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You are at a social event after the lecture — an event that was scheduled because, after last year’s conference, someone took a survey, and the scientists all agreed that the conference would be improved by less shoptalk and more socializing.

You see introductions, shoptalk with comics and some of the drive home.

In between performances and shoptalk, Saul and Caprice are drawn into overlapping intrigues involving a dead child and an inner-beauty pageant.

Cope asked after some preliminary shoptalk.

Despite all the shoptalk, she also liked Mr. Shults.