But the girl was waiting, and finally Nona took her hand.

It was all Nona could think of at the moment.

Nona looked at her, surprised on more than one level.

Nona knew she would have no trouble understanding what the man said.

Nona's eyes followed him as he stopped to pay the check.

Nona looked up; and he stopped dead at the look in her eyes.

Nona had known what was coming, yet not quite believed it.

Nona nodded, just as if nothing else were going on.

If they use magic, Nona will have to help us.

Nona remembered again how her own family had been lost.

But Nona knew the girl did not want her along, for excellent reason.

In fact, Nona was concerned that they would not be able to move its mass across the water.

Things were looking very good, and Nona seemed much happier.

This was not exactly what Nona had hoped to see.

He considered himself a good judge of people and liked Nona immediately.

As if Nona's attention was the signal, the two started moving toward each other.

Nona felt much improved when she got up, and Tom looked better too.

They were all under Nona's illusion of nothing, and could not see themselves.

Nona got up and walked away, knowing that she was no longer needed here.

Nona resolved to say and think nothing about what she had seen last night.

Except for his surprise that Nona should act this way.

She felt his presence leave, and knew he was seeking out Nona.

He indicated the two figures behind him, who still looked exactly like himself and Nona.

"But Nona is the only other human person here," he said.

All that she might have dreamed of, gone instead to Nona!