‘Think about something. A horse is a large animal, yes? Very strong too.’ The boy nodded and the Dane smiled, ‘You asked me today how it was tha... I grew so big. Well, among other things, I ate a lot of this. It will fill you up and we say that it sticks to your ribs,’ he said with a chuckle as he gently prodded Kōichi in the side with his finger. The boy flinched with an involuntary smile and Valdemar grinned, ‘By that, we mean that it helps you. You will not be so hungry and it will make you. I propose that we meet here for an hour of practice every morning just before starting work. Madam Orsa, is that okay with you?”“Yes, that sounds good to me.”I spent a few minutes explaining the wrist strap and lanyard and showing them how to hold the baton. The safety was engaged on all of the batons that I had handed out, but I didn’t mention that for fear that someone would screw up and extend the blade before I was ready for them to do that. I had them start by practicing the horizontal. "Good, I'd hoped that was the case. As soon as we have control of everyone that knows about the top-secret weapons I want them all sent here and in shape to be fully activated by me," I said."That really was stupid of them. Not activating the weapons in the first place," he said."I thought so. I am assuming that all their AIs are fully online by now," I said."They are, or will be after you activate them," he said."Can they function well without sentient crew?" I asked."They can function well. Donna stood there, bathed in the light spilling out from the living room. She looked angelic, her face framed by the gentle glow from inside. Suddenly it occurred to him that the reason the light made her look so radiant, was that she was standing in the dark. In his haste to make everything perfect for dinner, he had forgotten to turn on the porch light."Gee," Donna said with a grin, "I was wondering if I got the wrong night." Oops," was all Tim could think to say."It's okay," she said.