Ales's gaze followed the float as it was dragged across the water, pulled out, then tossed back into the river. Fishing was a relaxing sport for some, not including himself. If Ellie needed to so something with her hands that did not have to give results, she could fish downstream. Ales had days like that, too, where he put together useless pieces of machinery when he didn't have the mental capacity to work.

"I needed some fresh air." That was part of the truth. He also wanted someone reasonable to talk to. "I can't spend every waking hour at the lab."