In the spring of 1976, at age 34, I took my wife Elizabeth and children Mark and Connie on my first odyssey to Oklahoma. I was disappointed by what I ...ound. The monotonous prairie, the constant wind, a sky whose sheer size made one feel uneasy. Where was the world of which Vera spoke so fondly? I searched but could not find it. But the seed was planted. We returned to the plains every few years. Each time I began to feel more and more that I belonged there. I did not understand it myself, my. The little room was much the same, although the only light was the one in a lampshade by the bed. Light spilled on to the turned back covers. Clothes on the bed, lots of lacy underclothes. Three bras. Big, black bras. Three?"I was putting my undies away. Mum threatened me." She picked up a handful of panties and opened a drawer. Then one of the bras ... she wasn't wearing one. 'Must be losing my touch, ' he thought, 'if I can't spot a bra-less girl at two paces. Especially one with tits this. "Good luck to us all. I think we're gonna need it."Danny Batchelor squared his shoulders and joined his company of men and women, clustered haphazardly around the flag indicating the First Company, Third Training Battalion of the 123rd Brigade. Clearly, the First Company was still a mob of civilians playing at war. Some wore their wedge caps on back-to-front, others pushed way back or way down or too far over to one side or the other. One wore his Sam Browne belt over the wrong shoulder. Boots. 'I can't be her, I'm not her,I'm just not.'My nervous hands made the serum slosh around. It seemed eager to bedrunk. It was as if it had memories of what it was like to be Laura andknew that it needed a body - my body - if it wanted to re-realise itsfading dreams of womanhood.'No. This is wrong. I can't do this.' I lowered the test tube. 'I needto dress her back up.' I grabbed one of her trainers with my free handand was about to hook it over her toes when something came to me, amemory. I.