Frasers never touched the women or children. Cien paced the hall as everyone started to wake. Serving wenches were setting platters of fruit tarts, oa... cakes and fresh ale on the tables. Men were scratching their beards and waking up from a long nights rest. Cien watched and paced. Alex clapped him hard on the back and laughed. ‘So anxious to see the burning cousin?’ Cien nodded. ‘Aye, will cleanse my soul it will.’ Alex gave him a sideways glance before the commotion at the top of the stairs. James began in a tone that seemed more strongly in command, as though it were no longer a gathering of friends, but a situation in which he was clearly in charge. "I think it's time that our 'guests'" - he said the word so to indicate that they were anything but guests - "that our 'guests' learn their proper place." He opened a small storage compartment, brought out a nylon bag, and then turned to face the women. "All right, you wenches, strip."Alison looked around. Kate, Kelly, and Sue. " Very good contact Hartwell in an hour and tell them to have the prisoner ready tomorrow at 0800 hours," Derrick ordered."Yes sire it will be as you command." Mary said a sense of pride swelling in her."1000 should be ready to emerge into space in four days," Shelby informed Derrick. "I have connected up to the other brain case, it appears to be 0798. I have also started the program to clear her of re-growing the explosive unit that was attached to her brain box. If you care to inspect her she. There will be no repeat with Marcus or anyone else. Satisfied?" she said.I heard her, and I think I tried to smile. "I feed to fleep. I tire," I said.I stumbled up the stairs and made it to the bathroom, that just before an estimated seven Cuervos on the rocks brought about an intestinal revolution—or maybe it was a revulsion—that caused me to spend a deal of time worshipping at the porcelain altar.Marianne stood just inside the door to the bathroom the whole time watching me retch my guts out..