The thinking plant's communication is very like her code with Edgar. She wonders what else such things might be good for. At least they only bred the one.

Edgar is steering safely away from the crimes, right? Especially now that there isn't a chance of even a lucky dice roll to protect him from the mob.

"I can be careful. I didn't inherit your particular brand of fervent passion."

"Probably for the best. Have they objected to you bringing back anyone they killed?"

"The dolls don't get in their way; if they did, they would just kill them again. It requires balance. We should talk about the design, I want to incorporate more of your brilliance into the dolls."

"Aside from speech, most obvious improvements mobility, dexterity, durability. Possibly would move better in less human body, but more complex to connect. I will need to think on it. Temporary, flimsy doll, to ask ghosts whether to destroy it and leave them or bring back into a better doll? What aspects did you most want to improve?"

"Customers say they want to hear what their loved ones are thinking. I think the focus should be on a larger alphabet of symbols than the one we've devised. Simple concepts like approval, disapproval, and confusion, as well as objects..."

"It is easiest to express thoughts in words, and they will surely want to be able to write the names of their loved ones."

"I can find a way to represent the alphabet, I'm sure, but speech would be a serious investment on my part. Do you think they need to vocalize?"

"No, I think an alphabet like this would be enough. Possibly with additional word symbols, or with common letters easier to reach, but it would allow communication."

"You're probably right. Do you think it's about time I brought Jasper in here?"

"Yes."

"...If he is done with Fay."

"I should check on them anyway. I'll be only a moment."

He kisses her on the forehead, and steps out.

Perhaps Jasper will remember her sending him back the first time, and will be impressed by the success of her communication code, once it is explained to him, and will want to go back together with her. He might.

Seeing him is probably an unforgivable use of her time, when she could be designing better ways for the dolls to move, or to allow them to go back more easily, or trying to prevent the living from dying to begin with.

She waits.

"Here we go. Mother, Jasper. Jasper, mother."

"Hello, again."

"When I saw her face...is it me you're looking for?"