“I never gave you up. There never was anything to give up, Jorat,” she spat back. “Frankly you smell and your idea of polite conversation is jus... disgusting.”“Always putting on airs and graces, as if you’re something special,” he snarled. “Yet you go hanging out with a slave.”“She is special and even going out with a slave she’d still be doing better than if she went out with you,” I replied calmly. “Now go away, this is a private conversation.”There was a lot of stifled laughter in the. " Mum pausedbefore continuing. "I'm just a little upset that you didn't trust meenough to talk to me about this. I'm also angry with you for sneaking outof the house and for staying out past curfew," Mum took a breath, "I mustadmit you look quite good as a girl. You're very pretty in fact."I blushed.Mum continued, "This must have been going on much longer than I suspectedfor you to become so good with makeup and all. So what's my newdaughter's name?"I had calmed down and my nerves had settled.. "And if you are asked to recite it, you must find excuses to stop and go, brake suddenly in a row, one step faster and one step slower, so that you will not be given this opportunity to take advantage of it. Eating tofu is fine. The key is that the passenger experience is not good. It’s better to walk by yourself.”“How is it possible... Am I that kind of person?”“Isn’t it? Then what did you do when I stuck my high-heeled shoe into a crack in a brick outside and sprained my ankle last time?. The armed car caught up with the heavy hauler. There wasn't much to say since they were keeping in touch over the radio. Of course, the radio operator back at Cavopolis was monitoring the banter so that she could call Jeff in case of trouble; she would keep listening as long as the expedition was within range, which they hoped would be for the duration of the trip. The limitation would be the whip antennas on the mobile rigs, but there was nothing anybody could do about that.Becky had them.