Neal is paranoid. He's been paranoid ever since he got hit by those lights a second time, ever since he found out there was something concrete happening with them. He'd been one of the people to help round up every un-sold string from every store the ADI identified, not willing to help test anything or risk exposure again. He would stick to the ones that aren't lit. Screw that dice roll.

But paranoia doesn't stop him from keeping promises, and one of the promises he's made--to himself, if no one else--is to leave food near the homeless hot spots around town. He doesn't talk to any of them, doesn't get close. He's heard about what happens to people who spend too much time talking to a non-native. But plastic containers of hot food always end up stacked in places he knows they'll be found.

He's in the middle of one such delivery when he spots Kugrash, which isn't surprising. They've run into each other more than once doing this by now. "Enjoying the weather?"

It's cold. That's sarcasm.