..fuller."This is fucking weird," I said aloud as I reached up and back behind myneck to take off the choker. I found the clasp and searched in vain t...find the small button that would open it. I tried to spin it around sothat I could see what I was doing, but it was tighter than it had beenthe night before. It pulled painfully at my skin as I tried to move it.I winced and tried to get under it to rip it off. But it was as if itwas glued to my neck. I gave up after a moment, and stared at my. As soon as this thought had formed in my mind, I had tosuppress laughter at its ludicrousness, no matter that it was completelylogical and applicable to my life as it was now.Finally I risked a look around. To my relief--and an enormous one at that--I had ended up at the dinner table of our family home in Greensville. Noone else was in sight, but I could hear Kate talking on her cell somewherenearby, perhaps in the living room or the study. I noted all this with asmile and leaned back on my. A huge smile took over my face, because now, at this moment, it felt like home.It wasn’t too long before Blake walked into the kitchen rubbing the sleep from her eyes.“How did I get into the bedroom?”“I carried you.”“You’ll bust a hernia that way.”“Contrary to your belief, my friend, you don’t weigh that much. Do you feel better?”“Yes. I feel refreshed. I feel ... I feel like a weight has been lifted. And, you make me feel safe, Steve.”She hugged me from behind. “Thank you for hearing me. It. Probably got a family somewhere who will worry?"I nodded yes at that. He reached into a pocket and pulled out several copper coins, both larger than the ones I'd seen in my previous begging trips."Come back tomorrow and I'll put you to work. You are a hard worker!"Yela handed me a cloth wrapped bundle as I left, and I waved goodbye, and I took off down the street. My 'safe' arrival area had been a narrow alley between two buildings with high windowless walls. When I returned there it was still.