Atton reached into his pocket to pull out a packet of cigarettes. "It's always temporary," he said.

They were quiet for a while, after that.

"You're still dodging the question," he said at last. "But you know what, it's dark out, and I'm--" emotionally exhausted but incapable of running, "--kind of tired. So let's table this conversation until tomorrow and you can go crash in my guest bedroom, all right?"