The face on the other side of the slit was half-concealed by a black hood, but she could just make out a worried expression. “Don’t despair,” it said. “I wasn’t despairing. I was trying to get some sleep.” “Oh. Pardon me, I’m sure. I’ll just go away and leave you, shall I?” “But in the morning I shall wake up and then I’ll despair. What are you standing on, demon?” “Do you know what a crampon is?” “No.” “Well, it’s two of them.” They stared at each other in silence.
