"Well, don't mind me. Why don't you just get back to work. I'll just relax here." She leaned back in the chair, fixing her eyes on Samantha.Samantha's...smile slipped just a little. Then she turned to her computer and started typing away, trying as hard as she could to ignore Orchid's stare. Orchid didn't seem to blink. Didn't seem to move. She just kept her eyes on Samantha, her gaze never wavering.After a minute, Samantha's fingers staccato keyboard clicking slowed, became sporadic as she. ’ ‘And why would your guardian wish this particular travelling William Bowman fellow to participate in your tourney? Is this some new event? I am sure that myself and all the other archers of my nodding acquaintance have long ahead planned out their time this early in the spring and summer seasons. This is the very last tournament of the opening spring series and many of us will wish to return to our homes and rest or work our fields for three weeks until the next round of fairs commence at. I better learn to relax and enjoy it.I must have interviewed a dozen applicants and found them wanting forone reason or another. All of them were female. Many had obligationsat home, like marriage which would preclude them from travelling as Ihave to do from time to time. Others did not have the experience, andstill others I simply just could not relate to. Rupert then asked meif I would object to a male PA. At this time I was getting desperateand said I would consider it. He said that. They said they'd seen an extract of some of my ideas about how to use them and rats in exploring Sa'arm warrens. The idea that they might prove a vector for some disease that would devastate the Sa'arm is enough to warm the heart of Ebeneezer Scrooge. (Or something like that... :)) If they do nothing except become a source of harassment I think they should be forwarded ASAP to planets where the Sa'arm are the only things left living. Put them down and have the initial generation carry RFID.