‘Would you like to dance, Alison?’ he asked. He thought his voice sounded funny and wondered if she noticed. ‘Sure, I’d love to,’ Alison sai.... She stubbed out her cigarette and slid off the stool. Tom, a bit surprised that she’d agreed to dance with him, did likewise. They walked to the dance floor and looked at each other. Alison gave him a warm smile and stepped into his arms. When she did, her body brushed against Tom, whose insides reacted immediately. That was something that hadn’t. ‘That looks so much better’ he says, his voice strangely quiet. ‘It feels a bit uncomfortable and tight across my chest’ Alice tells him, he steps closer ‘May I?’ he replies, all Alice can do is nod. Reaching out the he pulls the straps out a little and runs his fingers up to her shoulders, letting them fall back ‘how’s that?’ feeling a little disappointed and not knowing why Alice tells him it’s a little better.This time he looks at her and before he says anything Alice nods her consent, this. The practice swords were not very sharp but they stung with sufficient bite to make him determined to master the moves the talented swordsman showed him each session. He practiced on the padded dummy in the back room of the hut and his sister watched him with envy wishing she was the one wielding the sword and not him. His mother instructed him to remove himself to the hut of the tribal healer Samuel who was not really a physician but had knowledge of the herbs and healing potions that they had. Adam walked through the customs area and into the arrival hall. The flight was twenty minutes early thanks to strong head winds. He put down his suitcase and stretched his arms above his head. The eight hour flight from Berlin to New York had taken its toll. He picked up his bag and walked out through the main doors. The rain was pouring down. There was a long line to the cabs so he went back inside and looked around for a car rental agency.When he got into his rented Chevy he wiped the rain.