You may go.”I stood up, bowed low, then backed three paces before turning and walking away.I was surprised. No one led me, no one escorted me, no on... monitored me. I walked back to the room I had been assigned, closed the door, then sat on the bed and thought.Since I had nothing better to do, I decided that I would do some yoga and meditation to pass the time. I had kinks, physical and psychic, to work out.Later, a servant brought me supper, bowed, then left without saying a word.~~~~~The next. She progressed, from spoon to spoon, letting the water sparkle before my eyes until she reached the tablespoon. And every time, just as she finished I’d call out, ‘Do it again, Mom Mom. Please . . . please!’ She repeated her performance several times for me, until it was time for her to begin cooking, then she would explain that whatever happened in this huge world, ‘Three teaspoons always make a tablespoon.’ ‘You promise Mom Mom?’ I asked. ‘I promise,’ she’d reply in a tone that always seemed. “A sort of once in a lifetime experience?” Richard replied with a touch of irony. “What? Oh, yeah.” Jon chuckled. “That’s good, I like that…” At that point the young girl returned, and crooked her finger at Richard. He stood and followed her out, his heartbeat quickening. He found himself in another large room, almost clinical and fitted out with odd contraptions. The girl frowned at him. “Undress.” She commanded, briskly, no nonsense. Richard hesitated looking about him. His eyes. She wondered if she should say something, or perhaps pinch herself to make sure she was awake, but there was something in Buffy’s eyes that she’d never quite seen before. It was something so strange and intense that she was petrified to move or breathe or even think, and yet her whole body wouldn’t stop shaking, and she was gasping for air, and a million thoughts and none at all were circling around her brain.Buffy was actually looking at her, grinning – albeit a little strangely – at her.Not.