"The train will bring you back if anything happens," Soldat says, firm in that belief, at least. "You and me. Probably not that different, that way. The train wouldn't have brought you here if she couldn't take care of you at least that much. No. Contracts. Are going to be necessary, I'm sure."

They reach over to clap his shoulder, gently. "You won't lose me. The train will take care of me, that way, too. And I'm not planning on doing that again any time soon. It felt weird." They've died so many times, and not a single one had felt like that.