± four ±

[The first thing you might notice about Lyle is that the ground around him appears to be littered with spent cigarettes. Add to that that there's another almost-finished one between his fingers and that he's currently staring suspiciously at the nearest bush and you can guess that the whole paranoia thing is really beginning to take its toll. (Random Lyle Trivia: the more he's smoking, the more on edge he is. You do the maths.)]

I could have sworn that I -- [Suddenly he seems to hear another sound and whirls round. He stares at some point beyond the sphere's vision before he takes another drag of the cigarette, looking distinctly annoyed with himself.]

Fucking -- okay. Okay, it's not real, Lyle! Pull yourself together...

[His gaze rests on the recording sphere. He glares at it for a second, then sighs.] You can't leave me alone either, huh? [He gives a wry smile, trying to sound unconcerned.] How's everyone taking going crazy?

[As he speaks, he takes out a packet of cigarettes and looks into it before swearing softly. Yep, you guessed it, he's almost out.]

( Filtered to Neil, though he's really not expecting a reply; )