"One might say a lifetime ago, but memories are a tricky thing, aren't they?" Hal speaks, his voice subdued and soft -- the hallmark that he is in the midst of one of his good cycles, though the shadow lingers past a door, just out of sight. They are one, here, and Hal is too intelligent to ignore that the next cycle is going to come hard and fast, at some point.

He regards the book, thinking that Leo had spoken highly of it, though Pearl had been somewhat judgmental of the topic. "I'm afraid I've been somewhat sheltered recently from all manner of pop culture. I haven't been up to speed on my literature."