It couldn't be real. It looked like snakes tails. It branched out and slithered down the wall and she saw it move up, over the bed and towards her. Sh... was too confused and startled to resist. She felt the slick shadow melt onto her and crawl across her skin. It wrapped around her leg then up her skirt. Her body was frozen. She was paralyzed. She stared in horror as it skittered and slunk and wrapped around her ankles. It felt like smooth skin on hers. It felt like tongues and hands and sex. It. As the train approached the station in Glasgow it slowed down so it finally seemed to just creep in to the platform. The platform was slightly curved so for the last hundred yards or so I could see people waiting for the train’s arrival. I spotted my lover standing with the others waiting for me, I was surprised to see she was wearing just a two piece suit, with her coat and handbag over her arm. She was wearing a hat with a veil that made me smile as I recognized this as her mode of dress from. ‘Jack are you alright, is there anything you want to talk about?’ she asked. ‘No not really.’ He nervously responded. ‘Are you sure?’ she asked turning down his street. ‘Yes.’ He replied looking towards his house and sanctuary. ‘Well we are not going to stop unless you tell me what is wrong.’ She said driving by his house. ‘WHAT!!’ he shouted aloud. ‘Now are you going to tell me what is wrong?’ she prodded again. ‘I’m sorry Mrs. Welch. I’m in love with someone.’ He replied hoping it would get. The first test of my future prospects as a manipulator of diplomatic strings. In the interim, Ntombe invited us both to dinner at the Presidential Palace (a large but nondescript edifice which I understand has since been refurbished as a Holiday Inn). The invitation was unprecedented. Previously my only contact had been at fortnightly formal meetings in the President-for-Life’s office. Vee had met him only once - at a garden party he gave to celebrate his birthday. She told me.