“Mother held the dark paste as Daddy pried my jaws open. I thought I would die from that green fire and I guess I did in a way. The smell of violet candy in Daddy’s pocket, it’s funny what you remember. My research suggests the betony root tincture interacted with the salat leaf I’d ingested, but more on that later.

“The next thing I remember clearly is the gentle rocking of our stateroom. Mother and Daddy were arguing. She blamed him for insisting I join the expedition. He blamed her for not watching me better. We all knew who was to blame. Stretching, I reached for the water glass on the beside table. My arm couldn’t reach. Mother screamed.

“I’ve always been cursed with an excellent memory. What I would give to forget being smuggled off ship in Mother’s valise. I could never abide the loneliness of the dark. Can you? Really? Daddy told me I have to be a secret but only for a little while. Parents lie.

“They never told about you either. I felt in my bones that something was different. But when I asked questions Daddy retreated into a wine bottle and Mother grew hysterical. I learned not to upset them. I had to be small in many ways.

“As you can see I live in Daddy’s library in poor Bridget’s doll castle. It was the only thing that made Daddy smile. Gilded mirrors and turrets, ridiculous. I read everything I could lay my hands on regarding botanical folk medicine, Daddy created new potions, and Mother grew the precious plants we collected in her greenhouse. And all for naught. I’m still shrinking. Slowly but surely.

“I cannot imagine how you are feeling. Daddy, did he suffer? No, don’t tell me. He lost his eldest, his wife, most of his firstborn son. But now we have each other. Scientific curiosity must run in your blood, too. With modern techniques the answer is… brother, where are you going?”