[ either the man is a very good liar, or he means what he says — and even viktor, who is predisposed to be suspicious of everyone, has to admit he sounds genuine enough. ]

Perhaps, [ he says, which isn't really a response to anything in particular; and yet, he can't quite say he's not interested in seeing that, too, because he is, almost desperately so; the curiosity is a flame impossible to extinguish, and it leads to him saying, then, ]

I would not mind seeing your facilities... just to compare them to what I am used to. The differences between worlds are, after all, interesting to see.