The slender young woman who peeked out a cracked door before opening it to admit her visitors was a few inches taller than Jack. Her dark hair was twisted into a pinned-up braid, and she'd dressed in a loose man's shirt, trousers, and a jacket.

Her eyes were red-rimmed, and she sniffled as she stepped back. "You always see me at my worst," she said, in strongly accented English. "Hello again. Your friend --?"