Synthia frowns, but reaches out to mimic the nudge to one of the marbles in the plastic mesh bag. When she pulls her hand away, she seems to be focusing very intently on the glass sphere and, lo and behold, it moves.

It's as if an invisible thumb is pushing it, making the rest of the marbles rattle. She pulls the top of the bag open, and a few rise up slowly to hover in the air. "I don't know any other children. None of the soldiers would be allowed to play with me."