“So,” she said, “have you had the chance to read it.” She nodded towards the papers that sat on the table on the far side of the room. She was...’t certain what she expected or hoped the outcome of the conversation would be.“Yes.”“And what did you think?” She sat back. She was wearing a short, black and white panelled, long sleeved, dress with opaque tights. She sometimes wore the dress to the office, though not as now, Lionel noticed, with tight black leather gloves. As she settled herself. Few were locals. Some were military (officers), others were civil servants while the rest were contractors. Most had kids the same age in a nearby elementary school. It was the kids that brought us together. The kids met and formed friendships in school with others from the neighborhood. One thing led to another and before long parents met parents and a social network formed that lasted for several years until circumstances and opportunities caused the group to slowly dissolve as one-by-one its. ”She nodded and giggled. “Are you disappointed, honey?”I blushed. “I don’t know. It seems strange to go back to normal life. Oh God, I’m so confused. I don’t know what to think.”This made her laugh even louder. “Oh, darling, don’t worry. I will never allow you to go back to your old life again. As of next Monday, you will no longer be our slave. But you will not be a free man either. You will be taken in hand. Lovingly but very firmly.”She cupped my cheek with her right hand. I took it and. A talent I developed while convalescing. Giving it a final check before passing it over for the farmer’s consideration I saw I’d drawn him and the twins a touch pedestrian and stereotypical, but the girl Thanksbe’s gamine features fair leapt off the page in a way that was far beyond my usual standard. I made a mental note to think later about why. He took the sketch from me and studied it suspiciously. ‘You’ve got the gift. Don’t know whether it comes from the Man, or from the Devil, but my.