Constable Moore must have heard Nell's screaming over the sound of his 
bagpipes, for he was in the room within a few moments, shouting commands to the 
mediatrons, which all went black and became mere walls and a floor. The only 
image remaining in the room now was the big painting of Guan Di, the god of 
war, who glowered down upon them as always. Constable Moore was extremely ill 
at ease whenever Nell showed any kind of emotion, but he seemed more 
comfortable with hysteria than he was with, say, an invitation to play house or 
an attack of the giggles. He picked Nell up, carried her across the room at 
arm's length, and set her down in a deep leather chair. He left the room for a 
moment and came back with a large glass of water, then carefully
molded her hands around it. "You must breathe deeply and drink water," he was 
saying, almost sotto voce; he seemed to have been saying it for a long 
time.