[ Some of the wind goes out of his sails at that, although he still faces away, staring at the far wall, his shoulders slumping slightly. ]

You've already done that, have you not? If I left you that message, Ja'far... I suspect I knew there was no coming back from where I was headed.

[ There's a long pause before his posture shifts slightly. ] I don't know this David. Or Arba. Who are they?