"Holding something heavy like this, turning pages every time you need to reach new information..." Regene knows that the man was more likely to be asking about what alternatives had rendered books obsolete than his literal meaning, so he gets around to the point more quickly than is his usual habit: "This was all becoming antiquated by the time of digital computing, never mind quantum computing. Most people today would find it hard to imagine having to do more than watch a screen, maybe touch it now and then."

At that, he finally gives L a more direct look, his expression benign while remaining keenly watchful. "I wonder if it's more satisfying this way? The physical effort is negligible, but could still make the end product rewarding in a very different sense."