I am visiting Ukraine. Some small child in our care, or my care, gets into bed in the top bunk of a bunk-bed, apparently not where Natasha intended, and she becomes very angry. I take the position that it is not such a big deal, and there is no reason to be upset. I tell her that I want to leave her and go home, and begin gathering my things. I wonder about the Audio Precison clocks, of which I have given her two, whether to take them or leave them. I decide we should talk before making any rash decisions, but I can't get her attention. Some people have arrived and she is busy with some inexplicable task, possibly involving a washing machine.

I also visit Steve, and he is busy with some very interesting projects. He has bought a sort of spider, fuzzy with cute eyes, like a halloween toy. But it is equipped with artificial intelligence which allows it to carry on endless conversations with itself, as if it were taking phone calls on a radio show. We are marvelling at this when suddenly two of his friends arrive dressed in regalia that appears historical Chinese, and with weapons and other paraphernalia. They quickly, as if against a deadline, pose in an interesting two-dimensional pose together, with the illusions of swords through each other's heads and other tasteful injuries created with the pieces they have brought. It looks very typical for a piece of Chinese art depicting a battle or something, bodies bent in strange poses, but very colorful and artistic. From behind me an unattended flash snaps, apparently the target of this display. I wonder if I have obstructed its view of the scene.