Idira"I'm helping Master Tervantias! I'm his personal assistant, like... like a secretary! I do... things. Just yesterday, I spent several hours looking for something in the chambers under his operating theatre. So many rooms and dead-ends down there, I wonder why... The day before that, I was setting up one of his machines. It hurt me once or twice, but then I got the hang of it..."
IdiraIdira stops. There is a glint of suspicion in her eyes. "That's weird. Now that I've said it out loud, those tasks are starting to sound more like tests..."
YOU[Mesmerise Idira] "Why do your whispers frighten you so much, Idira? Have they ever betrayed you? You should not give up such an incredible gift. Accept it, because that gift is who you are."
IdiraSpellbound, Idira listens to the sound of your voice and weakly repeats after you, "Because the whispers are who I am, and I am the whispers... Yes, I could live a bit longer with this... incredible gift... because it's so great... right?" Her brow furrows as she wrestles with her doubts. "As great as it is, it's also dangerous, [Name]. The whispers don't just help me. They are luring me to something... irreversible."
YOU[Mesmerise Idira] "Why do your whispers frighten you so much, Idira? Have they ever betrayed you? You should not give up such an incredible gift. Accept it, because that gift is who you are."continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Deactivate the xenodevice] "I am releasing you whether you want it or not."
Idira...with a sharp sound, the tubes slip out from under her skin, spraying blood mixed with some foul-smelling ochre-coloured slime, and the device detaches from Idira's head. She lets out a piercing cry, her head jerking back from the pain — and the delicate device clinks as it shatters into tiny fragments.
Idira"Well, this is awkward." Idira forces a laugh as she looks at the shards on the floor. "Looks like the xenos are right to call us clumsy animals. Oh well, since it's decided..." She shoots you a look of vicious glee. "Might as well go out with a bang. Lead on, Lord Captain!"
end of branch
Idira"What have you done?" Idira ignores the hundreds of cuts on her face, neck, and hands and reaches for the shards on the floor. "That... that was my hope! My salvation from all the crap that keeps crawling inside my head! And you just..."
IdiraShe takes a few moments to fight back the sobs welling up in her throat. Then she quickly wipes her face, straightens, and gives you a spiteful look. "You win... Lord Captain. Since dying of old age is off the table now, there's no point in me hanging around here. I'm going with you."
end of branch
YOU"You look as if you are about to die. Whatever that thing is doing to you, you will not last long."
YOU"This is not living, Idira. It is better to live out the time you have on your own terms than spend an eternity existing the way you intend to!"
YOU"Everything comes at a price. Have you considered the price you are paying?"
YOU[Tear the xenodevice off Idira's head]
YOU"If I cannot convince you, I will find a different way to rid you of this compulsion!"
Idira"Do whatever you want... if my words aren't enough to make you leave me alone."
YOU[Mesmerise Idira] "Why do your whispers frighten you so much, Idira? Have they ever betrayed you? You should not give up such an incredible gift. Accept it, because that gift is who you are."continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Deactivate the xenodevice] "I am releasing you whether you want it or not."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"You look as if you are about to die. Whatever that thing is doing to you, you will not last long."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"This is not living, Idira. It is better to live out the time you have on your own terms than spend an eternity existing the way you intend to!"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Everything comes at a price. Have you considered the price you are paying?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Tear the xenodevice off Idira's head]continues where this line first appears above
YOU"If I cannot convince you, I will find a different way to rid you of this compulsion!"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"If that is your conscious choice, I see no reason to force you."
IdiraIdira looks up at you. "[Name], you're not... angry at me, are you?"
YOU"You are right, I am not angry... but I simply cannot leave you like this!"
IdiraShe lets out a pained groan. "When will you all understand..."
YOU[Mesmerise Idira] "Why do your whispers frighten you so much, Idira? Have they ever betrayed you? You should not give up such an incredible gift. Accept it, because that gift is who you are."continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Deactivate the xenodevice] "I am releasing you whether you want it or not."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"You look as if you are about to die. Whatever that thing is doing to you, you will not last long."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"This is not living, Idira. It is better to live out the time you have on your own terms than spend an eternity existing the way you intend to!"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Everything comes at a price. Have you considered the price you are paying?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Tear the xenodevice off Idira's head]continues where this line first appears above
YOU"If I cannot convince you, I will find a different way to rid you of this compulsion!"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"If that is your conscious choice, I see no reason to force you."continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Kill Idira] "Death to the traitor!"
end of branch
YOU"I will return to you later."
end of branch
YOU"Farewell, Idira. I hope this is the deliverance you were looking for."
end of branch
YOU[Kill Idira] "Death to the traitor!"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I will return to you later."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"If that is your conscious choice, I see no reason to force you."continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Kill Idira] "Death to the traitor!"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I will return to you later."continues where this line first appears above
Idira(sequence)
IdiraIdira struggles to swallow. You think she might be trying to cry, but no tears come out. "But if I... decide to leave... then Master Tervantias will surely want it back... He'll want to remove this thing... and then the whispers will return. They'll start... beckoning me again. What then, [Name]?"
