"That could have set the foundation," he said. His eyes were still on the brain of his patient, as if Chilton had possessed some x-ray insight into the man's literal tissue and synapses. "The mind is a marvelous thing -- sometimes there's a slow reaction to agony. Sometimes the brain only bends when it cannot adapt, and that could take years."

He wanted to explore these possibilities. Chilton did not remove his hand.

"Harvey Dent, for example -- he's a prior patient of mine. His DID manifested a little differently, but -- well. The trauma he was suffering had built itself from childhood and that, along with his genetics, well he sure became a textbook case."

It was natural for individuals to fight, to deny. Very few people wanted to be saddled with mental disorders. And Chilton craved pushing the point, he wanted to explore every possibility, every counterargument, to really dig himself into his patient's mind.

But he maintained his restraint again. Connors was exhausted, and he appreciated that.

"We can continue this discussion later, of course. When you're feeling better."