Night? It was night? How long had it been playing with the termite girl? It hadn’t meant to be away from its man for this long. It looked down itsel.... It was as blood-smeared as it had been before he had helped it clean up. He would know that it had played with the termites in spite of his order not to. It whined with distress. It would have to clean up before returning to its man. —==(o)==— Valo paced the branch, shooting glances in all directions. It was his turn to stand guard. Termites. She had been shaken awake. Pushing aside her confusion for a moment she focussed on her need for a drink. Her mouth was at that stage whereby it was so dry that it was sticky and her lips glued together. She padded softly downstairs, not wanting to wake her sleeping family, and opened the fridge. Orange juice would suffice. As she leant against the bench in the dark she heard a noise. The slapping of the back door on the doorframe. An instinctive fear welled up inside her but she forced. She thought of driving her car into the ocean off a nearby scenic overlook. All that kept her from such a course of action was finding Denise's cell phone number in her purse as she looked for her car keys.Desperately she punched in the numbers."Hello." Denise, it's Lynn." What's wrong?" asked Peter's wife, having read Lynn's emotional state from just those three words.Lynn explained through the sobs."I'll be right over. Give me the address."Denise was there in less than fifteen minutes. Lynn. "Do you want anything, Master?" Alexis asked him. "More cushions? Something to eat or drink?" No no, I'm quite alright. I'm just worried about what will happen to you after I am gone." I will return to my lamp to await my next Master." I know that part, but what about your lamp? Count Melzi is getting most of my property, but what about you? As far as he knows, you're just my handmaiden. He's going to wonder where you disappear to." I've seen inside his mind, and "handjobmaiden" would be a much.