. "Bobby... for her to say that, to me, it would mean... that she must love you... very, very much." What?" asked Bobby in disbelief. "How do you figu...e?"She sighed again. "It means that she hopes you will stay together. But she's telling you, that if you decide you would be happier with someone else... she will step aside. She wants whatever is best for you, even if it means that she will lose you... even if losing you would hurt her very much." But then why would she not want me to try to get. He said his dad told him that he used it for storing old furniture, so we’d probably just have to pick through the stuff and see what the camp can use and what we’ll donate to the Salvation Army.”She turned to smile genially at me and then returned her attention to the stove.“I guess if we can’t find the keys, we’ll just have to come up with a different plan. I know a locksmith in town,” she said. “We can use him if we have to, but I’m sure we’ll find the keys.”The toaster binged and she began. All it takes is for me to absorb a life force, and give some of it to you. Nothing to it, really.What happens to the person you absorb? Maes questioned.Well, he's absorbed, Puccar replied. If it makes you feel better, we can find a peasant or slave. Someone whose life doesn't matter. All that matters to us is the age and relative health.Why would you help me? Maes wondered.If you die, it is only a matter of time before I return to the abyss. It is in my best interest to keep you around as long. Wayne Carlsen was Max’s father. I didn’t see the resemblance. Perhaps the height -- Max was tall for a woman, but Wayne must’ve been 6’6’’. Great, I wasn’t used to being the short man in a conversation.“Hello, Doctor Carlsen,” I said.“Oh? You?” He laughed the laugh I had heard over the phone. “By Peter’s description I expected you to have a bit more of a demonic snatcher-of-babies look to you. Maybe a van with ‘free candy’ spray-painted on the side.”“Reasonably priced candy,” I corrected. “That.