" Oh no!" stammered Bob. "I mean, not that I wouldn't enjoy posing with you." His mouth snapped shut. "Um, I mean ... oh shit, I can't believe I just ...aid that" he said under his breath. "No!" he barked. "There is another man. We haven't actually interviewed him yet."Julie smiled at his obvious embarrassment. "Who is this 'we' you keep talking about?" Oh! that's my sister and me" said Bob. "We're writing the book together. Her name's Lori" he said, still flustered.Julie took pity on him and. “By Sithis, this ends now! Back away, fool! Whatever you’ve been planning is over!” She looked at me. “Are you alright? I heard the commotion. Who was Cicero talking to? Where’s the accomplice? Reveal yourself, traitor!”Cicero said, “I spoke only to the Night Mother! I spoke to the Night Mother, but she didn’t speak to me. Oh, no! She spoke only to her! To the Listener!”“What? The Listener? What are you going on about? What is this lunacy?”Cicero started dancing again. “It’s true, it’s true!. So, I'd just step near to the bed and get on to my knees. He would open the door with his key. As the door opens I bend forward and raise my ass for him. That is what he wants to see.I hear the swish of the belt as it is removed from the loops in one single blow and tense my ass muscles. The belt strikes my butt with a sickening force. I clamp down on to my lips to stop from screaming. A single whimper and I had it. The number and intensity would increase to such a pitch that I wouldn't be able. I ate it. So did some other guys,” I said.“And the Army...” Lance started.“The Marines,” I said, interrupting him.“Yes, sorry, I know. The Marines?” he said.“I’ll be getting around $2,500 a month starting, well, really starting now. But the first check hasn’t hit the credit union yet, but it’s supposed to soon,” I said.“No problem, I got yuh covered for now,” he said.“And, me too,” said Liz. “I’m rich, I’m a pharmacist.” I had to laugh.“I would have expected nothing less,” I said. “I mean you.