I used to make her coffee every morning. She really wasn't in shape to make it before she had a couple of cups. Now, I'm completely superfluous." I do...bt that she thinks so dear." Thinks what?" My sister had come down late but fully dressed."Bob is afraid that Jeanette thinks that he is superfluous. Or so he says, dear." Nonsense." I waited for the rest of it. "Jeanette almost always thinks in French these days. She must think of him as de trop." Really, Vi," I said, "you must have been. I lean down, partly to pick up my mess, but mostly to hide my face, when the waitress returns.“Oh honey, don’t you worry about that. I got it.”“Well, it’s my fault. Too much caffeine got me jittery.” The waitress gets the shard of the mug into a nice pile and then stands up, shifting her weight onto one leg and the broom handle, slouched to one side.“Still want more?” she asks.“You bet.”“That stuff will kill you.”“I go out on my own terms.” She gives a small laugh and bends back over to sweep. "Overland!?" Tweed asked in surprise. "Have you seen the land on the other side of the river, sir? With all of those mountains, that could be a real trick." Remember the NVA were marching a battalion toward our camp in the Tri-border area," I reminded him."Yes, but over those mountains on the other side of the river in the winter?" Tweed demanded."They used mules in World War II to move the heavy stuff," I reminded him."Let's take a fresh look at what roads there are coming out of China into. I get out of bed. Louise and Catherine, my sisters remain sound asleep. I slept nude, as we all do. I slip my feet into my high heeled slippers; pick up my bathrobe and leave.In the corridor, I put on my bathrobe. It is the last piece of clothing that I shall wear. I make my way downstairs. In a sense, it is a violation of the rules that I wear any clothing on this, my last day. As of this morning, I am meat animal and meat animals do not wear clothes. There is no one awake in the house, this.