After that we dressed and she left with me. I left my pack but took the bow, quiver and spear. Merchants were just arriving to open their stalls and I...bought what we needed from a young woman.We waited for Cari to take some before leaving. The streets were not busy and it was not long before we reached the north gate. I picked wild onions and berries beside the road as we walked. I let Cari walk with the spear while I strung the bow. It was afternoon and we were in an area of fields and small. "The man struggled to his feet and ran from the hotel in a panic stricken rout. "Oh God!" he wailed."Mamma, my Pa said a cuss word again." Ida Mae told her mother in childish self-righteous indignation. "Now you better tell Pa not to say that no more."The switch had been thrown again and the enraged bull of a man became the gentle loving father. "I'm sorry, li'l angel o' mine. Your Pa shouldn't talk like that aroun' his baby sweetheart." He hugged her close while Ida Marie shook her head in. It was almost a look of aloof defiance as if to say, go aheaddo your worst. Like a porcelain statue, the courageous penitentstared straight ahead, chin high, eyes distant. Princess Lesley saw MissSimpson step into position behind her. Then as if to cheat her vindictive stepmotherout of the pleasure of giving the shaming order, the condemned beauty mechanicallyreached down and raised her skirt above her waist. The prickly heat of a blush warmed the palecheeks of the lovely young. My mother had taught both me and my brother politeness and manners, emphasising that we should not lower ourselves to the level shown by many of our neighbours over the past years. I therefore felt obliged to listen to the girls talk about themselves and their grandmother. It was during this initial conversation that I discovered their ages. Eventually I did manage, with some help from Anita, to commence my run.One thing for certain; I had plenty to think about during my run. Although I was.