There was no one around that could hear anyway.She laid out the towel on the soft sand; it was a light blue towel, the same hue as the sky on a clear ...ay. But she could remember a time when it was dark blue and brand new.She could remember picking it out in the store just like it was yesterday. The store is long gone now, just a ghost of a memory where a parking lot now stands.She smiled to herself as she ran her fingers along the threadbare surface of the towel, as if she was caressing an old. He was very sweet to me, making me feel feminine like a girl. He also liked having lots of sex with me in public places like the beach and parks and movie theaters, so we had an exciting, fun and romantic relationship. Ricky was a hottie with dark hair, dark eyes and a nice body. He had been a wrestler in high school so he was extra buff and had big arm muscles I liked to touch. He would make a muscle and I would squeeze his bicep and I felt just like Lois Lane touching the man of steel. Oh,. Later, in a truckstop diner, he would tell her the schedule. The next town somewhere like the one she had just left behind. And the next one. Somewhere inbetween though there was the freedom of the road and that would be enough for now.After the first show she had set out to look for him. One of the old rodeo hands had leered at her in the bar, "You sure you're even old enough to drink, hun?" Seventeen's old enough in this town," she had said, "What the hell else you gonna do?"She had found. Why such a concentration?" Yes sir, thank you sir. Ecological studies were a childhood passion for me."Zaafir nodded quickly. "And your military survival courses are acceptable substitutes for Ranger field requirements. Your qualification is almost complete. Did you know the six-month journey-test is the only credential you lack for permanent Ranger certification?" Uh, dimly I guess." Eliana finally forced herself to smile. "Sir, may I ask where these questions portend?"He didn't answer.