"There are levels of...disillusionment at work," Blue said at length, having given Geddoe a moment of regard on his own behalf. "For all these people have been subjected to, the levels of danger and terror at times present..."

His somber thought trailed along with his gaze, flickering to something more absent, hearing something inaudible. When it drew back, though, there was something faintly lighter in his tone.

"But I'm of the belief the amount of substances muddling their minds was more the cause than that. That was what I smelled, wasn't it? Alcohol..."