Alain nods, and so does Cuthbert, who then shifts forward again. "Susan. Can you still hear me?"

"Aye," she says, slow and dreamy. "I hear ye, 'Bert."

"Good." He puts firmness into his words. "I'm going to count backward from ten. When I reach the end, you'll wake up, and you'll remember everything. Okay? Ten, nine, eight..."

As Cuthbert finishes counting, Susan opens her eyes and looks around at them all.