[Verstael did find people to be a little too upbeat about disappearances.

He'd rather be safe than sorry. In the end, he was trying to be helpful here.]

It may be advisable to stay within someone's sight when at all possible until we have some sort of evidence of the whereabouts of the other disappeared persons. It is one thing for an adult to take the risk, it is another for a child to be left alone.

[He tilted his head slightly at the boy.]

I suppose I shall have to finish constructing an education system. You are literate?