[a bullet dodged. it doesn't matter if he can use ed or not, but when the time comes, he won't need a little brat speaking up and saying he "always had a bad feeling about his research" or some such nonsense. it's all about covering his tracks...

qilby laughs.] If you can give me some time to translate them into English for your convenience, then we have a deal. [he'll also need the time to edit all incriminating passages. which there're a lot of.

a pause. when he speaks up again, his tone is even, measured... determined. no matter what ed's verdict on this work will be, it's clear the eliatrope's going to pursue it.] I let my people perish by not giving them the strength to fight off our attackers. This isn't my home, but I'm not going to let it happen a second time.