Equally important was the fact neither side had much experience in policing a hostile border. The Coms employed regular patrols using trucks filled wi...h young, and under-equipped conscripts. The Guardian Force was not much better and later inquiries would reveal systemic problems from the top down.The Guardians were a new force and its commanders lacked experience. The task, protecting a long border, was beyond available resources but, as with any professional given an impossible mission, they. Perhaps the plumbing was breached somewhere.He could retrieve snow and melt it, but he would need a heat source for that. While he had electricity, most of the base’s functions were not operational. He retrieved the can opener from where he had thrown it, cursing himself for his lack of composure, and started opening the tins.A few minutes later the can opener was again discarded in anger. Not one of the cans was edible, there wasn’t a morsel of food in this entire outpost that he could eat.. He decided that the height was just right.“You seem to be a little helpless, missy. I think you are in a bit of a fix being at my mercy like this, especially seeing as how I’m not feeling very merciful.”Shannon just looked up at him, the water dripping from her hair.Jake cupped her vulva. She drew back reflexively from the ungentle touch on her irritated flesh.“Oh, dear. It seems you’ve already been abused. I like that. I don’t have to start from scratch. Now I’m going to force myself on you. Sondra was still in the process of cleaning up after the whirlwind which twenty youngsters can create when the phone chirped."Hello, this is the Cramer residence." Sondra?"She instantly recognized the voice and everything: the images, the fantasies, the desires which she had been trying so hard to repress were rekindled. "Brenda. I've been meaning to call you, but I've been covered up with Cindy's birthday and her party and..." Hey, don't apologize. I've been very busy these last couple of.