"Seriously, Boothill."
The Banana Helper looked at him happily.
"You haven't mentioned Nick in a long time. Then again, to you right now, everything the company did is still in the distant future."
"Ha. What the hell are you talking about?" Boothill scoffed in a boyish voice.
"What a weird dream."
"Then call it a weird dream." The Banana Helper patted Boothill's shoulder. "Anyway, it's time for you to return to reality."
"How does it feel? Will waking up from the dream hurt?"
"Hurt? Of course not."
Happiness lit up Boothill's face.
"Too bad you're just someone in a dream. You can't see the land I know. It's so beautiful you'd gladly die there."
The Banana Helper nodded in approval.
The more he looked at the boy, the more he liked him.
"I never expected someone so young to come up with such a beautiful comparison."
"That's nothing strange," Boothill said with a faint smile.
"People have to learn to comfort themselves. Part of that is learning to make peace with death."
"There's a saying in Algon-Apache: death is the fairest kindness."
"For a good man, death preserves his integrity."
"For a cunning villain, death brings everything to a swift end."
"I see..." Curious, the Banana Helper glanced at March 7th, who stood atop a teetering pile of junk and was still watching them. He went on,
"So you aren't afraid of death?"
"Then please give me your hand."
"I'm sure you'd be willing to spread that fairest kindness... to every corner of the universe."
"In the name of the Primal Doctor."
"This is your final lesson. I'll make sure you fully understand his philosophy."
"And one star will... pitifully go out."
Boothill's gaze went unfocused again. As though bewitched, he slowly reached toward the Banana Helper. "No problem, teacher..."