Then, as one turned, I felt a sudden horror. He was grown from when Ilast had seen him, but there was no doubt! It was Khalid, one of myyounger brothe...s! He had been a boy when I had taken my last ill-fatedvoyage. Even now he was barely a man. I could not keep my eyes off him.Beneath his tanned face his face was drawn. He would know not to expectmercy.The verdict was not in doubt. It was no real trial at all. The mencould expect no mercy. A gallows had already been set up behind themand from it. When they came back, usually both boys would be asleep in their stroller. In the afternoons, on two occasions, Dad asked me to come look at some parcels of land he was interested in.There was a big land boom going on in Southern California at that time, and the prices were ridiculously high. On the second day we went looking at land, we drove all the way over to Kern County and looked at twelve small vacant parcels, in a place called Stallion Springs.The lots were on a gently sloping hillside,. Normally I would never have dreamed of even speaking when Mom was in such a bad temper, never mind try to impose myself on a discussion. But, incredibly, that's just what I did."Mom, what was this bargain you made with my father?" I asked.Once again it looked as if Mom was going to come down on me hard, but I held her gaze, my own expression level and unflinching. It became a battle of wills and somehow I knew I was going to win this one. Mom was first to drop her stare and her shoulders sagged. .. that's amazing. Fantastic!"It is for you ... well me too ... but I couldn't stop thinking about last night and this morning so I drew it to get it out of my system. But it didn't work and now I'm a day behind on the plans for a bed and breakfast." She continued as she stood up and put her arms round me. I kissed her soft lips and felt the urgent need in her - a need that matched and complimented my own desire to be close, no - to be inside her."I don't know, maybe if you show the owner that.