I knew it was not normal behaviour but I could not help myself.But idyllic as those summer days were, there were occasions when I resented Ray's conti...ual presence, not because of anything he had said or done, but simply because Clare and I were very rarely alone.She had now missed two periods with no sign of the third. She was sure that she was pregnant, especially as the self-testing kit had also given a positive reading. She would soon know for certain, because she had fixed a date to see. I was just day-dreaming." Well it sure must have been a good one 'cos your eyes wereglued shut and the noise coming out of your mouth certainlywasn't opera", he chuckled."No. Well. I was just remembering school. You remember thattime when all the k**s were out yelling fag and queer atyou?" Hey! If I had that good a memory...it really happened moreoften than you may have been aware." Really? Well, the one time I remembered was outside theboys entrance. You know, right near the bicycle. ”Taran flicked the screen off and kissed his daughter’s head again, ” whenever you want, beta.”Neelu took the remote from her father and switched the screen back on to search the news,” Dad shall we catch up what is going on in the world.”She kept the sound down, gulped the scotch and handed the glass to her father and complained facetiously, “daddee meraa glass khali, see,” turning the glass up and down. Taran loved this childlike sweetness of his daughter beyond imagination and missed all her. We were fortunate that they came a roundabout way that happened to be monitored. The Fonduush was three light years away but it accelerated to its maximum speed.Pop was in command and he had only thirty crew to assist him. Walt, being a 62, was far more efficient than the old damaged 72.We sent units in a complimentary vector in case the Aristis were trying to draw us off. They were the masters of warfare and knew all the tricks if they bothered to employ them. This would be a test to see how.