[Trapped again.] No more or less than before, really. [I guess you’re right. So what’s this third “big concept”? Control, responsibility, and…] Choice. This book’s also about giving others (and even yourself) the freedom to make choices, and, more importantly, trusting them in their own choices. And accepting that their choices might not be the ones you want them to make. [Fits nicely with the other two themes you’ve identified, doesn’t it? You’re saying that I’m so controlling of others that I strip them of the ability to make their own choices, and I can avoid responsibility for any consequences because I can claim that they made the choices that led to said consequences, not me.] I’m still talking about the book, not about you. [But if you are me, isn’t talking about the book talking about yourself, which is myself? Are you even listening to yourself? Which is to say, to me, which you yourself say to me as I say it to you?] I’ll never stop being amused by how quickly you retreat into your words when you feel threatened. [I’m not saying you’re wrong.] So with the idea of choice in mind, I have to ask. What now, Dirk? [What do you mean?] I mean, tell me what you want me to do with the book. I’m letting you make a choice. Whatever you decide, I’ll do it. So do you want to erase the whole thing? Or just clear the way to the page that Anna needs in order to scrape the palimpsest so that her group may make their choice? […Shit. This is hard. Can I have more time to think about it?] Nope. I’m holding the book above the river right now; all the pages, or just the one? [There’s sort of a lot going on in my head right now, Jeanne.] Isn’t there always? [More than usual.] This page is almost over, this is our last scene; do you really want to waste it with self-aggrandizing introspection? [It’s what I’m best at.] Choose. Right now. Take responsibility. And you decide what that means. […Dammit, I can’t think of an appropriate quote for this occasion. Whatever— you’re right. Let’s do it. I created Anna, and now I need to trust her. Jeanne, get that goddamn paper off the last page. Anna, good luck. Scrape this fucker.] I hope I’ll see you again, Dirk. #DetectivePony