"It has so far," Caleb said, "except for the island. I am teaching a young man some of it as well."

The smell didn't bother him, nor the sting, and Caleb sat placidly for all of it. His breathing did rush up a little bit, just a little bit, because it did hurt on top of the existing pain of the cuts.

"There are some things that haven't worked so well. Some things I can't do. But I do not know if it is this place or not."