... at the ruffled man, he hands the parcel back.

A heartbeat.

"Doctor Luong.

A heartbeat.

Doctor Iron Luong."

Cessation of movement, slow turn of head, mouth increasingly agape, eyes wide with horror.

Stories of dead men breathing, children exploding, and small animals crushed with air.

"There was a steel mill in my neighborhood, hence the first name. I have nothing to do the odd experiments in America."

A heartbeat.

Powder, water, two herbs, stirred with finger in small brass cup. "Drink this; it will calm yet refreshen."

A heartbeat.

"Please. Drink.

The stranger took, drank, handed back the cup.