Van, too, cranes his neck a little--not standing on tiptoe, of course, because he would sooner die than admit to being too small to see over Bene's shoulder--to see if there's anyone in that room or any information to be gleaned from what's in his field of vision. There is not.

But stranger and more miraculous things are occurring, and now he actually does arch his eyebrows with visible surprise. Who is this new and helpful creature wearing Benedict's unfairly pretty face?

"Where would the fun be in that?" He follows, at his own unhurried and short-legged pace. "Clearly there's a great deal I've missed. I don't remember this division being quite such a well-oiled machine when I left."