“I am no longer afraid of getting old. Indeed I can't believe I ever said anything so stupid. So childish. So offensive and arrogant.But mainly, so very, very stupid. I desperately want to grow old.”

“If I am very lucky - I mean if I am clever about it - I will get myself shot. Here, soon.”

“But I have told the truth. Isn't that ironic? They sent me because I am so good at telling lies. But I have told the truth.”

“And I envied her that she had chosen her work herself and was doing what she wanted to do. I don't suppose I had any idea what I 'wanted' and so I was chosen, not choosing. There's glory and honor in being chosen. But not much room for free will.”

“How did you ever get here, Maddie Brodatt?""'Second to the right, and then straight on till morning,'" she answered promptly-it did feel like Neverland."Crikey, am I so obviously Peter Pan?"Maddie laughed. "The Lost Boys give it away."Jamie studied his hands. "Mother keeps the windows open in all our bedrooms while we're gone, like Mrs. Darling, just in case we come flying home when she's not expecting us.”

“And this, even more wonderful and mysterious, is also true: when I read it, when I read what Julie's written, she is instantly alive again, whole and undamaged. With her words in my mind while I'm reading, she is as real as I am. Gloriously daft, drop-dead charming, full of bookish nonsense and foul language, brave and generous. She's right here. Afraid and exhausted, alone, but fighting. Flying in silver moonlight in a plane that can't be landed, stuck in the climb—alive, alive, ALIVE.”

“I, of course, took the opportunity to interpose with pigheaded Wallace pride, 'I am not English, you ignorant Jerry bastard, I am a SCOT.”