Itwas Dieter Holmes' boys, the man I owed untold amounts to. He was stillusing the same muscle.I struggled as they pressed my hand to the floor trying...to steady it. Themachete wielder spoke, his Brooklyn accent jarringly out of place in thisswath of Southern California. "Hold still or I may hit something I didn'tmean to. Can't pay if your dead."I couldn't be sure if this was for show to scare me or if they intended toremove my fingers. With Dieter you just couldn't know. Examples were. I’m happy at home. (Happy at home.)You’re my best friend.”-Queen, “You’re My Best Friend”(This chapter takes place in the morning hours on the day of “A Conversation Amongst Equals.”)“TROY!” Julie shouted as she emerged out of the gantry from the plane and into the terminal of Ted Stevens International Airport. The bleariness of the redeye flight cleared from her head at the sight of him, and she ran into his arms for a power hug, nearly knocking him backwards. Troy Medina held her close,. She may not be as young as you or as fit for a night of uninterrupted passion, but she has the desire for it. There are women in the village who have whispered to me, and I shan’t mention their names, that the shaman has made love with them and that she is uncommonly passionate.’ Ivory paused in her scrabbling in the soil and sat upright. The furs that bagged about her knees were pulled taut. She balanced her weight on her heels and let her aunt’s news sink in, while all around was a cheerful. "You were screaming." he shifted his weight and sat on the edge of the couch. "There was some shooting, a mile away at least, and they started up outside." He wrapped the blanket around her again. "You're safe, I won't let them get you." Don't you want me?" Her voice shook with emotion."I," He hesitated, and gently wiped away the tears streaming down her cheeks. "Sergeant Mel, she explained it better than I can. She said we need to 'start as we mean to go on.' It was the day before yesterday.".