‘The Incster has the last word once again,’ says Struck. Which invites a chorus:
The Halster.’
‘Halorama.’
‘Halation.’
‘Halation,’ Rader says. ‘A halo-shaped exposure-pattern around light sources seen on chemical film at low speed.’
‘That most angelic of distortions.’
Struck says ‘We’ll be like vying for the seats all around Inc tomorrow.’ Hal shuts his eyes: he can see the page of text right there, all highlighted, all yellowed up.
‘He can scan the page, rotate it, fold the corner down and clean under his nails with it, all mentally.’
‘Leave him alone,’ Pemulis says.
Freer opens his eyes. ‘Do a dictionary-page for us, man, Inc.’
Stice says ‘Leave him be.’