They reached the bottom of the escalator and began working their way through the maze of potted plants: cycads, ferns, gingkos. "[When someone speaks a pidgin version of your language,]" Ulrich told her, "[it’s hard not to underestimate their intellect. They always seem like such a fool. I wouldn’t care to have you underestimate me. That misapprehension would put us on entirely the wrong footing.]"