"We can hope," Ellen says. "We can hope."

They're first back to the rendezvous point. It won't be long before Kang, Jerald, and the others return; Ellen leans back against an ancient lamppost and rubs at her face with both hands.

"I was going to thank you for helping me with all of this, but given what happened at the Bar, that'd probably sound kind of hollow," she says quietly. "Still- thank you."