[ North has taken one bite out of his sandwich—that's about all it deserves, even comparing it to the swill they used to serve on the Invention—and is taking a drink when Wash sits down.

Then Wash speaks. North caps his drink and sighs. ]

Wash, I don't intend to stop talking to you over this. I don't want to hurt you, and I don't want revenge. I don't—

[ He stops abruptly and shakes his head. ]

Okay, let's start at the beginning.

[ He begins counting his points on the fingers of one hand. ]

Number one, do I think you were telling the truth about what you said? Yes. You said things that made South bad, but you also said things that made yourself look bad, and I don't think you would have made up parts of it and not others.

Number two, am I upset with you? Well, I mean, that's only human, right? I'm kind of upset you didn't come up with some other way to deal with the situation you were in. But I also wasn't there to see whether there was any other plausible way. I'll have to take your word for that—you just didn't have any other way. Right?

Okay, and third, I want you to know I don't think this is unforgivable. Wash, we're friends. Do you really expect me to just throw that all away? Especially when we're the only two here that know one another?