The Distributive Passions

—It’s too bad you won’t be here for the official release. You’ve done so much work…

—right. And now it’s time for you to do some.

—Sure. While you go off gallivanting…

—While I fly off to the Island of Misfit Reformers and try to network for the System. Honestly, I think I would rather ride herd on the servers.

—C’mon. A week in the Wondrous Isles?

—Sun, sand, razors-harp coral, hot and cold running kooks and spooks…

—Etzlertech, seas of lemonade…

—Or Yellow Dye No. Whatever.

—What’s your problem with this? You were more excited to go to Nauvoo. Of course, Pearl was at Smith-Cabet at the time…

—

—Do you think she’s going to be there?

—Who? Pearl?

—Don’t play dumb with me, son.

—

—

—I don’t know.

—Does Priss?

—Young Priscilla, unlike some of my friends, knows how to leave sore subjects alone…most of the time, anyway.

—Admirable. You oughta marry the girl.

—Dammit, Will! Can you just lay off?

—

—

—Sorry, man. What is it? Really?

—Not much sleep. Walked up into the Reserve last night.

—To see Kaylie.

—Yeah. She was pretty bad. They brought up the stuff about Father again.

—Hmm. Tell you what. Soon as you get back from the Encuentro, we’ll see if we can’t get to the bottom of all that. There’s a guy at Krotona, Chester Wing, who’s working on language therapy for Mollies. I had meant to pass along an article on it to you. Maybe he can do something for Our Ladies, and we can get some answers about your dad in the process.

—Hmm. Worth a try, I suppose. It’s tough to see her, see them like that.

—Well, you’ll be back in a couple of weeks. I’ll try to get in touch with this Wing character in the meantime.