"Yeah, getting knocked down tends to do that," Howard says quickly. He holds a hand out. "Give me some wire or string or something, Hattie."

He can see it laid out in front of him, not visually but in his head, a glowing pattern of what's missing. As he gets things in his hands, it's like finding puzzle pieces, except sometimes the picture he's making rearranges. Necessity gives way to different requirements as the possibilities change and new avenues are explored.

"Keep stuff coming, Hats."