"N-no," Eleanor said, scuffing her toes against the ground. "I just ... wanted to know, that's all. I don't ..."

She bit her lip, wondering exactly how much of this he was even buying. Probably not much.

"I need a sub," she said. "One that can go the whole way down, to the bottom of the ocean. I can pay you. I don't -- have much money, but I can give you what I have and ... and owe you the rest. I'll take another job, in town. I'll give back whatever salary you were talking about, for the Ethics Committee."