Dori's eyes narrowed in contemplation. She folded her hands atop the table. "But the Roman Empire fell. And the Renaissance gave way to Classicism and the Age of Reason. If a town builds toward critical mass, over and over, perhaps it's supposed to."

Downstairs a stack of books tipped and scattered across the floor. People hustled to pick them up.

'I-I'm sorry. I don't know what's wrong with me today. I can't seem to...'

Dori's eyes slid to the stairs and then returned to his. She wore a placid expression.