" And you are worried for Prissy's sake," I deduced."I know it sounds silly," she said. "She seemed like she was so happy, butthen she just left." Do ...ou know when Shasstine is due to arrive for school?" I asked."She isn't already here? She was supposed to be here this morning. She andTom left together with Marra in the car that Tarriana bought her threedays ago," I could feel the alarmed stress growing in her voice."Then we may have a problem. Nona," I called out knowing that my earringwould. ” I whispered in her ear. She nodded and left, closing the door behind her. I walked over to Eve and stopped her pacing by pulling her into my arms. “Do I have to go?” She whispered nervously. “Yes, yes Eve you have to go. You’re going to be social.” I put my arm over her shoulders and led her to the door. She had the pendant back on and she was clutching it tightly in her right hand. “B-but I…” she stammered as I led her through the door and closed it behind me. “And. I was reading as usually, just trying to get away from the computer for a while and he'd been on a ride. i was at my car getting a water and i complimented his bike as he rode past. He stopped and we talked about bikes for a few minutes before he rode off. Even though i'd been dressing and learning to be feminine for almost 2 years, i didn't think he noticed anything really untoward since i still presented masculine in public. We'd talked a few times since then but i thought that my secret was. As he did, one of the marines took aim at him with a stinger, and the other saluted, shouting, "Please remain seated, SIR!"Ray returned the salute as best he could while remaining seated, and waited. The marine with the stinger didn't waver, but the one who'd spoken rapped sharply on the door. A short while later, the door opened to admit one LTGEN Steven Lipscomb, one of Ray's former classmates, and now head of Naval Intelligence. Ray continued to sit quietly."What? No salute?" Lipscomb said.