I concentrated on my own food then. George and his crew were eating with us this morning. Apparently Zeeta was going with him and I learned Layta and ...ieta were going with me. What the hell, it would be stupid for us to take off with just the two of us.Traveling alone back in these times, in the dead of winter would be Dumb with a capital D. If everything went to our liking it wouldn't be so bad, but then again things were not likely to all go to our liking. I could think of a million things. Paul, the landlord, had done his usual disappearing act hours before, leaving me and Steve to work ourselves silly. Steve was a real sweetie, he had a soft spot for me. Or maybe for my boobs. They do tend to draw attention from guys. I’d rung the bell for time, and was clearing the tables of glasses, telling a few stragglers to drink up. Colin and Tom were taking their time over their pints, as usual. I felt in need of some fun, and made up my mind to bloody well have some. Steve put the last. "I would like to introduce my second to you," Lian continued. "This is Laoshin Cho, my second."A diminutive woman in loose silk robes that had followed Lian gave a combination bow and curtsy and said, "My preasure." Pleasure," piped up Megan. "You should say 'It is my pleasure'."Everyone looked at the six month old in shock."I'm sorry," Martha said to Laoshin. "We're teaching Megan to talk and we correct her when she uses the wrong word or mispronounces a word."Lain and Laoshin exchanged. Usually Dan waseager to see his cousins and parents couldn't expect his ailment wasn'ttrue.Next was the room. Dan had chosen kitchen because there was more lighthere than in the bathroom. He covered the floor with some old papers.Later he put everything from his cache on the table: syringe, scalpel,needle, bottle of alcohol, silk thread, band aid, cotton wool, bandage,bottle of Novocain, manicure scissors.Now Dan had to prepare himself. He took two pills of painkiller and onepill of diazepam..