“I promised the king I’d guard her with my life, Brock.” “The second shift of guards take over immediately after breaking the morning fast. Yo... are not part of my shift. Back away.” The edges of the room grew dark. People were being ushered out and the King had already taken up his sword and rushed out through an outer passageway. Alluna felt the darkness close in on them. It wasn’t something natural, but exuded magic… evil magic. She felt the hair at the nape of her neck prickle and wriggled. Anotha asshole?” Probably, he thought, anger rising like bile. “No idea. She’s had better things to do for the holidays.” “Y’know, just ain’t worth it anymore. Y’know how much money I blown on that bitch, tryn’a to getter ta love me, y’know? It’sh, it’s like tryn’a hug a block’a wood. Y’know?” That was one too many “y’knows” for Jahn, and he replied, “Yeah, I guess I do know. I’m done with it too. Think I’ll stop by her office tomorrow and drop the good news.” A coughing bark of laughter. The hullabaloo on VJ Day 1945 in New York City was something to witness. The somewhat muted riot of togetherness in the Carter home—the Douglas venue thereof—was a close second.The pancakes and bacon were consumed with a passion. The hopeful toasts that followed the food, made with coffee mugs and water glasses, were for my benefit.“To the brother who saved my life,” announced Ronald.“To my daddy, David Carter,” howled Jenna; I say howled because she cried in the doing of the toast. I wondered. She opened her mouth and accepted the soup. It was humiliating to be fed like some kind of infant. She kept waiting for him to spout some nonsense poem about opening her mouth to get fed.Jack said, “One of the things that I like most about this time is the food. It is absolutely amazing.“I remember eating my first hamburger after I had arrived. I had never tasted real meat before and I was kind of worried about eating it. All of the so-called beef of my time was actually flavored soy products..