"I'm afraid," Kyle said, whispering.
"I won't hurt you," Stan said. "I won't even, I won't—"
"I know," Kyle said. "And I'm afraid something will come along to spoil that. To spoil – this, a man who doesn't want to hurt me. Someone who wants to help."
"If something comes," Stan said, "I'll kill it."
"You're accustomed to killing bad things."