We've recovered two such boxes, and apart from short experiments, we can't make them function."Carmen dropped her head. "So I'm stuck...forever," she...said.D nodded slowly. "Until we can figure out how to make the devices work."C nudged D. "One more thing. We need to document the changes," he said.Carmen gazed at him, then she slowly nodded. "What the hell," she said, little emotion remaining in her voice. "I show it to the customers every night anyway." She rose, and slowly slipped off. Things had not mellowed any between us over the years and except for exchanging frosty glances we kept our distance from each other. Her husband was out of town and didn't make the wedding and the three kids saw this as an opportunity to push mom and dad back together. Even though Helen and I didn't speak we found ourselves being pushed together, shoulder to shoulder, whenever some one wanted photographs of the family. Given our relationship I was somewhat astounded to wake up the next morning. " I opened my eyes wide at the obviousness of it."Nothing to apologize for," Meli insisted. "You just got done two minutes ago saying that everyone in that house made their own conscious decisions, and the only ones responsible for those choices are themselves. I made my own choice, and I don't regret it. In fact, the only thing I DO regret about it is the reason you finally gave in and fucked me." And me," Lexi chimed in. "We both look back at that night and realize that you didn't really WANT. Pain, dampening anger, she said, "Whore, you forgetyourself. Master Veldorme will hear of this and you will wish that...whatare you doing?"Feraleen did not answer, knowing the woman would not like anything shehad to say. Besides, she did not think it necessary to say how she wastired of being afraid or that, though she did not have the power tochange her situation with many people, she did have it over the maid. Nordid she feel it important to ease the woman's fears. No, it would bebetter to.