Edits for hardcover

content/read/053.md

@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ It was Ioan, Dear, Serene, and Praiseworthy --- the first line of the stanza and
 
 Dear's partner greeted them at the door, silent. Perhaps Dear had sent ahead a message, for they greeted the group and then stayed out of the way. They disappeared and returned shortly with mugs of coffee.
 
-The four witnesses slumped into the couch. A universal sigh. Dear and Serene leaning against each other, and Dear's partner claimed on a stolen dining-room chair nearby.
+The four witnesses slumped into the couch. A universal sigh. Dear and Serene leaned against each other, and Dear's partner claimed on a stolen dining-room chair nearby.
 
 "So," they said, finally. "What happened?"
 
@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@ Praiseworthy shrugged, looking what Ioan thought might be glum, though her gestu
 
 Ioan turned to Dear. "You alright?"
 
-It was a moment in responding before it nodded. *"I am with Praiseworthy. I am not surprised, but not happy. Rather pissed, actually,"* it said, smiling sardonically. *"That was short-sighted of them, though, because I have a hunch that Qoheleth was right."*
+It was a moment in responding before it nodded. *"I am with Praiseworthy. I am not surprised, but not happy,"* it said, smiling sardonically. *"Rather pissed, actually. That was short-sighted of them, though, because I have a hunch that Qoheleth was right."*
 
 ""Right"?"
 
@@ -36,7 +36,7 @@ It was a moment in responding before it nodded. *"I am with Praiseworthy. I am n
 
 Dear shot a glance at its partner, laughed. *"You two get along, I see. Yes, it does. I think I did it, too, unless there is some association I missed.  I cannot remember it for the life of me."*
 
-"You will have to tell me how you did that, Dear." Serene laughed.
+"You will have to tell me how you did that, Dear," Serene said.
 
 *"Later, yes. I think Qoheleth was right, though. We need forgetting. We need breeding and change and death."*
 
@@ -56,7 +56,7 @@ Ioan nodded.
 
 Ioan and Dear's partner shook their heads, while both Serene and Praiseworthy frowned.
 
-*"The origin of the system came from the lost, from the turmoils of the early twenty-second century, though one could perhaps trace roots further back into the twenty-first. Prior to the system, the 'net on Earth required engaging with through another thing called exocortices. Implants along the spine, with tendrils trailing along nerves."*
+*"The origin of the system came from the lost, from the turmoils of the early twenty-second century, though one could perhaps trace roots further back into the twenty-first. Prior to the System, the 'net on Earth required engaging with through another thing called exocortices. Implants along the spine, with tendrils trailing along nerves."*
 
 Serene and Praiseworthy both reached up to rub at the backs of their necks.
 
@@ -76,7 +76,7 @@ Serene slouched against Dear's side, poking its thigh. "I understand what you ar
 
 Dear's partner, frowned. "Neither do I, fox."
 
-The fennec laughed and shook its head, ears flopping about. *"Trust me, I do not either. I do not think many do. I just think we need death, or something like it, as part of the system. Death. Fear of death. Needs and reasons to survive in the face of an inevitable end."*
+The fennec laughed and shook its head, ears flopping about. *"Trust me, I do not either. I do not think many do. I just think we need death, or something like it, as part of the System. Death. Fear of death. Needs and reasons to survive in the face of an inevitable end."*
 
 ""Something like it"?" asked Praiseworthy.