“Sirius,” said Faust, tasting the name on his tongue. He smiled. “An eccentric name.”

In fact, it almost had the air of a pseudonym. But this kind, concerned stranger wouldn’t do that to him, would he? “Most simply call me Faust. Perhaps Johann is too personal for them.”

Actually, it might be an admirable call. Somehow it seemed that calling Faust by his first name might encourage a little too much closeness.