My breath catches and snags, chest rising in uneven spurts. I press harder and rub the slick button, all my muscles clenching. I am so close to the or...asm I crave. My toes are clenched as are my cheeks trying with all my might to remain still, to leave you undisturbed. The TV watches it's dirty show that is nowhere near as dirty as the one in my mind. My muscles are tight, painful with the strain, and I wish to thrash. Fiercely, I hold myself as still as possible. No longer do I wish to wake. Their combined weight and volume was more than the utility equipment we had hopped to Earth some months before and we had been pushing our limits to hop that! We both agreed we had overestimated our ability to handle this load.The trip had taken almost twice the time we normally required to get from First Stop to Wayside because of the extended rest breaks we had needed, to recuperate. In retrospect, I think our egos had pushed us into continuing on with all eight of the containers. What we. Then he showed me this photo of Mrs. B, asked me if I'd seen her there. Under the photo was a 50$ bill. Said he knew she was there, and he worked for her husband. Said he had another 50$ if I told him what room she was in. I looked at the pic and the money, knowing this was an easy 100. Finally, not sure why, I said I never saw the lady. He smiled and paused, and then sat down in a lobby chair. He'd wait and see, but said it would be too late to change my mind when she came down. I thought. A girl's clear voicerang out. "Jane? Jane? Are you there?" Jane, rigid with fear, rackedher mind to explain the presence of this stranger. "Jane?" the voicecame again. "Jane; it's Carol! Where are you?" Carol! Jane brain reeled. It was her cousin, Carol; whom she'd last met tenyears ago, and who had written to her a few weeks ago asking if she could calland see her. Jane had written back, and they'd fixed a day on which to meet.Jane now realised that she'd completely forgotten the appointment,.