Kate said to Gordon, “My hearing is fine, I don’t need a hearing aid.” “It’s not a hearing aid,” Gordon said. Across the room, the man was drilling out the center of the plastic earpieces and inserting electronics. He worked surprisingly quickly. When the electronics were in place, he capped the hole with more plastic. “It’s a machine language translator and a radio mike. In case you need to understand what people are saying to you.” “But even if I understand what they’re saying,” she said, “how can I answer back?” Marek nudged her. “Don’t worry. I speak Occitan. And Middle French.” “Oh,
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