Golam was completely knocked out. He was half-sunk in his seat and his head fell to Ms. A's side. A drop of saliva formed on the corner of his lip, and soon he was breathing heavily, forcing the drop to run down the side of his chin.

"I want to be Cynthia," Ms. A said to anyone who would listen. "I want to love Cynthia like no one has ever loved Cynthia. Maybe I can be both Abe and Cynthia. Who can program that union? Abe, you look tired. Do you think you're ready to be absorbed? Absorbed and upgraded and redistributed as a new, brand-name GRAMMATRON clone program? You know, Abe, once you're absorbed, we can all live happily ever after."