.. an occasional gull squawking. Inland, there seems to be nothing much… no sign of human life at least, darkening trees, not tropical. No tell-tale... pin points of light, no music nothing.It is beautiful, serene and a little scary. I am expectant of my dream to turn the usual route… some monster, some beast to show up… maybe a savage or a group of savage men… I look all dressed for a chase!I walk along the beach, trying to maintain an equal distance to the shoreline and the treeline. I do not. Countless thoughts rushing through my mind both of joy anticipation, sadness, and what ifs....but in the end all I could.say was.we're too far and should.turn back. I could.still see the moistness in her eyes as she wipedfew of the trickles which.escaped and rested on her cheeks. God! She looked ever more beautiful in the moonlight as I just stared at her face now rising from the thickness of her her golden brown hair. I couldn't help but to reach out and wipethem off myself and all the while. The cure was only one step and all the enemy has to do is wait a century or two for them to become complacent. Then it can start all over again, but this time we would not be there to help.“I warned them that I would ensure that Bardack closed its borders to Vishant and that they would post military ships along the lake to prevent anyone from crossing. They all looked horrified by the prospect and began telling me that I was over-reacting. They questioned why I would be protecting a foreigner. Her mother looked up. "Thhhhhiiiirrrrsssttttyyy." She said slowly, enunciating each syllable. Her mother picked up a squeeze bottle with a flexible straw from the night stand. Bending the straw and placing it in Gina's mouth, she held it the teenager sipped the water and the pain in her throat subsided a little."They had to pump your stomach, Gina. The doctor said you'd have a sore throat for a day or so but you'd be all right." Then suddenly switching from joy to anger, as only a mother can.