“This is a sign, Mark,” Donna said. “Let’s leave this mystery to Gertrude and her team. There are other mysteries in our future. What about th...t barn in Montana? Why don’t we go home, have a rest, and then drive up to Montana?”“It’s a challenge, Donna. Unlock the mystery before a renowned expert.” Mark eyed the group with Gertrude. They did look professional. “Our names will be remembered forever. We would become renowned experts ourselves.”The waitress dropped off Donna’s third hamburger.“I. I was stunned that I lost. I was so sure it would go the other way. But the way you whispered to me afterwards had me in a sudden, hungry, tenuous spin:

“Next weekend, you will learn things that you never knew about yourself. Friday next, 6PM sharp you will arrive. I own you until 6AM Monday morning. I want you to begin your new week with the aching memory of my luscious world. And I guarantee that you will pray that you lose our next bet as well.”
"Holy fuck" , I thought. “What have I gotten. “Lieutenant, what the heck do they want us to do, exactly?”“They, the Confederacy, doesn’t really seem to know what to do with us. Somehow orders got cut to construct an intelligence-gathering ship, and I’ve managed to get some electronic warfare capabilities added to it. It’s going to be up to us to prove that we can make a useful contribution to the war, and when we do then I suppose they’re going to find some way for us to make a difference. Until then it’s up to us to prove ourselves. If. She wrapped her arms around and under the woman now passively awaiting her fate, and kissed her long and wet, with her tongue deep inside her friend’s mouth. Connie wrapped her arms around Melina and kissed back with equal passion. I unbuttoned her jeans, and slowly slid down her zipper. We all listened to the rasp of its teeth. Connie lifted her hips—Cooperative, I thought—and I walked backward on my knees. I took the cuffs and, with help from her most delightful arching and twisting of limbs.