Can I talk my way out of this? Not like this, I can't, Oren quietlygroaned.Oren was spread eagled on the hospital bed. His arms and legs were castedan... pulled to the corners in traction. A surgical corset compressed andstraightened his torso. A neck collar forced him to stare at the ceiling,where a big mirror reflected back his situation.An inflated gag filled his mouth. Why was an IV bag dripping into histhigh? There was a permanent IV tube inserted and taped in place.What was going on? This. I get this for playing without mistakes?"Giggle and a headshake."That's what I call incentive."I didn't want to take her home this night.We ate dinner together, she spent evenings with me studying, and yes, we got more music in and more kissing and I got more time in the shower relieving an astonishing amount of pressure.During the week, though, the trip moved from a Saturday to Sunday jaunt to "Let's leave after my last class on Friday. Can you get out of work early?"I had some comp time on. It should also cross off 'accident' from the list. And I think we have eliminated the teachers." Cutie had a mental list, and she was crossing off items from that list as quickly and thoroughly as possible. "What about adults other than teachers? Did you piss off any mechanics lately, or make a lifelong enemy of that Mercedes Benz salesman?" I can't think of anyone. My folks always pay their bills on time. I was trained to be polite to adults,..."She was interrupted by Cutie. "Yeah, that is one. “But the Soams family haven’t lived here for years. Were your ancestors living in the village during the English Civil War?” “Yes, definitely! We suffered terribly at the hands of that devil Cromwell.” Anger showed on the woman’s face now. “You talk as if you knew them? The people in the civil War?” “Would it shock you, if I said I did?” Sandra looked at the boy now, a very serious glare in her eye, which spoke of a darker secret, about to be revealed. “Is this more of this mystical.