"I guess that's true," Benji says, for all that she too thinks it more than likely that Xas and his kind do not exist where she exists, except the thought fails to make her uncomfortable. It's out of an understated bewildering that she can talk to someone who speaks of the human race as Xas does, even if it's mild and understated as well; apart from it, with the power and decision to be so.

She stretches out her legs in front of her. Practical theology seems like the kind of thing she needs more wine for. "I liked gardening too. You must be very good at it."