[Gone. Torn and discarded. And now what? Was it as if it had never happened?

No. Because it did. They spent a few days as close friends.

But they could refuse to acknowledge it.]

I wonder how they do it. The wings or the tracker [the creatures are muttations, the tattooed barcodes are trackers; no one will convince her otherwise] probably.

[Then:]

Someone was surprised. Confused, too. When I suggested we might be here for their-- the Malnosso's-- entertainment.