MS: Knives and eggs. Oh, my. What can those possibly represent? (Sudden pronounced hostility. Dr. Gravem must be picking up on this as well. A cat climbs into her lap and begins purring loudly. The temperature of the room warms noticeably.)

JS: Is your head hurting? (MS has been repeatedly pinching the top of her nose. Of course, she must know this impacts our retinal measurements.)

MS: I have the most wonderful little candies. On a restricted basis, of course; Dr. Gravem counts them out one at a time. Dr. Gravem, may I?

JS: Is that better?

MS: Any minute now.

JS: I’m not getting a clean read yet. Let’s try a different tack.

What are some of Monica Swinton’s magic words?

MS: You answer.

JS: Me? I love the word “looking-glass.” From Alice. A mirror is nothing but the same world flat and backwards. But a looking-glass is a door to a whole new kingdom. Like a telescope or a microscope. A glass for looking. Your turn.

MS: (stroking the cat, clearly beginning to relax. Note to self: when it can be done privately, ask Dr. Gravem what the candies contain) “Stop