Most of them don't want to be alone.

[It's not true, she thinks without saying it to him. She has always felt alone, even in houses and buildings filled with people. The reality is that she doesn't demand the kind of berth she receives from every living human being elsewhere, and there's some pretending, here, that maybe she was better groomed for society. She's watched the microcosm of it on Lillian's floors enough, at least.]

Once the food is gone, it's gone. So I've noticed anyway. He'd better figure something out before he starves us.