Don Blake had seen it all.He had witnessed the full futility of his planet's defenses againstthe invading stony aliens. "Clearly, earth's weaponry ar... uselessagainst these invaders. But perhaps what all the latest scientificand technological advances cannot accomplish," he said as he tappedhis cane once upon the ground, "Thorine, goddess of thunder, can."Within an instant lame Dr. Don Blake was once again transformed intothe mighty warrior goddess Thorine. Two additional taps of her. "You'd better get her to a clinic as soon as the holiday's over. Have you thought of a name?"Dulcie frowned, then smiled. "Tikva," she said. "It means, 'Hope'."He smiled too. "Appropriate," he agreed.Tom Carmichael, unusually, woke when his wife Chrissie got up to feed their third child, Jennifer. Amy, 'almost six' and David John – 'DeeJay' – 'almost five' were asleep next door. He watched his wife lift the little one from the crib, open her nightie and lift Jennifer to her breast. The whimpers. Most of the time I hate the rain. In Guam, the rain was sticky and warm. In Korea, it was cold and bit through your clothes. But in the desert Southwestern US, when it rains, it cleans the air. Leaves the air with that fresh and purified smell. I want you to visit here when it is raining, maybe even live here so you can really appreciate it when it does.I am looking at the raindrops hitting the pool …Mmmm … what I would do to you if you were here while it is raining … my imagination is going. A gaunt hawked-nosed woman without makeup and dressed in black came out and gave Phil a stunning smile and the smile turned quizzical as she ran her eyes over the client. ‘Milena deBona, this is Mr Buxton…’ ‘The man who wants to replace our mayor, yes I recognize him.’ Buck grinned. ‘I’m Buck. Am I welcome here?’ ‘Do you like the idea of foreign immigrants coming to reside in city?’ ‘Oh yes Milly, particularly Italian immigrants.’ ‘Yes you are welcome here,’ she smiled. ‘Thanks but do I have.