It's not pain in a physical sense, which leaves Childermass free to cringe away from Lambert's hand.

"Don't," he says. No actual pain, sure, but panic certainly holds an edge in his gravelly voice. "I don't want to be touched. Just... don't." That said, he can't help but laugh. "You think you were protecting me? If you had meant to, you wouldn't have gotten yourself thrown into Theta. I told you, I told you to take care of yourself, but you didn't listen, did you?"