Sam shook her head, even before Daniel completed his protest of the label she'd insinuated. She gave a nod toward the exterior door. "Look at that. Touch it. Take in all the detail you can. Observe that it's metal. Convince yourself that it can't be anything else. Now think about the concept that you can't possibly know what it is...not really. One neuron in the wrong state and you could be touching a tree. By your own admission, and your rivals', we've had the kind of change that could affect our minds in just the right way to have that effect on us. Everything you see is suspect. Everything you know is subject to change."

She crossed her arms and stared into his eyes, no longer the frightened captive she had been only moments ago. Had it been an act, or had she simply been in shock? "You'll understand if I'm not quite ready to take you at your word."

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