He doesn't expect to be coddled, but even if his alternate doesn't have any self-respect left, Lucius is still going to be damned if he doesn't eke out some minimal respect for himself.

"So I hear." Lucius studies the older man, not quite sure he's ready to let it go at that. Finally, he says, "There are decent libraries, considering. Nothing terribly useful, and of course nothing about getting out, but there are some accounts, about the fog."