Um ... I need to ask ... Well ... do you have to go home now?” she stuttered.“No, not really. You want to go back out somewhere?” I inquired, lo...king at my watch.It was past midnight, there was very little left open in this small town at this time of night. Other than the local diner, pretty much everything else was closed.“Well no, but you can come in if you want. My Mom, Dad and Sister are out of town tonight. They won’t be back until late tomorrow.” she said, looking nervous.“Oh wow Court, I. " I prefer global warming," Betsy continued his pout."Ummmm, Al?" I spoke up. "Is there any chance that us girls can walkinto Colfax to see if there's a womens clothing store? I think you'llget tired of us in the same thing everyday. I know Besty and me wouldlike to see if we can find other things." When do you want to go?" I was hoping for tomorrow," I replied."Certainly, I'll go with you because I want to store up on as much foodas I can. We have no idea what is going to happen next." Good.". " Mr. Jaz," said Thule, glancing over at Masha, who was trying very hard to pretend she wasn't eavesdropping on their conversation. "Would it call Hanish-Assab's neutrality into question in we were to send a single member of our party to the palace as an ambassador to extend our regrets to the king and queen that we can't attend them directly? We would hate for them to feel snubbed."For just a moment, Akinyemi Jaz allowed himself to look surprised. Then, he smiled broadly at Thule, "No. I think. "A family secret, but you'll be feeling as right as rain in no time," she assured me."Or dead!" I retorted."It didn't kill my father and he often drank more than one bottle of Scotch a night, so it shouldn't do you any harm. Now sit up. You'd better get this down you as well. You've got to keep your strength up," she said in a very strange tone of voice.Then she picked the tray up and placed it on my lap as I did so."Oh, my, got a little problem there, have we? Eat your breakfast, then give me.