” As he spoke he levelled his own gun to shoot; and then fell dead as the Englishman’s pistol with the experimental ‘fires under water’ explos...ve floored him. The propellant wasn’t as good as gunpowder, but it did work when wet.They had taken out all five for the loss of one of their own, Jethro was trying to fire left handed and a brave Livonite woman was tying his leg to staunch the bleeding. Apparently saving someone from bleeding to death was okay because the Good Samaritan did it on the. Soon, all that remained was a vague disquiet, and he couldn't even remember Poe's exact question. He knew that she had asked something momentous, but it had slipped through his fingers.Tsanja joined them that evening for dinner. Everyone could see that she was distracted, and was desperately trying to hang on to her usual reserve. She told them what she knew of the things that had gone wrong in Gynt, and how she could drive back the shadows over her memory for short periods, but it was not. On our way home she asked me again. And before I even had thought about it I blurted out that I wanted her to go to the pub next Friday without anything under her dress. Indignantly she rejected my wish."We know most of the people there. I couldn't do it. It's just to much to ask for." Nobody would see anything. Just you and me would know. I guarantee you that I would have a hardon all evening."Again she rejected. I kept nagging her about on the way home but dropped it as soon as we went to. Yes, sure… Her laughter raised heads around them: -Dillbrain! Certainly not Bondi Beach. My private beach, quiet and secluded, off the tourist trail. You should know me better by now. Would you get the bill sweetness? Time to move. ***** They left the train half-an-hour later, wandered nondescript suburban streets. Then there was a wee band of parkland, rolling grey Pacific surf beyond. The rain started, and they made a dash for a picnic table under a huge umbrella. There were no other humans.