Barrow's gaze follows the arc of her wave, then ge looks back at Ness' face, gentle but admonishing:

"You know there are people taller than yourself," he remarks, "who you can ask to-- well, what's done is done." Something doesn't quite add up in the story, but he's hardly in any position to call her on it. People need to be able to tell themselves what they will.

"Hope it's not too painful, at least." He looks down at his hands.