"Eight months," he confirms somberly. "And there are people who've been here longer as well. But people suddenly disappear from the city as well; one day, the Door simply sends them home. There's no way of knowing in advance how long your stay here will be."

His heart goes out to her at the look of distress on her face. He's been lucky, surrounded as few are here by friends and family from home. For many others, he's now reminded, the situation is so very different.

"Aside from the city itself, where we are is difficult to pin down. You were here when Fear moved the city, I believe? Well, he has been doing that periodically for some time now, keeping his people away from the Null.

This is the first time anyone can remember it being place above ground, though."