What began as an easy mopping-up expedition had turned into a costly and embarrassing game of cat-and-mouse.General Lucius Claudius Draconis shifted i... his saddle. His bones ached from the chill. How he missed the warm, sunny climate of Rome! He shivered against the cold, and pulled his cloak up tightly against his neck to keep the wet snow from dribbling down his back. A white blanket had shrouded the land during the night, adding to his misery.But it had aided them in capturing the barbarian. " Well, it's important that we appear to be above reproach. Especially with that crowd downstairs. I like Tom's suggestion. Mary and I did the solo act last weekend, perhaps we'll try one of these tonight." Hey, it was my idea. I get to be seen taking Mary upstairs, okay?" You got it." You mean," Mary said, "after all these weeks, I've finally got a date for Friday night? Goody!" Tom got a kiss..oOo.After coffee, they re-assembled. Tom and Mary had been invited to join the party in progress as. Ab apna dal do na lala … Hhmmm … Hhmmff … ..Lala — — — — hahaha … . Agyi na aukat pe,Bolke wo apne laude ko maa ke choot pe lagaya. Lala ka gora lauda, meri maa ke kali choot pe ajeeb sa lag raha tha. Ye dekh kar mujhse raha nahi gaya, aur mai bhi muth marne laga.Tabhi lala ne jor se apne mote supade ko maa ki choot me dabaya … .Lala — — hhmmff …Maa — — — — aaaaa ahhh haaaaaa … … … … …Lauda maa ke choot ke andar jane laga. Fir lala ne apne hath maa ke kandho ke dono taraf rakh ke. I know rainbows are curved arks of light split into twelve (or was it twenty?) distinct bands because of some supernatural force that now means as much to me as the word brown or green or iridescent blonde. The last time I saw a rainbow was on the surface, in some picture book. There might’ve still been a sky to see it when I was a toddler, but I don’t remember. Yeah, I know blonde because our neighbor’s daughter was blonde and she always got lots of attention. I think it was because of her.