Out the window, cascading above the landscape, the ring of Sirens fly counterclockwise, ten visible, the others concealed from view by a welter of clouds. The helicopter can be seen, canted, returning to the house with rotors whirring.

“I’m involved with a motion picture,” I say to Betta. “I wasn’t certain you knew that.”

“That’s so interesting! See, now I’m encouraged,” Betta says to Caspar. “As you know, these fellows.” She indicates Leo and Baashir. “They’re concerned with side effects. But the Catalyzer.”

“Catalyst,” says Leo.

“Yes. The whole point is that it changes things. It’s about metamorphoses, isn’t it?