Idira"You once promised me, [Name]... you promised we'd think of something, right? And now we know the xenos have things like this, so that means... there's hope?"
end of branch
Idira"You told me yourself once... 'Keep yourself under control, be useful, don't be a burden'... And now you want me to take this thing off? How does that make any sense?"
end of branch
Cassia"Are you really willing to sacrifice the many colours of your soul to escape the curse that weighs so heavy on you?" Cassia lowers her gaze and rests her hand against the Atlas in her chest. "If... it really is possible... and it is what you truly want..."
CassiaCassia gives you a look full of pain and doubt. "Perhaps we should not deny her the choice to be... free in her own way?"
end of branch
YOU[Deactivate the xenodevice] "I am releasing you whether you want it or not."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"You look as if you are about to die. Whatever that thing is doing to you, you will not last long."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"This is not living, Idira. It is better to live out the time you have on your own terms than spend an eternity existing the way you intend to!"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Everything comes at a price. Have you considered the price you are paying?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Tear the xenodevice off Idira's head]continues where this line first appears above
YOU"If I cannot convince you, I will find a different way to rid you of this compulsion!"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"If that is your conscious choice, I see no reason to force you."continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Kill Idira] "Death to the traitor!"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I will return to you later."continues where this line first appears above
Idira(sequence)continues where this line first appears above
Entry point 3 of 11
Idira"I'm helping Master Tervantias! I'm his personal assistant, like... like a secretary! I do... things. Just yesterday, I spent several hours looking for something in the chambers under his operating theatre. So many rooms and dead-ends down there, I wonder why... The day before that, I was setting up one of his machines. It hurt me once or twice, but then I got the hang of it..."
YOU[Mesmerise Idira] "Why do your whispers frighten you so much, Idira? Have they ever betrayed you? You should not give up such an incredible gift. Accept it, because that gift is who you are."continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Deactivate the xenodevice] "I am releasing you whether you want it or not."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"You look as if you are about to die. Whatever that thing is doing to you, you will not last long."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"This is not living, Idira. It is better to live out the time you have on your own terms than spend an eternity existing the way you intend to!"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Everything comes at a price. Have you considered the price you are paying?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Tear the xenodevice off Idira's head]continues where this line first appears above
YOU"If I cannot convince you, I will find a different way to rid you of this compulsion!"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"If that is your conscious choice, I see no reason to force you."continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Kill Idira] "Death to the traitor!"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I will return to you later."continues where this line first appears above
Jae"Wake up, you idiot! This ashmag is just using you, ridiculing you, experimenting on you! We've said it ourselves so many times over a glass of amasec — everything in this life comes with a price tag. Think, shereen. If something looks like it's free, then the price is you. Can't you see that?"
YOU[Mesmerise Idira] "Why do your whispers frighten you so much, Idira? Have they ever betrayed you? You should not give up such an incredible gift. Accept it, because that gift is who you are."continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Deactivate the xenodevice] "I am releasing you whether you want it or not."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"You look as if you are about to die. Whatever that thing is doing to you, you will not last long."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"This is not living, Idira. It is better to live out the time you have on your own terms than spend an eternity existing the way you intend to!"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Everything comes at a price. Have you considered the price you are paying?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Tear the xenodevice off Idira's head]continues where this line first appears above
YOU"If I cannot convince you, I will find a different way to rid you of this compulsion!"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"If that is your conscious choice, I see no reason to force you."continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Kill Idira] "Death to the traitor!"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I will return to you later."continues where this line first appears above
Idira(sequence)continues where this line first appears above
Entry point 4 of 11
Idira"I... don't look so good, do I?" Idira licks her parched lips. Her tongue is swollen and pale. "I... can't really feel my body. Huh. I never thought I'd be in danger of dying of physical causes, I always thought it'd be from my brain melting away to nothing..."
