"When were you going to tell me?" Her voice was calm and mellow, quite a change from the early morning when she had first discovered that I had been, ...hob knobbing, ' as she put it, with Ollie Pettersen."As long as I could, I guess. But now I'm glad you found out," I answered, being very careful to make eye contact. She watched me speak, casually peeling a banana."Did I hear you're breaking up with Huley? Why?"I nodded and took a banana from the bowl. "She's breaking up with me because I've. No one truly wants to be alone," the girl said."You are wrong. I truly want to be alone," the old man said. "I am old and have had enough of people. Now is my time to be alone. Now is my time to be sitting in the sun and rocking in my chair."The old man cleared his throat. He looked at the girl. She wore a white top with thin straps. The top was as thin as his undershirt. The hem of the top stopped just below her large breasts. Her tummy was brown with a silver dumbbell in her navel. Dark. ”“I’m called Monk. The office is just up the road.”I turn to Tora while saying, “Strip this rubbish and have these young men drag the carcass to the rubbish heap or midden for disposal then follow me to the office.” She smiles and nods yes before I turn back while waving for Monk to lead the way. While we exit the building I reload my mini-crossbow.We must look odd with all of my people dressed in clothes to hide in the local brush while being shown around by the soldiers in grey uniforms.. They were positioned slightly away from the church. The church was already filled to capacity when we went in. On entering Paul was taken to the front as he was dressed in priest’s clothes. I was left at the entrance standing. As my view was obstructed by worshippers in front of me, I had to stand, often, on my toes to observe what was going at the front. I kept my both hands to my back and kept my right wrist imprisoned in my left palm. Often I kept opening and closing my right palm. I did not.