[Michael settles, placated by Claire's reinforced apology and agreeing to speak no more of the spiders. When it comes to what bothers him it's the laughter he minds, not the questions. Those he answers or ignores as he sees fit.

This one, he answers.]

I'd hate to think the efforts made thus far to understand our purpose here might come to nothing. [There's no feeling worse than dedicating yourself to a hopeless cause, especially when you don't find out it's futile until it's too late. He'd know.] But it may take a great deal of time, and greater coordination between the factions. Even those conducting the summoning rituals don't seem to have a full understanding of the process.

[Wouldn't they choose to summon only those with potential like Wanda's, if they could?]