It's funny how stories actually play out when they get put together - Ben definitely was not going to hit the end of the chapter as a somewhat self-assured individual, but when we kept moving forward, that's where things kept heading.  So hey, maybe there are some good things ahead for our grad student.  Stasis, if nothing else.

(Vonnie's in the car because her cage was destroyed back at the campsite, for those of you asking.)

Two more pages to go and then we'll get into a new story arc.