"I wish I knew. They've barely managed to figure out how to make them run on electric." Not that he's investigated the possibilities there yet. Having experienced a big trunk for tents and ghillie suits, it's hard to imagine downsizing to a Prius. "It turns out all the money's in convincing people to buy phones from Apple."

He finds he's not all that hungry tonight, closing his takeout box with the plastic fork inside. Maybe when he inevitably finds himself awake at two AM, he'll finish it. "How are you feeling? Do we need to get you anything for the, uh -"

Cancer. Saying it feels like bringing a curse down on them both. He taps his nose, as though to say, you know, the tumor behind this.