It's only a few more weeks, and we can have the paper pre-written and ready to go. We'll just plug in the data and submit."Gaby fumed. "Well, don't bl...me me if somebody else scoops us. Damn! You have your doctorate, but some of us still have reputations to make."I grinned. "Some reputation. Gaby Mercer, who got her science career cut short by rushing to print with incomplete results. Really, Gaby, have a little patience! Besides," I said, "there's another thing that's been troubling me, and I. ” Yvonne said as she replaced the photos. “I would think you were at least burning out the batteries when you read them.”“That, I’m not going to comment on.” Annette laughed.“I know if he was my guy, I’d have taken him to bed and fucked him till he couldn’t walk. That’d be the end of that soldier crap.”“He’s a Marine, not a soldier.” Annette corrected. “They’re a little particular about that point.”“Whatever...” Yvonne said. “The point is that he’s half way around the world in Korea. You don’t. What do you have to say for yourselves?”Gina’s eyes were a little teary, she said, “I’m sorry Daddy, I was wrong. Are you going to punish us?”“Of course, but first I want to hear from Jenna.”“Oh Daddy, I’m sorry, too but please don’t spank us now, I don’t want our friends to hear and know we still get spanked, I’d die of mortification, please wait ‘til after the party.”“You’re probably right, even though the party’s on the other side of the house, someone could come in to use the bathroom and. ”Gestas picked up a set of tongs from the table and shook his head, “Alright, but I can’t promise you’ll get first chance at it, brother.”Dismas smiled, “Fair enough,” as he left the cavern. Gestas picked up the red-hot circlet from the brazier and walked over to the unconscious, suspended man. He placed the burning crown onto his head and the unconscious, dying man was ripped violently awake to issue a blank stare into the face of his tormentor,.