"What are you doing?" I ask, setting down the bottle on the coffee table in front of her."Just shifting through the sands of time, hunting a memory." ...After a second, she swings her head around to stare at me. I can see her age in the harsh light of the side lamp, the deeply lined face, the halo of silver hair."What are you here for anyway, Kis?" I'm sorry to come by so late, but I wanted to get the notes you've finished, so I can type them up tomorrow." Whatever," she mumbles, staring intently. I am one of the top half a dozen people on the planet. In so far as there are authorities, I am it. You don't think we would let just anyone run around with one of these do you?"She waved the neural whip under Jacqui's nose."I suppose not," Jacqui acknowledged, "So, what do I have to do?"Kate decided to be brutal about the next phase of Jacqui's introduction to Csadian life."You strip and go into the medibot for a check. Then you come out again and learn to display yourself on the auction. I know Annie died in that mudslide. I know it in my mind and in my heart. But still …’ ‘Yeah, I know. Listen, I know you’ve been helping around the vineyards, but there really isn’t that much to do at this time of year. Why don’t you take your boat and go up to Shasta for a week. Rent a houseboat and just fish for a week. Or, hell, finish that Western. I tell ya, if he kills off her dad he will never ride off into the sunset with her.’ I laughed a little at that. Actually, that was the problem. I figured that was a pretty harmless thing to ask."I am grateful for the work, but yes I look forward to spring," he said. "How have you been?" Fine, how about Nita?" I asked."She is having a hard time. She no longer blames you for what happened. She now blames herself, and me I expect. We didn't keep a close enough eye on him," he confided."If she needs to blame someone, she can go back to blaming me. Jose met Joan at the hospital visiting me. If I had done something then, maybe they both.