"But how can you fall out with the sea?" "Because you just can," she said, a little more sternly than I expected. We fell silent. "I notied your kitchen tap is dripping," I said. "The washer has probably gone." "Yes," Dulcie said vaguely, distracted. "I expect it has." "I could replace it for you." She ignored my deliberate attempt to steer the course of the conversation. She had other ideas.