"So you've been dealt one rotten hand after another," she said, sympathetic. "And no, life's not fair...but it can take some odd twists and turns here and there." She took another sip of whiskey. It wasn't so bad after you got over the initial shock.

"What would you say to getting out of this rubbish tip?" she asked. She meant the Reaches—well, really, the entire time-stream and world—but he could be forgiven for thinking she just meant the bar. Indeed, the ambiguity was intentional on her part—another sort of test.