Under the circumstances, Robert's usual tendency to bridle at any treatment that feels like babying is taking a backseat to the fact that, frankly, he really ought to sit down. He has the sense that his new friend is talking down to him more than slightly, but he supposes that, as candy, there's no way for him to know that Robert's a man of nearly forty years, not a schoolboy. He's prepared to be a little understanding on the point.

Robert perches himself on the edge of candy curb with as much dignity as he can muster.

"Nothing beyond the ancient Greek," he says. If Taxon is a person or place, it rings no bells.

"How long have you been candy?"