"It wouldn't do any good," said Sutton. "No one could get through."
"You did."
"Yes, and I was the first. Because I was the first, I also was the last."
Across the desk, Adams smiled winterly. "You were fond of those people, Ash."
"They weren't people."
"Well…beings, then."
"They weren't even beings. It's hard to tell you exactly what they are. You'd laugh at me if I told you what I really think they are."
Adams grunted. "Come the closest that you can."
"Symbiotic abstractions. That's close enough, as close as I can come."
"You mean they really don't exist?" asked Adams.