[ ion just... stares blankly, for a moment, trying to take that information in. that's. that's a lot. nine survivors, out of their twenty-six still? ]

... How do you... no, no- never mind that.

[ he shakes his head. more importantly: ]

Can anyone recall if we've ever had a particularly strong flow of- red ink, after any one of the executions? Not-- proportionate to the amount spilled during the week, I mean.

As for the letters- apparently they can only send as many as they receive, so how did we receive anything, that first time...?