"Another hand, toying with my trembling knee."You feel it here."The hand slides from belly even lower."You're walking on the edge of something, along ... knife ridge, chasmsyawning either side, afraid to fall," she whispered. "But falling, one wayor the other, that's what we do. I know exactly what it's like to walkthere." I know you do," I said. "Bobbie? Richard?"She shook her head."Don't be afraid to fall," she told me. "There's nothing down here thatcan hurt you. I'm here to catch you, either. I couldn't stand on the leg but it was to pretty much immobelised and I was getting about on crutches. It was about half an hour after dinner and I was in bed without the sports brace when in walked an auxiliary to take my tray accompanied by Julie, the nurse from a couple of days back. The auxiliary left and Julie followed her to the door, closed it and turned to me with a big smile, saying that she had assisted in the theatre when I had my op. It was customary to fit male patients with a tube. Her body needed it, desired it, craved it. It was an addiction that no young girl should have to face, worse than any drug, with far worse consequences.She'd only been out of the alley twice since that night. Twice in the last month. That night it all changed. That night a month ago, when he came. He came and took her. She was walking, it was late. He grabbed her. She tried to resist but he was strong. Too strong. Inhumanly strong. It wasn't only his strength that amazed her. His body moved. “Why don’t we go through the list over lunch?” Trip suggested.Blackie and Mike nodded.“Would you like to join us, Professor?” Trip asked.“Oh, absolutely. If Mr. Hughes doesn’t mind.”I shook my head, but it was surly. Why does he make me crazy?We went to lunch at a nearby restaurant, a barbecue place with good ribs, although I didn’t pay attention to my food. I scrutinized Joska’s face for any sign of disapproval, but he merely listened as we went over the list. Blackie and Trip nixed some of my.