"Where am I?" asked Laura cautiously.This produced a further burst of incomprehensible twittering from the two women. Then the one with the smock dash...d off and returned with the most preposterous looking person. He was a corpulent black man of obvious North African descent with an odd squeaky-sounding voice. At least he spoke English.Addressing her regally he squeaked with a voice which reminded her of Mickey Mouse, "Welcome to the harem of His Magnificence, the Emir Ibrahim, may he live for. What the hell was that boy thinking of, wandering around in his shorts? He must have had a few screws loose, nod nod wink wink nudge nudge. Idly, I wondered how my mother was taking my miraculous disappearance. Did she maybe think she’d had a really bad bout of the dt’s? Did she even care? I knew I’d have to get back there. But I’d be damned if I went back tonight. Odds are she’d pass out in the morning and I wouldn’t have to see that sorry bitch ever again. Having thus set myself upon a course. They are all in Sandra's room having some kind of meeting. At least that's what it looked and sounded like. Harry, I want to thank you and Tran for having me as your guest. I had more fun and laughs today than I have had in years. I don't know how you manage to fit it all in with everything that's going on right now. I just wanted to tell you that Doris and I are moving in together as soon as we come back from North Carolina. She wants to try having a relationship with me again. I got to tell. " Brand knew he must have a very stupid look on his face as he looked at his Grandfather, Stephen took pity on Brand and smiled, "I purchased this place for us, including the forest. We can't impose on Collin forever, besides I'm more comfortable in my own home, I'm getting to old to be traipsing about the country all year, the wagons with the furniture should be arriving this week, if the weather holds out, I thought I would talk to Collin about his staffs family members needing employment.".