"Read my gran'fathers Black books, mostly. Listened tew him ramble awn about the End o' Mankind an' why he approved o' et thoroughly. Chased after my crazy mother when she wandered awff somewhar. Tried--fruitlessly--ter milk the sickly, bloodless cows awn the farm. Halped rebuild the house when et gawt tew smawll. Eventually gawt mysalf kilt tryin' ter destroy the world." He grins. "Gran'father would've bin proud, I'm sure."