"They both laughed.They sat on the sofa, she with her legs drawn up beside her. There was nothing provocative about her posture. Her skirt covered her...calves."Tell me," she said, "did the army send you to lots of exciting places?" It did to start with." Where?" Christmas Island was the first. They asked us for our first posting preferences and I said 'Far East and work backwards' so they sent me virtually to the International Date Line."Barbara laughed delightedly and then said, "That's where. "That's her, over there! Can you see her? She almost killed a man by just looking at him..."The gossip consumed everybody. And mainly I was the juiciest subject on the agenda. Over the next few days I walked and stumbled, tried not to look back. I was scared to look anybody in the eyes, afraid of seeing hate or — even worse — pity. And it seemed to me that, though I was the hottest topic to talk about, people avoided me.The only ones who had talked with me were Goovar and Bea. I did not care so. A little work on my hair, which I just put up and some lipstick really quick got me headed out about 10:00.I walked in the door and of course, all the guys started looking in my direction as I casually made my way to the bar. I couple was sitting in a booth across the way and he was getting a good look while she talked away. One guy nudged his friend by the pool table and they both grinned as I walked by. Another guy at the bar, turned slightly and adjusted his crotch as he peeked around.I. ”“I don’t want you to leave home before you have to!” Liz said firmly.“I have to,” Ryan said just as firmly. “It’s the difference of 45 minutes. The plane to Atlanta leaves at 7:10 a.m. The direct flight to L.A. leaves at 7:55. Sondra has morning rounds and she’ll be at the hospital by six anyway. Stephanie is going to fly straight to L.A. and Jill is going to drive back over. I’ll get to San Diego at one o’clock your time. There is a flight from San Diego to Los Angeles at 2:10. We’ll fly up.