“How are you, Dougie?” asked Gina, concern in her voice.I groaned. “Okay, I think. What’s happening, Em...?”“Well—we appear to be in the...fifth century, and that is, in fact, Arthur sitting over there.”“So—we overshot a little bit then?”“Just a little.”“What are you thinking?”“I’m actually at a bit of a loss, to be honest.”“I think it’s wonderful,” said Marlene. “I can sense the magic in the air—feel it responding to me!”“Really?”“Absolutely! These woods are crackling with it! This is a very. She loved that smell. It made her feel fresh and clean like right after a shower.Her sister and brother were away at some silly game. She has happy to be alone and have some peace and quiet. She loved them dearly but sometimes they could make her feel so vexed.“Thank goodness school is finished and I have the whole summer to be free!”That was her unspoken thought as she stretched out on the pretty beach towel with the family of flamingoes looking into the setting sun.She was wearing the pretty. The sun was up when Brett changed our direction and headed for our next waypoint. We would be sailing in a straight line for Wai'anae. With the autopilot on, Jake, Sally and I went down into the cabin. Brett remained topside maintaining the first watch. After a quick breakfast of cereal and milk, we went back topside. I brought Brett his breakfast. There wasn't much to do now until lunch, so I started reading a book. Sally and Jake went down below. Thirty minutes later I sneaked a look and saw. Kovalov had discovered that one of his men furnished confidential information about the Crimson Brigade to Sonny Polvino, the consigliere to the Benvenuto Family. Kovalov had personally punctured the traitor's eardrums with an ice pick and sliced off his tongue with a straight razor. He'd then shipped the near-dead deaf mute to Polvino in a bloodstained wooden crate. The packing slip had contained the message: 'He belongs to you now.'Steve shook off the repulsion and turned to the second page.