“Where’s Dale Wavechaser?” Elliot demanded. Luke blinked. “Who’s Dale Wavechaser?” “Your friend!” said Elliot. “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” said Luke. “Which is life as usual, I guess.” Just because Luke, Serene, and Elliot had fallen into something of a routine did not mean that Luke had the right to describe that routine as “life as usual.” He was giving Elliot’s new friends entirely the wrong impression.
