Julia whispered, "Hi yourself. I've got to think of my job and the pension. I'll have to stay in teaching for a long time yet. The life's not that bad...and I get to the big city when I really need to. But just look atyou! My you've turned out really terrific. Is this the same traumatised kid who ran screaming from that appalling school all those years ago?" "Well things move on. How's my son?" asked Jane in a low voice. "He's OK. Your ex remarried soon after she returned home to the town. They met at a pub not far from our apartment. The place was called Bertha’s, and although it provided very little ambiance, it did offer cheap drinks and snacks and oldies on the jukebox.When I got there eight or nine people were gathered around several tables that had been pushed together. I sat in the vacant chair next to Rita and gave her a kiss. I recognized the people from the party, and just as we finished being re-introduced I heard a familiar voice behind us.“Well, I guess if somebody. ”“Ah.”I waved her in, and she ran up the stairs. The guard had been in my training classes, having passed her beginning martial art forms. All the tower guards had to pass the class, but I was surprised at her choice of throwing axes. We didn’t have any specific requirements for weapons, other than the turret guard had to have either a short bow or crossbow. The door guards had to have short swords or spears. They were all completely loyal members of the clan.It didn’t take long for the other. The wood was hard and strong, covered with wicked, wicked thorns, some as long as a man’s finger. The Caddo Indians used to use the wood for their bows and their bows were the best in the state. Well Bill built his fences the same way, destined to be the best in the state.’ The old man stopped talking for a bit, letting his guitar build the fences around the listeners, each melody, each chord, each note drawing them in, closer to the fire, closer to the warmth. Looking closely at his wrinkled.