Look, cake is great too! It’s just not better than pie. Why must we fight? Why can’t we have both?

He can see her struggling to stay focused, so he doesn’t pursue his initial line of reasoning — he thinks it’s taken root, and that’s what matters. As to her question . . . he only hesitates for a moment before answering.

“People keep disappearing here. I need to find out why, ma’am, and how to bring them back if I can.”