She walked close to me, her hand hovering near mine offering me the opportunity to hold should I wish. She was good company, yet I felt an inhibition....Antonia and Becky had been an indivisible couple. You saw my sister and Antonia was there beside her. I had always found it difficult to view Antonia as a person in her own right, more an extension of my sister and thus any intimacy with her would be akin to incest. There were times during the day when I forgot that and just enjoyed being with. To stay sane, while conscious, hewas constantly working through scenarios and thought exercises. Reviewingthe past, considering the future, and wondering about his current state.He concluded in this internal monologue that this was probably thedisembodied, pure thought state that most mystics strive for.It was while he was "awake" and reviewing thoughts about his family thatthe first perceived change happened. He was not married, and all thesocial ties he had in the world were his small. " OK, Bridgette, calm down. He still has more feet to guess."The next girl placed her entire foot on my face and rubbed it against my chin, mouth and nose."Mmmmm." I thought "What sweaty soles she has. Must be from walking in sneakers."But a few of Cara's friends were sneakers, so it was just a question of trying to recognise which girl had this exact smell.I sniffed and snorted the heavenly smell."Ooh. This must be Kasey's foot. It smells like coacoa butter and strawberry soap. Just like Cara. " Bloodshed? How?" Tristan asked."My son will try to protect what is rightfully his, and my half-brotherwill try to take it with the support of the Church's militant order,"the old man explained. "My son will lose, but many lives will beforfeit." So you're asking me to prevent a war, and all it will take is a fewmonths of my life?" Tristan asked. "I would be a horrid person torefuse such a request." So you will do it?" Of course," Tristan responded. In truth, he wanted to leave then.