Krem waded out until the water lapped at the curve of his calves. He watched Thomas, and nodded quietly. It had been a lot. It had taken a long time, and it had hurt a lot to do it. But life was sort of like that.

"Some of them hurt more than others. The wrist ones--" Krem held up his hands, where he had a phrase ringing one wrist and an hourglass on the other; then he tapped the words, Horns Up, on his ribs, "--and this one, they were the worst. Thin skin, not much muscle. And yes. Took about fourteen hours, with breaks."