader within you will be destroyed, and
you'll still be the North we all love. No matter what happens, we'll be
there."
85 "How did I ever find a friend like you?" North asked.
86 "Because you had the courage," Morn answered, to extend your hand to
someone who was different, to say 'hello, how are you? Let's be
friends.' Because you judge what is within, not what is without. We are
kindred Spirits, North, each of us is a part of the other. As long as one of us lives, both of us live, because each of us
will carry on the dreams and the desires of the other."
87 "I wish” said North, "I had your way of saying things, Morn. You
express things like poetry. I have always treasured our friendship, but
never more than this moment." He put his hand on Morn's shoulder, and
Morn responded. There was no need for words anymore.
88 A few minutes later their ladies came out to join them. All sat
watching the stars, as Morn told them the Hashon Legends that went with
each star group. Then, they went off to bed.
89 Early the next morning North slipped from the house.