I took off my coat and shoes, exposing my white flesh in the dimly lit van, and climbed into one of the company's large boxes, which I'd decorated lik... a present. I hunched down into a squatting position and pulled the lid down tight on the box.I felt the van slow down, and just creep along. The driver was new to the company, and to Pittsburgh. I assumed he was making sure of the right address. After about five minutes, the van stopped and the motor shut down. I felt the box dragged onto the. I quickly calculated in my head and all I saw was $15.00 or even $20.00 for a few hours work, and answered without thinking."Yes ma'am. I would," I said excitedly. "Good. Come see me next Saturday morning, and we'll talk," she said grasping my hand softly, then retreating inside and closing the door. I didn't even think about the implications of her hiring "Sylvia" at first. The very first thing I thought of was how soft her skin was to the touch, even at her age. And how gentle it was. More. Jalile thought she had probably been pretty well used before the war, and the stretch marks low on her belly indicated that she had borne children. Her face was far from pretty and she was too thin for modern Kobekistani tastes."How old are you?" he demanded."Thirty years old, Master," she mumbled.Then she decided that she had better accept her fate and make the best of it. Her face improved considerably when she smiled, and Jalile responded to her change of heart enough to offer a little more. I'm taking Elvis with me and spend the night at the state park. Will you make some of your pimento cheese and a batch of brownies for me to take? It seems like I catch more when you do."She smiled indulgently."Sure thing. Are you up to a trip?"He had kept his condition from her a secret as best he could. It was pretty easy actually, since she ignored him a lot. When she did, he blamed a sleep disorder and insomnia for making him forgetful. He had even moved out of their bedroom, saying he.