YOU[Mesmerise Idira] "Why do your whispers frighten you so much, Idira? Have they ever betrayed you? You should not give up such an incredible gift. Accept it, because that gift is who you are."continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Deactivate the xenodevice] "I am releasing you whether you want it or not."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"You look as if you are about to die. Whatever that thing is doing to you, you will not last long."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"This is not living, Idira. It is better to live out the time you have on your own terms than spend an eternity existing the way you intend to!"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Everything comes at a price. Have you considered the price you are paying?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Tear the xenodevice off Idira's head]continues where this line first appears above
YOU"If I cannot convince you, I will find a different way to rid you of this compulsion!"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"If that is your conscious choice, I see no reason to force you."continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Kill Idira] "Death to the traitor!"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I will return to you later."continues where this line first appears above
Idira(sequence)continues where this line first appears above
Entry point 5 of 11
Idira"Master Tervantias would tell me if something was wrong with me. He says I'm a valuable specimen... He values me. And what I do."
YOU[Mesmerise Idira] "Why do your whispers frighten you so much, Idira? Have they ever betrayed you? You should not give up such an incredible gift. Accept it, because that gift is who you are."continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Deactivate the xenodevice] "I am releasing you whether you want it or not."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"You look as if you are about to die. Whatever that thing is doing to you, you will not last long."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"This is not living, Idira. It is better to live out the time you have on your own terms than spend an eternity existing the way you intend to!"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Everything comes at a price. Have you considered the price you are paying?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Tear the xenodevice off Idira's head]continues where this line first appears above
YOU"If I cannot convince you, I will find a different way to rid you of this compulsion!"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"If that is your conscious choice, I see no reason to force you."continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Kill Idira] "Death to the traitor!"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I will return to you later."continues where this line first appears above
Entry point 6 of 11
IdiraIdira grimaces. "An eternity? An eternity sounds like an awfully long time... especially here. I hadn't thought about that..."
YOU[Mesmerise Idira] "Why do your whispers frighten you so much, Idira? Have they ever betrayed you? You should not give up such an incredible gift. Accept it, because that gift is who you are."continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Deactivate the xenodevice] "I am releasing you whether you want it or not."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"You look as if you are about to die. Whatever that thing is doing to you, you will not last long."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"This is not living, Idira. It is better to live out the time you have on your own terms than spend an eternity existing the way you intend to!"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Everything comes at a price. Have you considered the price you are paying?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Tear the xenodevice off Idira's head]continues where this line first appears above
YOU"If I cannot convince you, I will find a different way to rid you of this compulsion!"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"If that is your conscious choice, I see no reason to force you."continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Kill Idira] "Death to the traitor!"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I will return to you later."continues where this line first appears above
Idira(sequence)continues where this line first appears above
Entry point 7 of 11
Idira"There is something that scares me more than spending an eternity here, and that's an eternity there... beyond the door... becoming a plaything of the beasts that call the warp home..."
YOU[Mesmerise Idira] "Why do your whispers frighten you so much, Idira? Have they ever betrayed you? You should not give up such an incredible gift. Accept it, because that gift is who you are."continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Deactivate the xenodevice] "I am releasing you whether you want it or not."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"You look as if you are about to die. Whatever that thing is doing to you, you will not last long."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"This is not living, Idira. It is better to live out the time you have on your own terms than spend an eternity existing the way you intend to!"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Everything comes at a price. Have you considered the price you are paying?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Tear the xenodevice off Idira's head]continues where this line first appears above
YOU"If I cannot convince you, I will find a different way to rid you of this compulsion!"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"If that is your conscious choice, I see no reason to force you."continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Kill Idira] "Death to the traitor!"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I will return to you later."continues where this line first appears above
Entry point 8 of 11
IdiraIdira fails to dodge out of the way in time. You grab hold of the strange device on her head and pull...
Idira...with a sharp sound, the tubes slip out from under her skin, spraying blood mixed with some foul-smelling ochre-coloured slime, and the device detaches from Idira's head. She lets out a piercing cry, her head jerking back from the pain — and the delicate device clinks as it shatters into tiny fragments.continues where this line first appears above
Entry point 9 of 11
IdiraIdira shrieks and staggers away. "No! And don't try that again, you hear me?"
