Mainly it was because I was pretty sure it was one of those half-baked ideas I sometimes had that never came to fruition. I could well recall too many...of those from my past, which I'd been foolish enough to speak about prematurely. Programming A.I., artificial intelligence. Trisecting an angle in geometry. Hell, when I'd been a kid I'd even fooled around with perpetual motion, sure I could get it done where no-one ever had before. And I remembered vividly how foolish, how stupid, I'd felt when. It was to show familyunity. The close connection and unity was why Cindy wanted to talk aboutthe rumors. She wanted to make sure her friend was fine how their fellowstudents were talking down about people like her mom. To Cindy, it wasjust cruel and inconsiderate for people to take a serious subject matterand make it a flippant joke.As they were eating lunch with Rachel Carson, Amy could tell Cindy hadsomething on her mind. Her friend was as antsy as a lady waiting to meether future. " Toril replied. "You'd be surprised." Kieron closed his eyes. "All you have to do is justbelieve." Toril settled down and stared at the icy ground. He hated being a non-entity in the keep. He felt as if he was slowly beingpressed into nothingness, like his very being was being torn into small pieces.To the inhabitants of the keep he was lower than dirt, something to be ignored,at best tolerated. Oh, he was fed from the table of the Duchess, and had agood bed to sleep in, but it hurt him. I reined up, got down and walked across the street trying to figure out who she was."You don' remember me, do you, you big ox?" the slight woman said, sounding a bit worse for liquor so early in the day. She smelled of lavender and rum.I shook my head and admired her well knit body and frank look."How 'bout if I say you owned me for a few minutes?" She smiled up at me, a good smile in a bright face."Emma?" I said, "Good lord!" Right the first time," she said, grabbing my arm, "come along."I.