Corrupting? Is that how he saw it? Howl shook his head, unable to see for himself that this characterization was completely correct. The Kenoma is wrapped tightly around his being for the moment; the sense of hopeless it instills was Howl's only possible reality.

"I've seen no sign of any intent on their part to harm the remainder of you," Howl quickly answered, defending himself as much as the people he'd aligned himself with. "I believe we'd all prefer they'd gone about convincing us of the right path in a different way, but... How is escaping going to help? Do you even know where you're going?"