I think I knew that someday it would happen. I just wish..." She fell silent."What? I may not be a genie, but I will do my best to grant your wish, Je...s."She turned in his arms until she faced him, reaching up to put her hands on his shoulders. It felt right holding her like this, staring into her eyes.Jessica stared back. She saw more than she had ever hoped. She felt his need stirring against her belly. She had suppressed that need for fifteen years. Now she felt it boiling to the surface.. ”“What about mouthwash?”“Sure, of course. Every morning, or before we go out.”“Never at unusual times? The middle of the day? Early evening at home? Middle of the night?”“No. Why?”“Well, either to cover up the alcohol smell, or, more likely, because many over-the-counter mouthwashes contain alcohol.”“Seriously? People drink mouthwash?”“I’m sure you’ve heard the stories of Russian soldiers drinking alcohol-based brake fluid.”“I always thought those stories were apocryphal,” I said.“They may well. The blond stubble that remained had proved practical in summerland heat, but disadvantageous at altitude.Carried on another gust of wind, a high, mournful cry echoed against the rock around us and down through the valley. Its source hidden within the dark band of trees surrounding the camp, wavering endlessly upwards and impossibly drawn out, the sound had almost faded completely when it was joined by another howl, restarting the first. A moment later, a third joined the chorus, this one a. "Hide us on the trailing side of that moon, there, for now." He pointed to an irregularly-shaped chunk of iron and nickel about a quarter the size of Earth's Moon. "Try to keep that ball of rock between us and the incoming Swarm," he ordered his helmsman. "We'll get the feed on the Swarm fleet's movements from the other ships, as long as they continue to survive."The helmsman, Corporal Tomczak, gulped at the responsibility descending on her shoulders. The petite brunette had, mere months.