He went around briskly saying his goodbyes to everyone before leaving. Paul reasoned that Marcy probably caught a cab back to her motel. But being a l...cal, Paul knew all the shortcuts that made a trip to the Sparrows Nest motel a five minute walk. With every passing landmark, every passing cross-street, Paul became more and more anxious. By the time he was standing at the threshold of the Sparrows Nest room #9s door, his heart sounded like a bass drum reverberating through his whole body.. Whatever reason he had, he seemed to believein it. We drove in silence for another five minutes before he finallyfound the words he was looking for."Give me a week," he said. "After the concert, we can discuss lettingthem in on the secret. But please, give me a week." Not without a good reason!" I shot back immediately. I'm sure I soundeda little snippy, but he had it coming. He was still asking me to trusthim, and quite frankly I no longer did when it came to keeping thesecret from my friends.. "One more question, Joe. Kind of like the last one, but I hate string marks across my hips. Would you mind if I took my bottom of?"I knew if she did, I would get a hard-on, but said, "No problem."She untied the bottom's strings, and soon the bottom was laying on her beach bag on top of the bikini top. I could feel myself getting hard, and she knew it, staring at the front of my trunks."Ah, Joe, I am making you uncomfortable. I am sorry, do you want me to put them back on.?"I exclaimed, "No!. .. 2... 1 ... Mark.”On PBN14 the icons representing each ship showed as yellow for several seconds before turning green, indicating that the data had been received and validated. It was 14:50 when the ship icons began flashing green, indicating that all system checks were complete. During this time Grey Eagle Two had been accelerating. At 14:55 Mildred said, “All ships at Sublight Factor 9. All positions nominal.”“Sync time base counters on my mark,” said Christina.“Aye, “ came the response.