"I didn't think you'd associate with O'Reilley," he said. "I thought you people excommunicated everybody that owns a neutroid. O'Reilley owns a whole shopful."
"That's true. But who knows? He might get rid of his shop. May I see this neutroid?"
"Why?"
"O'Reilley said it could talk. Is that true or is O'Reilley suffering delusions? That's what I came to find out."
"Neutroids don't talk."
The priest stared at him for a time, then nodded slowly, as if approving something. "You can rest assured," he said quietly, "that I'll say nothing of this visit, that I'll speak to no one about this creature."
Norris looked up to see his wife watching them from the doorway.
"Get Peony," he said.
"It's true then?" Paulson asked.
"I'll let you see for yourself."