.. These are the common clothes in the villages outside the city.”“A villager? What his cultivation level? He looks quite young.”“I cannot get...a read on his cultivation level, but if he is escorted by Miss Xinia, it most likely that...”“But for a country bumpkin to be treated here, among the rest of us, is it not going overboard?”“As the Sensensar family’s hostess, it is Miss Xinia’s duty to welcome all potential interest. For someone with no style or class, at least this once, an exception. Lisa said something, and Simone replied. I guessed it was asking if Lisa had got it all, and Simone saying not quite. Lisa struggled a bit more, then laughed, said something, and lay back down. She’d said ‘oh never mind’, I was betting.Of course it was too much for the sweet girl and she said something. Lisa smiled at her and I pretty much lip-read “oh thanks”, and then Simone was picking up the oil bottle.I tried to work out if Simone was doing it more slowly than necessary, as I gazed down. I heard you up ahead going off the trail, figured you heard me too. I’m Julie.”“Oh, uh, Claire. I didn’t. Sorry about ... this...”“Hey, pepper spray’s a perfectly reasonable precaution, least you didn’t spray me.”“Thanks. Wish I’d taken more precautions, though. Water bottle ran out a couple miles back.”“Well, lucky for you, I always pack extra for a hike. Here, I haven’t drank out of this one.”“Oh, thanks.”“Welcome. Good clearing you’ve found. Perfect spot for a rest.”“Yeah, it’s really nice.. Now with Security's new assignment, we get to use the latest version as soon as the Colonel's team gives it their blessing."Just as Arlene started to answer, an alarm siren began to sound, but was cut off a half second later. "What was that?" A warning of approaching aircraft, but the aircraft was obviously quickly identified and the computer shut the alarm off. We're almost to the 'bridge' as we call it. We'll stop by and check it out."A few seconds later, the group followed Lieutenant.