45An eerie calm pervaded that evening. Darkness began settling. Christmas Eve was upon them. Everyone was free to come and go as they pleased.
Aaron's preoccupation with watching her had generalized to watching everyone else. Chione hoped he was learning a lot about human nature in the process, specifically, how the individual team members adjusted to the paranormal. His attention momentarily elsewhere helped her relax despite feeling woozy.
Laborers gathered more dry branches and sticks for the crackling bonfire; from where was anyone's guess. Musicians strummed. They seemed to have accepted some of the team's American ways of showing feelings. Dr. Withers and Marlowe sat wrapped in separate blankets, swaying to the dreamy rhythms. They smiled lovingly at one another; looks meant only f
