Much of Helen's time was spent studying illustrations in old science texts or in making scientific drawings herself. She drew the labware in Brinn's lab; she learned from Hanae how to scan images and save them on the computer. If it was not what she was expected to do, no one said so.

On the handle of the silver-plated letter opener -- that Brinn had provided for the purpose of cutting pages in ancient books -- was an image of Niagara Falls. At night after she turned off the lights, Helen used the letter opener to chip paint from the window. At unpredictable intervals, she heard the howling of the predator machines.