( The corner of his mouth ticks upward; her excitement is heartwarming, bordering on contagious. )

Being ‘out of sight, out of mind’ was one of my greatest obstacles in convincing people. No matter how much I ranted about tiny organisms, I sounded like a madman because they couldn’t see it for themselves. ( And poor Gela and Derrica and Orlov had to smooth over the diplomatic disaster which was Doctor Strange yelling at nuns. )

The trade shortages are a trouble, but Ostwick is particularly known for its glassmakers; I’ve thought for a while that if we could convince a craftsman to manufacture the lenses and start selling microscopes ( he pronounces it smoothly, without that hitch between syllables ) then it would be easier to sway people. Once local researchers can see it with their own eyes.