“Well Alex you seemed to have made contact with some of your neighbors today. I know you were not trying to do that just yet. But hey you are in the...deep waters now. Those women really need the food they gathered for their very survival as you heard. If you follow the heading they ran off towards you can’t miss their camp.” Gazoo let me know.I awoke both, refreshed and determined to return those baskets to their rightful owners. As it was still dark outside as sunrise was still yet to happen. I. Mimi was to accompany the twins when they were on the barge, and I, as the person responsible for the safety of the whole party, was also to be accommodated on board Britannia.Before we had left London I had made a tentative estimate that it would take seven days to travel the 137 miles from Camden Lock in London to Gas Street Basin in Birmingham. However, the itinerary of The Progress drawn up by the Home Office made a mock of my supposed timings.From day one it became obvious that more time. Laughter drifted around from the terrace in the rear."Remember, don't let me drink too much." Her expression was half serious.Shelly has almost no capacity for drinking - even a glass of wine turns her giddy; it also tends to make her very, very, horny. More than two, though, and she gets sleepy, almost comatose.I laughed at her. "One or two, no more. I have plans for you, my dear." She made a face back at me as I put on my best leer.I would keep an eye on her, not that she usually needs it;. ”“I do. I didn’t say I wanted that or that I would be happy. In fact, I’d be disappointed. But that doesn’t change the fact that she wants it.”“So why tell me?”“I don’t know.”“A test,” I said flatly.Michelle took a deep breath and let it out slowly, then whispered, “I guess.”“I thought you moved here so you wouldn’t have to deal with those issues,” I said gently.“I guess I just can’t get it out of my mind.”“And yet you asked me to come here.”“I know. I need you, but your lifestyle is just...”“.