"Several minutes later, she could hear him putting his shoulder to thedoor, forcing it open.Returning with two steaming hot cups of coffee, she snuck ... glance downthe hall and watched him leave the powder room as the toilet flushed. Hetook the time to poke his head into the nursery. Satisfied there was nosign of her husband, he returned to the kitchen.When he returned, Ellen sat at the table with him. To throw him offbalance Ellen commented, "God help you if you left the toilet seat up.Also,. I watch her carefully as she prepares to leave my car as I pull up at where I think the edge of the pavement is."I'd love to, besides, I only live around the corner," I answer, perhaps too enthusiastically. It appears my mind is unwilling to pass up this opportunity for me to be alone with this woman who I have fantasised about for so long.She pauses a second, her hand on the door and turns to smile. "Come on then." I follow her, slamming my car door shut and following her through a narrow gate. .. it’s disconcerting ... but not as bad as discombobulating from her fellow scientists.Almost instantly we were on the other side of that awful storm having just been through water Hel. The Flint was a mess ... torn canvas fluttering in shreds ... the bilge pumps going to beat the band. Hatches stove, ports ajar. And a Ukrainian Navy cutter, a “diving” cutter ... with pumps and divers and all manner of maritime rescue and repair equipment steaming to the rescue.I looked at Seven.“I assume. His eyes looked at mesomewhat wearily but inquisitively from beneath his heavy, droopingeyelids and through the thick lenses of his brown-rimmed glasses."Evening," he called out to me, to my dismay. I had hoped to be able toslip past him and into Faith's room without being asked difficultquestions."Uh, hello," I replied. "I was supposed to meet my friend here. She'sbooked a room, and she called me just---" What's her name, Miss?" the receptionist asked."Ellie Jameson," I responded. This was.