She hoped in the dimmed restaurant lighting her couldn’t detect how deeply reddened her cheeks had become. It felt as if it had spread even to her e...rs now, as the lobes seemed to burn against the metal of her earring hoops poking through them, a sensation that was entirely new to her, not the sort of thing you normally FEEL. She found herself wondering what went through his mind in those moments. He seemed to be studying her, and then he was studying the menu. She in turn studied hers, but. He could not explain why, but he had a feeling where she may have goneand followed it as if drawn into the dark woods down the street beyondtheir house.The redwood grove, perhaps 100 trees in all, stood as a monolithicanomaly in an otherwise normal forest and attracted any manner ofinquisitive types...and those seeking the abnormal. For those in tunewith such things, there was an unmistakable power that emanated out fromthe grove, from the massiveness of the trunks, and this crowd hadgathered. There Betty was with a short robe preparing breakfast. I broke the silence by saying “ I enjoyed you last night. Was reality better than your dreams you told me about?” “Just a sample” she said as she turn putting her arms around my head and with a smile nodded. Then she said “I hope that last night was not just a one night stand. I hope you are not one of those black men who can tease a older white woman’s affections.” Looking deep into her hazel eyes I said “Last night was an experience I’ll. "But what's to keep SAL out of my dreams when I go back under hypo-sleep?" Bethany protested."Nothing!" said Pen. "You're not even supposed to be having dreams while you're in stasis!" But..." Bethany wanted some kind of explanation but since she seemed to be the problem, she didn't pursue it."Back to bed, you two!" Penelope chirped."Put our dreamy First Officer here into her capsule first." said the Captain. "You have to file a report on this and I have to reset the hibernaculi automation.