[ Does the survivor's guilt weigh so heavily and, more to the point, so transparently on him? Perhaps it does to someone familiar with looking for it. Harold is not a trained spy, merely a naturally private person. He recognizes the attempt at comfort, awkwardly offered as it is. There's just the smallest hint of a smile around the corners of his mouth. He would not discredit someone for their age, just increase his protectiveness. They deserve to have time enough to make mistakes, in his opinion. ]

I assure you I will be, [ Harold says sincerely. ] Particularly as I have a rather long walk ahead of me back to civilization. I shall not be repeating this visit to Nova unaccompanied.

[ The apartments and shopping center being what passes for civilization. Harold truly isn't looking forward to that walk, which is probably obvious based on how painstakingly he'd limped after Krouse. ]

Please do let me know if I can be of intellectual assistance to you in the future, Mr. Krouse, [ he says mildly, with a delicate tenor, as though it means nothing. Just an open-ended offer for no particular reason. Tests that are more intellectual and in pairs, is it? ]