They go everywhere and you absolutely need them, but without any engines or the cars, they are pretty much useless. The operating system is the locomo...ive. It drives around on the rails and can-do things, but by itself, it’s pretty useless. What it needs is cargo to haul around, the boxcars and tankers and whatever. Those are the programs, or applications. Following me?”He nodded slowly. The others were watching the two of us, but not weighing in. “And you can’t do anything without all three. The shapes of the bomb craters are still visible if you know where and what to look for, but after over fifty years of new woodland growth and occasional land fill the scars are only just visible. Anyway what am I trying to get at here? As you can imagine, everyone was scared out of there wits until they worked out that nobody had been injured. However the animals were even more frightened. Most of the mares and geldings were easily soothed but Rum was a little more flighty than the rest and. We sat on the couch and talked to get to know each other. I went to the kitchen and got the snacks while Jim took drink orders. We found out that Terry and Tina had been swinging for about three years and had been with many other couples. I told them that this was our first time and Terry said that Jim had told them that and he jokingly said that that made us virgins. When I got up to refill the drinks the guys changed places so the couples were reversed. I sat next to Terry and he put. She was …”The words catch in Claude’s throat, his stoicism infected by my emotional outpouring.It takes a while this pilgrimage; two bereft silhouettes paying homage to loss, but eventually, tear streaked and hearts aching, we turn and with heavy footsteps retrace our steps back to our patiently waiting vehicle. We had arrived in silence, but now, with the tension released we might converse.“Your story, CG, how is it? Is it finished yet?”“Nearly, Claude, so very nearly; it has been a long,.