“I called this island Bad Humored Island, as we were in a bad humor.”

“Most humans were on one big island, to the fairies, and that island was adrift on a sea called I Totally Don’t Care.”

“...we’re just kids growing up on an island, doing bad things in pretty places.”

“It is the only way," Vadderung said. "If anyone managed to set free the things in the Well...""Seems like it would be bad," I said."Not bad," Vadderung said. "The end.""Oh," I said. "Good to know. The island didn't mention that part.""The island cannot accept it as a possibility," Vadderung said absently."It should probably put its big-girl pants on, then," I said.”

“We were not many, and the world was very small. There were strange lands to the east- islands like Akutan; so we thought all the world was islands, and did not mind.”

“I'm not that bad,” he said. “I'm rich, popular. I have a sense of humor. I'm good looking, and not to mention I have a really big—”