[Minette saw the beast-shape swim across the woman's mind, kicking sinuously across of the dark waters of her feelings. Guilt? Guilt was for people like number 16, people who were desperately anxious about who they were and what was what. People who hated others and feared they were hated themselves.

Minette didn't blame himself for anything. But...it was good to know that there was someone else who felt the same.]

Thank you.

[He glanced up - her new acquaintance was dressed oddly, like a sort of soldier, and he thought she was quite beautiful. But hurting. Hurting from laughing too much.] Oh, you're new too? Where did you come from?

Help? Not right now. I'm more than halfway there. [He looked down again, and started on the third stroke of the 0.]