In fact, it was clear that they were actually making faster progress with Buttercup than they were before. They were having fewer rests and they seeme... to have gained new energy to stride forward faster and further than previously. As the night drew in, they actually found a deserted cottage which seemed suitable for them to rest the night. This would be luxury compared to where they'd been sleeping the last few nights, even though it was in a very dilapidated state. Half the cottage was. I was to meeta guy called Reg from Sandy Station at the BirdsvilleHotel in 5 days. Shit, that was quick, bloodyBirdsville. Oh well, the money was good so I gotmyself ready for the journey.Four days in the bus from hell and I stepped off itand walked into the legendary Hotel. It was divine,ice-cold beer and friendly locals. Outside thetemperature was over 110 degrees and it was expectedto get hotter during my stay. Next day a battered pickup with Sandy Station barelyvisible painted on the door. I was named after my Grandmother's sister, Laura Pendleton. She died the day I was born so my mother named me Laura." I couldn't reply. My tongue seemed cleaved to my mouth. I couldn't believe she was saying this. When I finally managed to move my jaw I said, "Laura Pendleton?" "That's right," she replied, "Did you know her?" What was I to say? She was my lover in my dream? "I had an operation on my head last year," I finally managed, "I was treated in the Laura Pendleton wing. You are her. Yesterday she had taken a rope and fed it through ametal ring bolted to the celling. She took the looseends and tied 50 knots in them. A pair of handcuffswere fed through the loop created so that when shelocked the handcuffs around her wrists she would haveto untie all the knots before releasing herself withthe key that was on the floor.She had timed herself untie those 50 knots and she knewit would take longer for her to free herself than theenema would take to work it's way inside her.