"Yeah, right then," Billie confirms with a nod, "Asking if she had any marks. She said no."

An admission followed by a confirmation from Deirdre, where the tern chirps and bobs from left to right where she's perched. Like Billie said, smarter. Maybe too smart, in her own opinion, but there isn't much she can do about it now.

"So what the hell triggers it? Danger? Because I sure didn't eat dirt back there."