“The thrill of the hunt is in the anticipation of the kill. It is akin to making love in many ways,” she continued, Mizi watching Ben’s cheeks f...ush red with a gleeful burst of yellow and pink plumage. “The chase is slow and methodical, building towards a violent climax, the spoils of which are shared with one’s pack.”“Shouldn’t a huntress strike when her prey least expects it?” Mizi suggested, goading her companion on.“Somehow, I can’t help but feel that this is at my expense,” Ben muttered as. ”Rose said, “I’m sure every parent goes through what you’re all feeling right now. I guess we’re having you loosen up your thinking about us sooner rather than later. We don’t mean to rub any of this in your face, but we are officially adults.”Dave put his hand out to his stepson, “Welcome to the Circle, Pledge.” Matt shook his hand and broke into a grin. Dave repeated the handshake with Rose, except she got up and went to him, gave him a big hug, and kissed him on the lips. Dave blushed. The. The other patient would probably not make it through the night. His lungs had been punctured, and other organs damaged. The heroic operation had done all that current medical science could do. I had to use the autodoc almost ten minutes, to get the serious damage taken care of, and most of the minor. I included his seriously damaged face, and missing eye.The eye would now grow to occupy the empty socket, in time. The bone structure of the face would have taken many operations, if he was alive. )Down, down, down. Would the fall never come to an end? “I wonder how many miles I’ve fallen by this time?” she said aloud. “I must be getting somewhere near the centre of the earth. Let me see: that would be four thousand miles down, I think—” (for, you see, Alice had learnt several things of this sort in her lessons in the schoolroom, and though this was not a very good opportunity for showing off her knowledge, as there was no one to listen to her, still it was good practice to say it over).