Neoma’s roar of outrage, a rare burst of verbal passion from the normally stately, dignified pale-faced woman, shook the walls of the flat she shared with her daughter, causing the girl to cower beneath her bed but barely phasing the big man who had brought her the most recent news. It came with little surprise that Senior Kal had cut against her wishes; working at cross purposes with the lead Talker had been a gamble she had accepted when the prod cast had been made calling the Voices out for intended treason. She had hoped it would bring Kal to her, that they could have discussed those accusations and some new arrangement face to face without the false pretense of honesty between them that previously existed.