Window turned and placed his hands on Story’s shoulders. “You should have learned something from this,” he said. “You have to trust your own abilities, and not doubt them because someone else does. If we do carry out our present plans, you’ll have to hold your own sense of integrity in the face of skepticism just like Proteus’.

Then, turning to Proteus, Window said, “You’ll be good for her, she isn’t used to anyone doubting her word. You’ll end up teaching each other.” To Story he added, soberly, “If you get more on the implied threat, let me know.” Then, gently, “Distortion could account for it; you could unconsciously consider Proteus a threat to begin with, particularly if you doubt your own abilities in any way. I’ll see what I can get, too, though, using my own methods.”

“What do you mean?” Proteus asked, shocked. “You don’t do the same thing?”

“Window sees,” Story said.

“Sees what? I see,” Proteus said to her.

“Enough for now,” Window said. “Proteus, we’ve given you and ourselves enough to think of for one day.”

“But, if you really think I’m a threat to you in some way, how come you’re taking me in?”

“Threats are often challenges,” Window said simply.

Proteus tried to stall for time. He could tell that the interview would be ended in a minute. Had the meeting with Story involved some kind of test? And had he failed it? Should he have pretended to go along with what she said? “Are you going to show me around?” he asked, uneasily. “Now I feel as if you won’t, or as if you’ve put me on probation. And you still didn’t tell me how many people are here—”

Window stood up. “I think we’ll show you the dig by stages, Proteus. We’ll begin in the morning. And I’ll find something meaningful for you to do while you’re here, but some of your questions will have to wait.”

Proteus nodded, but he felt very alone and increasingly dissatisfied. A girl named Story whose stories were supposed to be true, though they sounded like nonsense; and a man called Window who could see! See what? And they were only going to show him what they wanted him to know. Already he decided that one way or another, sixteen years old or not, he was going to discover whatever it was they were hiding.

Chapter Nine

Cyprus and Oversoul Seven — Beginning Part Three of the Examination

Oversoul Seven was the fourteen-year-old male again, and Cyprus was talking to him. “You seem to have been neglecting Lydia,” she commented.