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porcelain manufacturer, along with the toilets Bull and Bear were installing in the north wing.
    The doll’s platinum curls had been partly ripped away. Its painted eyes stared up at him as he struggled to his feet.
    The little fish perched on the roof of her dollhouse, which floated half submerged in the pool. The toy furniture bobbed and drifted in the current.
    â€œCome here, little miss,” he said. She slipped off the roof and glided across to him. She showed no interest in the monkey, but she probably hadn’t realized it was anything other than just another doll.
    â€œDo you remember what we are going to do today?” he asked. “I told you yesterday; think back and remember.” She blinked up at him in ignorance. “What do you do every day?”
    â€œWork hard.”
    â€œVery good. Work hard at what?”
    â€œGood girls work hard and keep the water flowing.” She yawned, treating him to a full view of her tongue and tiny teeth as she stretched.
    The monkey yawned in sympathy. Her gaze snapped to the creature with sudden interest.
    â€œSharp teeth!” She jumped out of the pool and thrust one long finger in the monkey’s face. It recoiled, clinging to Sylvain with all four limbs.
    â€œHush,” he said, stroking the monkey’s back. “You frightened her. Good girls don’t frighten their friends, do they?”
    â€œDo they?” she repeated automatically. She was fascinated by the monkey, which was certainly a more engaged reaction than she had given any of the toys Sylvain had brought her.
    He fished in his pocket for the leash and clipped it to the monkey’s collar.
    â€œToday, we are adding the new cloth pipes to the system, and you will keep the water flowing like you always do, smooth and orderly. If you do your work properly, you can play with your new friend.”
    He handed her the leash and gently extracted himself from the monkey’s grip. He placed the creature on the ground and stroked its head with exaggerated kindness. If she could copy his words, she could copy his actions.
    She touched the monkey’s furry flank, eyes wide with delight. Then she brought her hand to her face and whiffed it.
    â€œStinky,” she said.
    She dove backward off the rock, yanking the monkey behind her by its neck.
    Sylvain dove to grab it but just missed his grip. The monkey’s sharp squeal cut short as it was dragged under water.
    Sylvain ran along the edge of the pool, trying to follow the glow of her form as she circled and dove. When she broke surface he called to her, but she ignored him and climbed to the roof of her dollhouse. She hauled the monkey up by its collar and laid its limp, sodden form on the spine of the roof.
    Dead, Sylvain thought. She had drowned it.
    It stirred. She scooped the monkey under its arms and dandled it on her lap like a doll. It coughed and squirmed.
    â€œSing a song,” she demanded. She shoved her face nose to nose with the monkey’s and yelled, “Sing a song!”
    The monkey twisted and strained, desperate to claw away. She released her grip and the monkey splashed into the water. She yanked the leash and hauled it up. It dangled like a fish. She let her hand drop and the monkey sank again, thrashing.
    â€œSing a song!” she screamed. “Sing!”
    Sylvain pried off his boots and dove into the pool. He struggled to the surface and kicked off a rock, propelling himself though the water.
    â€œStop it,” he blurted as he struggled toward her. “Stop it this instant!”
    She crouched on the edge of the dollhouse roof, dangling the monkey over the water by its collar. It raked at her with all four feet, but the animal dealer had blunted its claws, leaving the poor creature with no way to defend itself. She dunked it again. Its paws pinwheeled, slapping the surface.
    Sylvain ripped his watch from his pocket and lobbed it at her. It smacked her square in the temple. She