"Yes.  She sits by the harbor of KØbenhavn-Copenhagen was his home town - and she's everybody who ever made a difficult choice.  She doesn't regret her choice, but she must pay for it; every choice must be paid for.  The cost to her is not only endless homesickness.  She can never be quite human; when she uses her dearly bought feet, every step is on sharp knives.  Ben, I think that Mike must always walk on knives - but there is no need to tell him I said so.  I don't think he knows this story or, at least, I don't think he knows that I connect him with it."