"The man Gabriel," quotes Daniel in what's meant to be a wry academic stab at humor, "whom I had seen in the vision at the first came to me in swift flight at the time of the evening sacrifice."

Immediately he shakes his head in acknowledgment of that poor taste. Hardly relevant, is it?

"Sorry. I realize that's - well, just - mental associations. I've been brushing up on my theology way too much lately." His line of work has more or less required it. He hastens to redirect the subject back to its original content in what is quite possibly the clumsiest segue of all time. "It's, it's good that you're addressing them. The problems. You know, directly."