The face of an alien squirmed nastily on the plate.
"Why watch him, then?"
"I guess I'm like the little boy who banged his head against the wall because it felt so good when he stopped."
"Really?"
Tallen laughed. "No, not really. I keep watching because I keep hoping I'll run across something that will give me a clue about them. I know experts have tried and failed, but I like to think that they might have been too close to the trees to see the forest, if you know what I mean."
"I'm glad," said Parmay frankly, "that someone besides me worries about them."
"Smoke?" asked Tallen, holding out his case.
"Thanks, no."
Tallen took one himself, then: "I understand your wife is working with hypersee."
Parmay nodded.