"Confusing," she agrees. She clenches her fingers; it's the only thing she can do, worrying at her lip with her teeth. "They put out the fire. You can see it. Not the first or second or third time but... some day one of them comes back and his breath smells like honey and it's just... just gone. There's nothing left. There's just hollow and ash and everything is gray and then one day they...they eat a gun." No, she's wandering. She's associating, because these are the things she can remember. "We have to protect them from that. It's our job, North. Even if that means eating blame."

Yes. That's what she meant to say.

She glances around furtively, which is stupid because the door is closed, North is here, they're not coming for her yet. Swallows dryly and whispers: "If you want to remember, write it down, before they come for you. Write it down and read it a hundred times."