‘This one is not very impressive.’ ‘Yes. I will admit that I’m disappointed. I feel that we’re missing something important about this, Shallan, and I find it annoying. The Cryptics have a fearful reputation, and yet this one – the first specimen I’ve ever seen – seems . . .’ It climbed up the wall, then slipped down, then climbed back up, then slipped down again. ‘Imbecilic?’ Shallan asked.
