"That's not the same. Bored in a watchtower--you aren't waiting for scandals." Not that she knows, exactly, what that's like; she wasn't anyone's first pick for guard duty. But she's seen it in other people, and she's felt the tedium of other small, dangerous jobs.

He's not actually asking are you bored?, she doesn't think. Not after the weird, tense conversations they've had. Even in that tone, she thinks it's do you feel safe enough to be bored? Part of her doesn't want to answer, but it's an unreasonable sensation, the one that still says don't give him anything. The rest of her shrugs at it--and at Byerly--figuring that if she answers as indifferently as he asks, it won't count for anything. (Is that more or less reasonable than wanting to clam up? She can't decide.) "Not much. There's a lot to do."