Other than a heavy-duty icky factor, the slumbering reptiles posed little danger to us as long as we left them alone. I shuddered to think about it, b...t our slumbering cavern mates might prove to be a useful source of food.The first priority was to help Alice regain her composure. I shared and understood her fear of snakes. Fear is useful and can provide the necessary adrenaline to power us through dangerous situations. On the other hand, too much fear has the opposite effect; often paralyzing. Sorry to call so late. Is Patti there?"She was there. Amanda went to fetch her, and Patti must have been asleep, or highly reluctant, or maybe down the block having a beer, because I waited for a long, long time.I could hear a fairly harsh exchange of comments going on between mother and daughter, well away from the phone. I couldn't make out what they were saying, but it sounded as if Amanda was insisting that Patti take my call."Hello?" Patti." Hello, Bob." What happened to 'Bobby'?" I. "What's the idea!?" she said, bitching to Tim. "Up and at 'em, Sarah! Have you forgotten we're going riding with the Hendersons this morning?"Glen gulped. He had never ridden in his life. "I don't feel like going riding!" she said. Tim towered over her. "Yes, you do! Sarah, you promised me weeks ago, and I'm not letting you crawl out now. Understand!?" His arm grip bit into Sarah's delicate flesh, and Glen winced. "You big brute! Let me go this instant." Tim relax his grip slightly. "Eat some. Queen Tia was holding a leather strop in her hand, “You did not answer King Jake when he spoke to you.” Queen Tia scolded. She then lowered the strop and brought it up sharply between serf Lizzy’s legs and it cracked across her labia, causing a loud whimper to escape from serf Lizzy’s mouth. “I’m sorry My Queen.” Lizzy whimpered. “You will both always respond to either of us, always addressing us as ‘My king’ or ‘My Queen’, there will be no exceptions and there will be punishments if you break.