OK, so the Leviathans are about energy, intelligence, and power. They are also about unpleasantness and cluelessness. Michael has to know that soon he's going to have the form of a fully grown man. If, by some weird happenstance, he does make a lasting connection as Michael with Carolyn, then that connection will be a problem when he tries to form a relationship with her as a man. Oh, but I'm thinking as a human. I suppose he figures that, whatever happens, she is fated to be his, and she'll be so smitten with him as a man that she'll accept the story that he's her beloved Michael in another form.
That disposes of the issue of cluelessness. The issue of unpleasantness remains. Once again, I'm thinking as a human, with a silly human idea that life is better when people get along. But what is the goal of the Leviathans, anyway? I don't think I'm giving away any spoilers when I reveal that they do not reach their goal and that we are able to proceed to the glories of parallel time without answering to Leviathan masters. So: when the Leviathans do reach their goal, what will the world be like? One thing's for sure: it won't be nice. Of course, I could be misunderstanding matters. Human history tells of many underage kings who were spoiled because nobody dared to say no to them. And it could be that, to the Leviathans, being mean to humans is sort of like stepping on ants for us - i.e. something that, for most people, is of infinitely little consequence. But I don't think so. I think the Leviathans are just naturally mean. And where's the fun in that?
There was fun in the scene in the antique shop with Carolyn, Philip, and Michael, when none of them were saying a word and Carolyn and Philip were both being very uncomfortable around Michael. And then after Carolyn left, Michael claimed that it was Philip who was making Carolyn uncomfortable! More cluelessness.
Meanwhile Philip has remembered that there are other things in the world besides the Leviathan goal. He believes that he'll be able to go on with the shop that he and Megan have dreamed about for so long. He's deluding himself. But it's interesting to see the spell wearing off. If Philip looked inside the box again, would its vigor be renewed?
I was surprised to hear that Megan had gone to an auction. I thought that the general division of responsibilities was that Philip bought and Megan sold. But maybe Philip was expecting a customer at the shop who would need his personal attention.
