[ Ned listens to Fortescue, pauses before he answers her to shoot a significant look in what must be Meyer's direction. She's not the first one to mention the thing about the animals. That has to be important, doesn't it ]

What do you think that might mean? That the earthquake was artificial? [ That doesn't tell him much: he'd already guessed that. ] What do you mean, that they don't fit the place. [ He agrees, but he can't put his finger on why, wonders if Fortescue might have some more solid reasoning behind her statement ]