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"Patrick Jason Beria" was confirmed dead, and members of the Machinery Hivemind came specifically to inform Klein. Upon learning that he no longer needed to be monitored, and that he would receive at least a thousand pounds for providing an important lead, Klein's mood grew better still.
Finally free again and no longer under the Machinery Hivemind's protection, Klein stayed at the Quelaag Club until after dinner before taking a carriage slowly back to 15 Minsk Street.
He habitually opened his mailbox and found a new letter, one without a stamp.
It had been left by the great detective Isengard Stanton after his unsuccessful visit that afternoon. He wrote:
"...I heard about your suggestion from the Machinery Hivemind. Your perceptiveness and rigor are astonishing. If you hadn't already become a Beyonder, I would even think that Reader was the pathway best suited to you."
"You are the young man most skilled at deduction that I have ever met!"
Standing in his living room, Klein finished reading Isengard's letter by the light of the gas wall lamp.
There was nothing novel about this performance. It followed the usual steps and repeated what I'd done before, and it didn't even play that big a role... but its advantage was that there were enough spectators, all of them around me, allowing me to receive direct feedback... Holding the letter, Klein suddenly sensed something.
He half closed his eyes and felt something inside him rapidly shattering and dissipating. He felt numerous illusory stars appear around him, and a very faint attraction between those brilliant lights.
In the final month of 1349, he had finally digested his Magician potion.
In Queen's West Borough, a carriage moved slowly forward.
The coachman's face was indistinct, and he remained silent. The two tall, black-coated horses