“To be honest, Linda coming to find me in Austin was a turning point in my life. It never would have happened if not for you. Standing me up isn’t...really a big deal. You weren’t ready to meet me. Linda always said that you were blunt at times and it pushed people out of your life, but the truth is that you’re not the problem. You’re blunt, not mean. You say what’s on your mind and you don’t hold back. The people that took offense ... they’re the ones with the problem, Eve. You’re a good friend.. " Balor grunted in agreement.After about half an hour they came to a flat spot next to the path. There they stopped for a rest and morning meal. The sun was still behind the peak so the temperature was still mild and comfortable.Shasta and the others were glad enough for the rest but when they tried to get started an hour later she thought her muscles were going to burst as she stood and shouldered the pack. Everything ached! The only thing good about the pain in her muscles was that it masked. I needed to learn to cook.Since I would be having a training session early the next morning, I had an early night, and went to bed, accompanied by Amanda.“You don’t need to…” I began. It was quite early for her.“I want to,” she said. “To use the vernacular, I’m fucked.” She grinned at me.“Are you okay?” I asked. “I didn’t hurt you?”“A little, but it was a good hurt,” she said. “Right now, I’m floating on air.”I remembered that Jules’ pain block would expire in the early hours of the morning, so. A sniper wouldn't have bothered to rig the gate. He would just shoot me through the window of the cruiser. Everything considered an assessment of a low threat level was in order. After all that I simply opened the door and stepped out of the cruiser.I made it into the office, with the 'emergency kit' from the cruiser in hand. On the way into the office I decided that most likely something was simply wrong with the remote opener. Once inside the office I opened the back pack purchased from.