Call you later!’ she called over her shoulder as she left. ‘Where are you?’ she asked, digging through her purse to find her keys. Why the hell ...re they always, always at the bottom? She wondered as her fingers closed around them and she unlocked her car. ‘Downtown. Rico’s.’ was his reply. She scowled again. Rico’s was one of the seediest bars in the worst part of town. Usually she didn’t worry overmuch about being downtown, but she had her reservations at ten on a Saturday, and at Rico’s,. I knew, after all, why go. Apartments next door. On call Dima opened immediately. Hello! I kissed him on the cheek. Come on, he admitted me. You are not alone?!!! Failing to enter, I froze in indecision. Roman! Oh, it's Vera! He introduced me sitting at the dinner table to the man. He jumped up and sat next to me. For the lovely ladies! I poured a full glass. I'm a big girl! But, just two No! He pushed away his vodka. Vera! What a magnificent woman you! Roman sat closer. Ver! Why are you? For a. I was on a table in a brightly lit room. Several men and women in hospital uniforms were putting away equipment and collecting spent supplies. In spite of the bright light, the room seemed to be filled with an ethereal mist. The people all seemed to be moving in a slow, stiff, almost surreal fashion. They all seemed to be ignoring me.I sat up, climbed off the table, and followed one of the doctors (I assumed they were doctors) out of the room through a set of double doors. I don't really know. Ah, well.After a nightcap, the three of us said goodnight to Hor. As she kissed me goodbye she handed me a note with her phone details and said that if I didn't keep my promise to visit she would commandeer the company plane and hunt me down in Bloemfontein."That's a good idea anyway. Come down and slum it with me. We could have a ball." I might just do that," she said, hugging me before I got into the car."Well, " said Ruth, I hope you have some strength left for us." I'm sure there is a bit.