YOU[Mesmerise Idira] "Why do your whispers frighten you so much, Idira? Have they ever betrayed you? You should not give up such an incredible gift. Accept it, because that gift is who you are."continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Deactivate the xenodevice] "I am releasing you whether you want it or not."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"You look as if you are about to die. Whatever that thing is doing to you, you will not last long."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"This is not living, Idira. It is better to live out the time you have on your own terms than spend an eternity existing the way you intend to!"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Everything comes at a price. Have you considered the price you are paying?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Tear the xenodevice off Idira's head]continues where this line first appears above
YOU"If I cannot convince you, I will find a different way to rid you of this compulsion!"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"If that is your conscious choice, I see no reason to force you."continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Kill Idira] "Death to the traitor!"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I will return to you later."continues where this line first appears above
Entry point 10 of 11
IdiraIdira Tlass is staring at you as if she has seen a ghost. There is a strange, eerie-looking device on her head, a tangle of myriad thin, translucent threads coiled in elaborate, sickening patterns on her temples. Many of those threads penetrate the skin of her face, neck, and clavicles. "Lord Captain! You're... alive?"
YOU"Idira, what are you doing here?"
IdiraIdira glances around the room and then looks back at you with a tinge of guilt on her face. "You know... I thought you were gone. Done for. I thought I'd never see you again. So I... tried to start over."
IdiraThe longer you look at Idira, the more strange details you notice about her appearance: the odd, earthy tone of her face; the fine purple veins around her parched, cracked lips; the subtle change in the colour of her now lustreless eyes. An unpleasant sense of wrongness comes over you, as if the woman standing before you is not quite alive.
YOU"What are you talking about?"
IdiraIdira gestures vaguely at the strange "harness" on her head. "See this? It's a reward. A reward for my loyalty."
Idira"When they captured us, I... I don't remember much from back then. I remember shackles that burned whenever I heard a whisper. I remember injections that made my body go numb. I remember them... dragging me away from you."
Idira(sequence)
Idira"Our three-eyed doll, Cassia... they took her too, along with me. Her body was there, at least. She wasn't moving, wasn't talking, nothing."
end of branch
Idira"They took an interest in Heinrix too. He almost fought his way out once... The new masters were amused." Idira ducks her head and bites her lip.
end of branch
Idira"Then I wound up here, at Master Tervantias's mercy. First, he studied me, poked me with needles, opened up my head to get a look at what was inside, but then... then he made the voices stop. He made them stop! [Name], I don't hear the whispers anymore!"
YOU"You forget yourself by addressing the Rogue Trader by his/her first name."
Idira"But, Lord Captain... How else should I address you? I'm no longer a von Valancius subject. I don't serve you anymore. You're [Name], and that's that. Please don't judge me too harshly, but I don't want to go back to how things were. I've had enough."
YOU"You forget yourself by addressing the Rogue Trader by his/her first name."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"How did he make your voices stop?"
Idira"With this, I think..." Idira touches one of the tubes on her head. "It hurt when he was putting it on. It still hurts, but I'm used to it now. [Name], what matters is that the damned door to the other side closed shut! I don't hear the whispers, don't see ghosts of the future, don't get woken up by tormented screams, and I'm not plagued by visions of the horrors that are waiting for me! All of it just... stopped!"
YOU"You forget yourself by addressing the Rogue Trader by his/her first name."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"How did he make your voices stop?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Does that mean... you cannot use your powers anymore?"
Idira"I can't, no — and good thing, too. You know..." Idira looks around. "I think the xenos are terrified of human witches. Why else would they keep me half-delirious and out of it? Or do all those things to sever our connection to the warp? They're scared all right! But they don't know how else to fight it!"
YOU"You forget yourself by addressing the Rogue Trader by his/her first name."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"How did he make your voices stop?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Does that mean... you cannot use your powers anymore?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"This isn't right, Idira. Whatever he did to you, it's perverted."
Idira"'Perverted'! Ha! Like you'd know what it's like to be born a witch! To have your name cursed by all and sundry since childhood, to live as a worthless, dangerous freak whose only use is to become someone's pet!" Idira grits her teeth. "I know Lady Theodora wasn't like that... and neither are you... but that's not the point. He made me NORMAL! Finally!"
Idira"If it means I have to serve a xenos... so be it! All the days I've been here, I've spent in blissful silence. No one bothers me. No one torments me! No one is trying to get at me from the other side, and on this side... nobody notices me at all! I don't want anything else! I just want... to be left alone..." Idira turns away, teetering slightly from the sharp motion.
