… And between drops whole epochs, eras, were elapsing.⁠ ⁠…

I put on my unif and bent over I-330 to draw her into me with my eyes⁠—for the last time.

“I knew it.⁠ ⁠… I knew you,” said I-330 in a very low voice. She passed her hand over her face as though brushing something away; then she arose brusquely, put on her unif and her usual sharp, bite-like smile.

“Well, my fallen angel⁠ ⁠… you perished just now, do you know that? No? You are not afraid? Well, au revoir. You shall go home alone. Well?”