Chapter 2 Summary

Baslim continues to raise Thorby as his son: nurturing him and training him in the trade of begging. Thorby's sleep is still often interrupted, however, by disturbing nightmares. Because Baslim is concerned that the child cannot move beyond his painful memories, and because he feels it would be helpful to learn more about his foster son's history, Baslim decides to hypnotize Thorby and probe his memories.

Through the trance, Baslim learns of the horrible abuses that Thorby has suffered. He learns that he was initially kidnapped by slavers as a child, and that his first language was system English. He is unable to identify the child's parents, because Thorby only remembers them as "Papa" and "Mama". After Baslim obtains the information he desires, he uses hypnotherapy to help free Thorby from his nightmares.

Thorby picks up the trade of begging quickly, but becomes...