And if you see any of those things, thought Martin as he took the hand, I should be able to...

Do something. He hoped, anyway. Rather, part of him hoped for that: The rest hoped for no such business at all, for phantoms or monsters to leave Bariyan alone. Martin didn't cut an intimidating figure to anything other than, perhaps, cockroaches or small things underfoot, and he knew it. So while he could hope for the best, he still doubted, and there was a trace of a frown that was much more familiar months before on his face as he left the room at Bariyan's side.