Jack had told her so much about his younger sister.Susan looked around the restaurant. She couldn't see Jack, though. And it was quite a bit after the...time that they were supposed to meet. It looked as though Jack had had to break their date because of work. It had happened before. Susan was very disappointed. She headed for the door."Excuse me," someone said.Susan looked around. It was a young woman who had spoken to her. The girl was very attractive. She was smiling at Susan."Are you by any. Their civilization was advanced enough to rival Sinae's but not so refined. They were about the same as Crete in it's heyday, or Venice, compared to their local neighbors. Busy, vital people.They arrived at the location of the steel refineries to be met with about twenty apprentice steel wizards, come to buy the crucial crucibles. There wasn't much time before the monsoon began and the steel season started. Much charcoal had been gathered, and stored in caves in the hills where the smithies. I showered this morning, washing off the remains of yesterday. Washing off the touch, the embrace, the kisses. Washing off the outward connections made over the course of a day. I know it can't be happening.Yet I can still smell her on me. I close my eyes and inhale and she is sitting next to me. I open my eyes and it...she...is still there next to me. With every breath, I take in the oxygen that sustains my life, and I take in the fragrance that sustains my imagination.I imagine again the. "If they don't get back before we tear down then they're going to get what the last little piggy got."They were getting close to wrapped up when Crystal and Preach finally worked their way down the steep slope from the water pocket. "Have a good hike?" Nanci snickered.Neither of them answered, but both headed over to Preach's raft. He opened the dry box and dug way down inside, pulling out a medium-size drybag, which had an ammo case inside -- they were often used as small dry boxes. He dug.