Everyone (Yancy included) that had taken part in the search of the park was soaked, cold and muddy; everyone, except Robert Butler. The saturnine agen...'s shoes were covered in mud of course, but his suit was clean and dry. James wondered if his partner was a mountain goat in disguise."If Bryant is hiding in this park, I'll eat my socks." Yancy said as he sat down opposite his partner. Agent Butler offered a noncommittal grunt and continued to devote his attention to the computer screen. "You're. Like you, I had a vague recollection. So, I did some more research. It’s true and it happens with every new Supreme Royal Zldat. It is also legal. Every Treaty and Agreement the Zldats make contains some convoluted boilerplate that defines their right to retract all or any part of the Treaty or Agreement when they change leaders.”“Are you sure of that, Relpt?”“Yes, and I didn’t get it off of the Rumor Conduit, either.”“Okay, don’t get upset. I didn’t doubt you. It was just that I was surprised. "At least I’m part of the reason. Eyes forward, Shelly. In fact, keep them closed for now." I could sense him behind me now, even as I turned my head as to stare through the bars at the front of my cage, unable to keep from trying to tug my hand free once more. It gave up quickly, already knowing it was useless.Then, I did my best to keep my eyes squeezed shut as he lifted the hem of my skirt. Not that it had covered much. Bent over as I was, on my knees, it barely covered the cheeks of my ass.. To my surprise there in front of our Christmas tree was the intruder.I shook my head, because for a moment, I thought I was seeing some one in a red Santa suit. It cannot be, maybe the rum was playing tricks with my head. I decided to get a closer look, and slowly I crept towards him, thinking to myself, it this is Santa, I want to make sure eye-to-eye.The close I got, the more puzzled I become. The intruder was not a jolly ole man; the curves were all in the wrong places.I mustered all the.