YOU[Mesmerise Idira] "Why do your whispers frighten you so much, Idira? Have they ever betrayed you? You should not give up such an incredible gift. Accept it, because that gift is who you are."continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Deactivate the xenodevice] "I am releasing you whether you want it or not."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"You look as if you are about to die. Whatever that thing is doing to you, you will not last long."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"This is not living, Idira. It is better to live out the time you have on your own terms than spend an eternity existing the way you intend to!"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Everything comes at a price. Have you considered the price you are paying?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Tear the xenodevice off Idira's head]continues where this line first appears above
YOU"If I cannot convince you, I will find a different way to rid you of this compulsion!"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"If that is your conscious choice, I see no reason to force you."continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Kill Idira] "Death to the traitor!"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I will return to you later."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Do you truly prefer to live... like this?"
Idira"Like what? Normal? Not special? Yes! To the void with all my 'talents' and 'abilities'! It's the first time I can hear my own thoughts, [Name]! They're mine, not some warp abomination's! And not the future thoughts and words of some random Lexmechanic at the cogitator next to me!"
Idira"If it means I have to serve a xenos... so be it! All the days I've been here, I've spent in blissful silence. No one bothers me. No one torments me! No one is trying to get at me from the other side, and on this side... nobody notices me at all! I don't want anything else! I just want... to be left alone..." Idira turns away, teetering slightly from the sharp motion.continues where this line first appears above
YOU"This isn't right, Idira. Whatever he did to you, it's perverted."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Do you truly prefer to live... like this?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Does that mean... you cannot use your powers anymore?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"This isn't right, Idira. Whatever he did to you, it's perverted."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Do you truly prefer to live... like this?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"How did he make your voices stop?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Does that mean... you cannot use your powers anymore?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"This isn't right, Idira. Whatever he did to you, it's perverted."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Do you truly prefer to live... like this?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"What have they done to you?"
Idira"They set me free." Idira looks you in the eye and smiles feverishly, drunkenly. "Free from the fear. From the pain. From... them."
Idira"When they captured us, I... I don't remember much from back then. I remember shackles that burned whenever I heard a whisper. I remember injections that made my body go numb. I remember them... dragging me away from you."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"We need to leave. Now."
Idira"No!" Idira's shout reverberates throughout the dimly lit room. "I don't!"
Idira"When they captured us, I... I don't remember much from back then. I remember shackles that burned whenever I heard a whisper. I remember injections that made my body go numb. I remember them... dragging me away from you."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I am. And it is good to see that you live as well."
Idira"Oh yes, I live!" Idira giggles. "I've never felt so... alive."
IdiraThe longer you look at Idira, the more strange details you notice about her appearance: the odd, earthy tone of her face; the fine purple veins around her parched, cracked lips; the subtle change in the colour of her now lustreless eyes. An unpleasant sense of wrongness comes over you, as if the woman standing before you is not quite alive.continues where this line first appears above
YOU"There is no time to talk. I am taking you out of this place."
Idira"Taking me?" Idira recoils, as if scared that you might grab hold of her. "No! Never!"
IdiraThe longer you look at Idira, the more strange details you notice about her appearance: the odd, earthy tone of her face; the fine purple veins around her parched, cracked lips; the subtle change in the colour of her now lustreless eyes. An unpleasant sense of wrongness comes over you, as if the woman standing before you is not quite alive.continues where this line first appears above
Entry point 11 of 11
Idira"Yes... [Name]?" Idira looks through you with a faint smile.
YOU[Mesmerise Idira] "Why do your whispers frighten you so much, Idira? Have they ever betrayed you? You should not give up such an incredible gift. Accept it, because that gift is who you are."continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Deactivate the xenodevice] "I am releasing you whether you want it or not."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"You look as if you are about to die. Whatever that thing is doing to you, you will not last long."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"This is not living, Idira. It is better to live out the time you have on your own terms than spend an eternity existing the way you intend to!"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Everything comes at a price. Have you considered the price you are paying?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Tear the xenodevice off Idira's head]continues where this line first appears above
YOU"If I cannot convince you, I will find a different way to rid you of this compulsion!"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"If that is your conscious choice, I see no reason to force you."continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Kill Idira] "Death to the traitor!"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I will return to you later."continues where this line first appears above
Idira(sequence)
Cassia"What has happened to your colours, Idira? They have melted into you. No, you have melted into them. You have become a grey blur."
IdiraIdira chuckles wryly. "I just became myself, Cass. Boring old me — a little grey mouse with no streak of madness in her, and no squatters living in her witless head."