“My son mentioned that he had the privilege of meeting you,” he tells me, his smooth cadence piercing the silence. “It seems you left quite the impression on him.” “The encounter was enlightening,” I answer, my voice monotone. He stares at me, seemingly in no hurry to leave. “Yes, I can see what all the fuss is about,” Elder Cleary muses, and a cool mask of satisfaction slides over his face.
