"Jacqui stared at Martha for a few moments in disbelief, then said, hopelessly, "But the authorities have to send me back to Earth. I shouldn't be her...." The last time anybody went back to Earth from here alive was about fifteen years ago. Three months or life, it doesn't matter; all sentences here are life. There are no Authorities, as you call them, beyond the prisoners who run things, like me and like Kate and like Karl. We are all convicted prisoners, but we work together so that we produce. She is Queen of the ghouls, and this is Lisirra who is a Crown Princess of the Zaos.”“Princess Ixal I always wanted to meet a Ghoul. I am really excited to meet you. Most pictures were hideous, but you look absolutely lovely. I think Grandpa is lucky to have you,” said Chuck. “Princess Lisirra, you are the first Zaos I ever met. Are all Zaos women as good-looking as you?”Chuck has a silver tongue with old women. They love him. Grandpa despite being an ancient who had once one foot in the grave,. ” I reasoned. “Times have changed, Dad. No offence, but I don,t want to end up a forty year old spinster with nothing to show for my life, but a sore cunt!” She liked to curse when angry or frustrated. “With your looks, body and talent that will Never happen!” I assured her. “Maybe so, but it feels like it just now.” She,d been drinking heavily to drown her sorrows and let me make her a cup of tra(she may be the daughter of this expatriate American but hates coffee!” Eventually she calmed down,. I was downing a PB and J, while the girls were eating something green. The munchkins were playing on the tennis court, trying to hit the ball over the net, occasionally succeeding.Doris is away on one of her little excursions. There is this little old lady from town who Doris has known for like fifty years or something. She is a widow and Doris considers her a friend. We just didn't feel right sending Doris on these trips all by herself. So when we found out about Janice Edwards, we offered to.