“Those hulks are still sitting where they were destroyed. They are blocking the dry docks, which is a pain, but on the other hand, I’m damn sure t...at once Thorn has gone, if I wanted, I could turn at least one of those, possibly two, back into useable vessels in relatively short order. Of the three 26’s that did enter service, the oldest is berthed in Portsmouth, it’s not in a good state, but is actually in far better condition than it appears. I’m allowing it to be used as a diversion so that. Petrov, they’ll kill me!”Kim and I looked at each other, each eyeing the same unspoken question. Rachel was almost in tears now.“Please, Petrov! Don’t…………please!..............Nooooooooooooo!And then all we heard was Rachel sobbing. We looked at each other for a fast second and then we jumped up from the couch, and burst in on Rachel who was sitting on her bed, crying into her hands.“Rachel! What is it?” asked Kim excitedly.Rachel did not answer. She just sat there, sobbing.“Rach?” I asked. But she was embarrassed, too. It made her feel inadequate that her husband would have another woman, made her wonder if she was not enough for him. How long has it been going on? And why was it going on? Was it her fault or was he simply an unfaithful swine? And what should she do about i t? She didn't have the nerve nor the will to confront him in the act. She knew that her voice would break, that she would blush as much as if she were the guilty party. She would have to think long and hard. Napoleon had gotten up from his corner and was standing with his hackles up, growling low in his throat."It's okay, baby," I said, petting him calm again. The big shepherd, it seemed, was the only friend I had left on the place besides Uncle Nat. Even Linda had been getting short with me since I'd tried to cool our more intimate relationship.By the time suppertime had rolled around, I'd stuffed what few things I owned in an old duffel bag I'd found in the barn and hidden it under the bed just.