Back during "The Home Front," the story that ran parallel to "Prey" and told the events of that one fateful week from the point of view of those characters who didn't go off on the big adventure, Mr. Shurra spent some time talking with Terry. And one of the things they discussed--beginning on page 388--was the difficult nature of Bert and Esther's childhood, some of which we're also getting here. Which is why I bring it up, actually...