Both of his arms were almost completely covered with a wide variety of tattoos, none of which looked to be of the modern artistic type. He could see a...skull design on one bicep, a stiletto dripping blood on his right forearm, a few smaller designs over both arms, and what appeared to be a snarling wolf on his left forearm. It seemed to Matti that the tattoos were very old, as a lot of them seemed to be of poor quality, almost amateur work by modern standards, and he wondered if some could be. She pulled on a faded denim miniskirt and smoothed it down. "It's the way I was brought up. A girl always wears a skirt or dress—no exceptions, even if it's freezing outside—it's part of being a lady. Pants are for boys. I heard that from my mother, my aunts, my grandmothers, my sisters, my teachers, everyone." She waved her hand, taking in relatives she hadn't mentioned. "I even heard it from my Dad. All of us girls in the family did. I must have heard it every single day of my life, and I. " You didn't get me a new one of those too? Did you?" Can't wear white under black."I just shook my head.Then Kate said, "You'd better hit the restroom. And, there's a pad inthere for you to use."I sat down, put the high heeled boots on, got up, and walked toward thechanging room.Kate said, "Girlfriend. You walk in those heels like you were born inthem."I turned, looked at her, grinned, and said, "Well sweetheart, I was."Then I continued walking toward the changing room.Kate added, "And, you've. ." she glanced at Yee, who was blushing, "... and persuade them gently if needed." That will be fine, Governor," Jackson told her."Okay," she said, "next subject. Triad Naval Base. Mr. Belting, you are in charge of that particular phase of this war. What can you tell me?"Matthew Belting was fifty-eight years old and a third generation Martian of American descent. He had served more than sixteen years in the WestHem Navy, the bulk of it aboard Owls and their predecessors. He was an expert in.