"Your mother… your aunt… Lorraine. Did she speak to you of Adelle?"
Roxanne found the question somewhat surprising, but, in truth, she was glad the man went on with the conversation.
"Well, yes. Adelle and Mama met in the spaceship. During the one-year voyage they became good friends and chatted a little every time Mama could make it to the village. So, I looked for her inn the night we ran away from the castle. Mama'd told me if anything ever happened, I could come to her."
"But you don't know anything… about her. Anything… about her life here… or… about her life before."
Suddenly, Alan was stammering, very nervous. Roxanne understood the information she could provide was really important to him.
"I don't know much. I know she was also a prostitute on Earth. And that here Leonard made her responsible for the inn. Apart from that, I only know Mama was very fond of her, and now that I've met her, I'm very fond of her myself. But, I can't tell you anything else."
"It's all right. I appreciate it," replied Alan, in a slightly artificial tone. He was clearly afraid that she might have guessed what was behind his interest.
"If you wish," said the girl, standing up and shaking the dust from her beautiful burgundy dress, "we can start our way back."