Mirai had been keeping a wary eye on the scientists. Now the space between his ears began to fill, not with defiance at the small woman's words but an obsession about unraveling the truth out of them. He said no word of any kind. He simply could not imagine this ever being the truth. He stood there feeling every bit the young man he was, and detoured into a daydream of confrontation.

It was a struggle, but his mind sparked, found a creative way around the problem.

"I know," he lied. "He told me."