"We were in the family room. We waited, talking about mundane things while the Judge's guys swept the house for listening devices and installed some n...w toys they happened to bring along.Once we were found to be 'clean, ' the Judge came right to the point. "There is merit in what you wish to accomplish, but the risk to the president is enormous. In that light we need to be very clear about a few things."First: I will not allow Hussein's father to come after my people. He has to go down –. I'd say she's waiting for you to make an appearance." What woman's this?" Oh, I don't know. Brunette, drives a little white car." Shit, Helen Cafrey. How did she know where to find me?" Dunno, but she was snooping around the village last week, before you got out." Oh, she was, was she? Well, let's finish this and then I'll have a little word with Miss Cafrey." Mrs Cafrey, you mean." No, that can't be right. Her father's name was Cafrey." Divorced, I should imagine and she's returned to using. .. bigger than a house?” They narrowed their eyes leaning in close. “That cannot be right.”I closed my eyes, trying to keep the numbers in my head. “We have enough foods ... a-are you sure the desert tribes aren’t being taxed too hard?”“This is the stuff they’re providing voluntarily,” Chirp said, smiling down at me. They reached up and patted my forehead. “They’re just happy to be under the Unconquered and not a usurper who has been destroying their religion for the past century.”“Yay...” I. The figure in the door slinked in, heading toward the back row. I saw it was Sally; I stood, pulling out the chair in the modular desk next to mine, as a gentleman would. She sat, and as the teacher called order, Sally whispered, "Thanks!" Ain't nothing to it," I replied, under my breath. We spent the remainder of the period listening to the lecture and casting glances at one another.The final bell of the day eventually buzzed. Class was dismissed; the lights came up; teenage bodies milled.