Over this period of time, Duncan had written down the known pieces of intelligence one by one on paper, drawing lines between them according to their degree of connection. Interspersed among these clues were Nina and Sherry's memories of the great fire and their respective "dreamscapes," which had clearly become altered.
After laying out all the clues, Duncan then started a new line at the end of this chart. He furrowed his brow, deep in thought, and during his deliberation jotted down a few sentences—
First, in this world, everything but subspace can be "polluted."
Second, the reality of this world is built on an unstable foundation: space is unstable, time is unstable, and even reality itself may not be as unshakeable as people perceive it to be.