”Dave nodded, “I understand. I just think that sex is so natural, but society has gone out of its way for centuries to hide what is normal and ple...surable.”Helen said, “The Catholic Church declared it was bad except for procreation. If I remember my church school, it was St. Augustine of Hippo around the year 425. After literally fucking around in his salad days, he probably got ED and then declared sex was a nasty thing for everybody else. Unfortunately, he was a big wig, so lots of people. ’ ‘A gift from your son Grigori, the computer entrepreneur?’ ‘Yes. A good son.’ ‘So you are not so far behind the new generation, at least in attitude. And, you have something the new agents will not have for decades. Trust me, Lev, this is a truth.” “Oleg, you have set me up with a riddle so I must ask. What do I have that they will not have for decades, besides grey hair and a pension?” “Memory.” “Ah, a trait in short supply when I was a young operative.” “That is the tragedy of our country. But I really wanted to talk to you about your style and philosophy as a spy for the English Government. Your father–‘ ‘Excuse me, sir, but I am tired of comparisons with my father. All through my training at the Academy, all I heard was James Bond this, and James Bond that. I am Jane Bond, not James Bond.’ ‘I am very glad to hear that, Miss Bond–‘ ‘Call me Jane, please. Or if you must be formal, I prefer Ms. Bond’ M gulped. Being of the old school, practically the poster- boy for the old-boy. I’ve a feeling we may need to start showing more than our prized handful of ‘orphans’ to these inspectors.’ ‘How many rooms?’ ‘However many it takes for him to get bored. Oh, but not the one with our recent escapee. He’s a smart lad, but less so than he likes to think. We don’t want to give him any foolish ideas, understood?’ ‘Always, Sire.’ === The swathing of darkness added a deeply sinister feel to the room as Eldrian stood upon the threshold. Yet, save the light, it looked no more.