The clamor is truly punishing on our ears. But without that furtive abuse I feel lost. I’ve seen films where battered children cling to the parent w...o bruises their bodies. I’d watch these movies and think, ‘How peculiar.’ And then thoughts of the ice-storm would return. The sanctuary offered by electricity now demands my adoration. I become uncomfortable in moments of even mild silence. I exit the station and make my way into the city. My pen rests comfortably between friendly calluses. I. ”“What about Mick? He’s still in the house.”“Why, are you sweet on him?”“No.”Why are people always driving like snails when you need to get somewhere in a hurry?“Come on, Naomi! Mick’s a good-looking guy ... tall, broad shoulders, narrow hips, small ass. Blue eyes, well groomed. I bet he turns you on.”“Sounds like he turns you on, Frank!”“I told him he could rub your feet. Mick likes feet.”“Why do I have to take my dress off?” she asked. “Just do what I tell you and don’t get impertinent unless. It takes a lot out of me, but it’s a high that’s beyond any chemical or herb. When I have an epiphany, I feel good. I feel as though I’ve learned something about myself. It all starts to fall into place and I didn’t really have to try and place it. It just happened. It was right and it worked. If it fits, put it there … if not, try to find what does fit. I used to think that everyone was just a bunch of sheep who did what everyone else did and for the same reasons. I was putting myself higher. He was a hard man and with a sadistic streak a mile wide, but he loved his daughter in his own way and would be missing her now that she was gone. She was surprised in some ways that he had not ordered a more thorough search for her body, but perhaps he had not discovered that she had been on the ship. And doubtless there were other things on his mind, what with the simmering rebellion away to the north.The North! Gosh, what hardships a band of naked Amazons would suffer up there if and when.