...Let me cook, I'll do something relatively fast. Just eat a big lunch later. Taking control.

It's not a violent sensation, not exactly. It's more like when a teacher gets your attention, or a choirmaster asserting her authority. River moves forward, and the world is muted again, the sensations of life at an voyeuristic remove.

She wastes no time getting around eggs and cheese for a simple omelette, with toast.

"Gotta say, weird hearing my voice in your accent. People will notice that, think I should come up front when you're buying food later?