[And suddenly, barely a moment before Scorpio makes his observarion, Horatio isn't in pain any more. He drops his hand from his throat with a low, thready sigh.]

I was. Only a moment ago, I felt as though someone had driven a nail through my throat, but I am fortunate to find myself now relieved.

[He shrugs, and nods sullenly towards Scorpio's doll, slumped in a floppy heap on the table.]

Some unlikely symptom of this flood, I'm sure.