" That's okay dear," Meg told me a twinkle in her eye and a smile thatshowed she was humoring me. "But she is my best friend so we shouldrespect her ...oreign customs." At least it isn't tofu," I said, pronouncing 'tofu' as though it was aprofanity.I popped open my beer and took a big swig, then absently scratched at mybeard. It was pretty hot out today, so my beard was keeping me morethan a little warm. Still, I wasn't about to shave it off, no matterhow many times Meg threatened to do it for. "A fat man in shalwar kameez, rather than uniform, escorted the two women to a well-appointed stateroom and indicated that if they wanted anything, they should ask the eunuch standing by the door.'Eunuch?' they wondered simultaneously."What is this room?" asked Janice."This is the Admiral's stateroom," said the eunuch in a squeaky voice, "I can show you the other rooms if you wish, Highness."As he led them through the door at the far end of the stateroom he said, "The Admiral has eight rooms.. Cloister. Ew,” Tonya’s nose wrinkled.“Ew is an apt description,” Janie agreed. “I much prefer this one.” She looked around the alcove, thinking that it really was about the same size as the small chamber she’d lived in when she was younger. She’d shared it with another girl too. Now, the idea of forcing someone to live in a space so small seemed cruel to her. Even the room she was now sharing with Tonya was more than twice the size of the alcove, and it barely seemed big enough for two.“Here,”. She noticed a red rosebud on the bodice of her uniform, and recalled that she herself had embroidered it, only last year. "Yes. Yes, Senora, I remember." "You're an experienced maid," Graciela confirmed. "And that's what you'll be from now on." As she spoke a baby began to cry in a nearby room. Graciela smiled. "There's one more surprise. I put milk into your breasts, didn't I? You've needed to relieve their discomfort, true?" The baby cried louder. Rosa's breasts ached with the.