Conversation · Lena, the Cryptozoologist's wife

"Don't worry. You've asked me to look into it and I will."

"Thank you, sweetie. I'm awfully sorry to impose on you like this -- maybe there's something I can help you with in the meanwhile?"

"This sounds like police business. I'll help you find your husband." (Accept task.)

"Are you sure we have time to go chasing after bug-hunters just now?" The lieutenant taps his foot impatiently.

"It's just police-work."

"Yes, but a junior officer could..." He takes off his glasses and thinks. Then puts them back on without wiping.

"Fine, our victim's already been dead more than a week. One more diversion won't change anything."

"Oh, thank you officers, truly. I'll be right here if you come across any sign of Morell."

"It's just a little side-thing, we'll do it down the line."

He sighs. "If you say so."

"I've already given my word. I'm honour-bound to uphold it."

"I've got a premonition that this missing scientist is connected to our main case."

He sighs. "I sincerely doubt it. Still, I suppose it won't hurt to keep an eye out."

"I think it would be good to take a break from the hanged-man for a little while."

A sigh. He takes off his glasses and wipes the lenses on his jacket before replacing them.

"Well, the man's already been dead more than a week..." He concludes. "I suppose a small diversion won't hurt too much."

"Oh, thank you sweetie, truly. I'll be right here if you come across any sign of Morell."

"I can't say it's the best part of town, but I wouldn't worry too much about a pair of grown men travelling together."

The lieutenant doesn't want to agitate the woman.

Do it. Find her husband. This will surely lead to a cryptozoological mystery with that extremely rare insect...

Some fringe-science is exactly what's needed right now. Spice up that vanilla murder investigation.

Do it. Find him. This will surely lead to a mystery with that extremely rare insect...

Yes, please. Some science fiction is exactly what's needed right now. Spice up that vanilla murder investigation.

"Wait, who's this 'Gary' person? Do you trust him?"

"Oh, sweetie. It's nothing like that..." She smiles.

"Gary's as loyal as they come. I'd trust him with my husband's life any day."

"The water lock to the other side of the coast is broken. They're probably just stuck over there." (Proceed.)

"Maybe your husband went off on an adventure?"

"Goodness, no! Well, we did get separated once before, during that monsoon in South Safre. But we were younger then, and Morell always takes the appropriate precautions..."

"You mentioned traps. Could there be some problem with them?"

"I doubt it, sweetie. The traps aren't big enough for humans to get caught in them. They're for the insect. Anyway..." She looks around.

"Lena, what's wrong? You seem different."

"Different -- how?" The half-moons of her glasses reflect you as she looks up at you.

Answering a question with a question, for example -- defensive isn't her usual style.

"You're not telling me the whole story."

"I'm... not. It's not that..." She doesn't know how to end the sentence.

"What is it?"

"It's... a strange feeling." She looks down, biting her lower lip. "I haven't really told this to anyone, but... you are a police officer."

And when a police officer asks -- you must answer.

"Do you ever wonder if some lovely story from your childhood is just that... a story? Or a dream?"

Hunching her shoulders now, she seems even smaller than she is. Like a sad young girl.

"Seeing the Insulindian phasmid was just a story I used to tell people. I didn't really think about whether it was real or not."

"But... Morell told me you'd seen it. You also told me..."

"Morell's so proud of it. He always tells everyone..."

A terrible sting in the heart. Regret.

"The story is real to you and him. That's what matters."

"No, sweetie," she shakes her head, "there's more to it than that. Morell was so eager to believe my story was evidence of the phasmid's existence..."

"That I'm some Queen of the Cryptozoologists... That... And for years his belief made me believe too."

That I'm a queen. An extraordinary witness to grace.

"But now we're both getting old, and he's still working himself sick out in those reeds, looking for it..." She shakes her head, still unable to meet your eyes. "But what if I was just wrong? I think I was..."

The lieutenant opens his notebook but doesn't write anything.

He's hiding. These things are tough on him. Matters of love, not violence or deceit.

"You're right about all of it. And I need to get back to my work."

"Yes, I should go now. Poor Morell is running a fever. I need to get him home to Jamrock, before we overstay our welcome with Gary."

"You do that. I'll check the traps one more time."

"Really?"

"Oh sweetie..." She looks at you, worried. "Please don't get stuck on a dream. Take it from me and Morell."

No one can STOP you from finding the phasmid.

"The rest of it is pretty grim. Thanks for bringing some light." (Conclude.)

"You're welcome, sweetie." She flicks a switch on her chair and the engine turns on with a whir. "I'm glad it helped you, even though it turned out to be a..." The sentence remains unfinished.