Anwei stepped forward, hoping that no one noticed her legs trembling. She had walked the Hangar, up and down the long rows, and then given up and borrowed something called a 'landspeeder' to complete the search. But Fuyu's motorcycle was not there. She was gone too.

"Hello, Howard," she whispered to the hard pod, laying a paper flower down in it; it was the best recreation she could make of the ploom she had given him once. Then she raised her voice and addressed the mourners.

"Howard Bassem was my friend. I don't know why he was Chosen to come here, except perhaps that he fought for life: fought for it with every strength he had. He was very young to have to fight so hard, and to be so strong. We are the less for not having him here with us. I will remember him, and hope that a part of him lives on in me, and in all of us."

She turned to the smaller pod, and laid a paper lily on it. "Hello, Cedric. I'm sorry I never got to know you. Thank you for being Howard's friend, and for fighting for him."

She bowed to both the pods, and stepped back.