"This is going to do me a world of good. It don't even rip up my lungs as much." Dan feels like he could laugh right now without giving himself a coughing fit. The smoke feels humid and gentle in his throat and chest, cool and fresh when he exhales - and, he realizes, he doesn't need to burn anything down to a butt. He can take as many or as few drags as he wants.

Then she says something that sparks his interest. He grins, all enthusiasm. "There's a corner of the mail room I been using. Has a big mirror, nice and quiet, even got a sprung floor although I don't for the life of me know why. I don't just dance as a stripper. What about you?"