You have wandered far and seen strange things and lived where others would have died because it was your lot to live, of all of which we will talk afterwards.

And now when you are grey you have come back here, as the Opener of Roads told you you would do, bringing with you new companions, you who have the art of making friends even when you are old, which is one given to few men.

Where are those with whom you used to company, Macumazahn?
Where are Saduko and Mameena and the rest?
All gone except the Thing-who-should-never-have-been-born," and again he laughed loudly.
"And who it seems has never learned when to die," I remarked, speaking for the first time.
"Just so, Macumazahn, because I cannot die until my work is finished.

But thanks be to the spirits of my fathers and to my own that I live on to glut with vengeance, the end draws near at last, and as I promised you in the dead days, you shall have your share in it, Macumazahn." He paused, then continued, still staring at the sinking sun, which made his remarks about us, whom he did not seem to see, uncanny-- "That white man with you is brave and well-born, one who loves fighting, I think, and the maiden is fair and sweet, with a high spirit.

She is thinking to herself that I am an old wizard whom, if she were not afraid of me, she would ask to tell her her fortune.