He reached for the scalpel and sighed. "There's a difference between 'not interfering' and still considering me a friend. I wouldn't have told you that if I didn't trust you." Birkin drew the blade out of Stein's hand and bent over the Licker to cut off a small piece of its tongue.

"Thanks. It was really her own fault though. Shouldn't have tried to shoot the damn thing..." Even if 'the damn thing' was him, that was how he felt. "How about you? Ever been married?"