What Salem didn't want to say was that he didn't know, and he was scared, and he was supposed to stay with them. That last one especially was hard to admit, because usually he'd take any opportunity to win his freedom, and wasn't about to admit to any of the Spellmans that he needed their help. He barely stopped himself from crying, with just a little, dry sob.

At least he could enthusiastically take this diversion about the book, which he rallied enough to say, "I guess you could say they're trapped. By the system. Damn the man! Down with capitalism! Someone else should be in charge! I have some suggestions."