"Shit," Adam breathes, stunned. He half-expects Orlit to express approval for the idea, but the Yeerk is pretty uncomfortable with the idea as well, and has no desire to live up to his ex-host's stereotypes.

"That's..."

He pictures tearing out a heart, tries to multiply that image to a thousand times its size and grotesquery. With utter seriousness, he tells her, "I'm sorry you had to go through that."

Adam and harrowing know each other pretty well.