Charlie shrugs. "Sawyer's sick," he says bluntly. "So Claire's looking after him--wearing herself out with it if you ask me, not that anyone would--and while there's no shortage of babysitters I'd rather look after the wee one myself, you know?

"And Richard is, for no reason anyone can fathom, painting himself blue and only speaking in Greek.

"And Liam is also blue. Though it's not paint."