“After ... after my mother was murdered. I was still beneath the alcove and he was alone in the room with one soldier. I could have killed him and s...pared this.”Elena bent forward and put her hand on Joseph’s shoulder.“It would not have spared anything,” Elena replied softly. “It would have led to your death, certainly, but the outcome here would not be different. Joseph, unlike you, Wilhelm was a mere figurehead. He wielded no real authority – only what the men who put him in power permitted. I want to spend some time with you." But you're just sitting here." With you."He thought a moment, smiled, turned us from his computer and kissed me. I kissed him back. It lasted a few minutes."How about we go to bed early tonight? We could both use a good night's sleep."I smiled and got up from his lap."Lead the way, Dr. Goldberg. Your wish is my ... wish." I didn't know if I would ever reach the point where I would feel comfortable following anybody's command.Going to bed early is not the. " Counting slowly he made it up to four empty glasses before losing count. Hiccuping, he almost fell off the stool. "Lucky," he thought to himself, "almost dropped my drink in the pool."Swaying a little on the tall barstool, he cursed the wind that must be blowing to make him so unsteady when all he was doing was sitting quietly at the bar. He didn't want to stumble off the stool, placed as it was out in the center of the swimming pool. He had swum over here for a drink, but was dry now and. As expected, the morning brought an increase in soreness, but it was stiffness as the muscles tightened during the night. The wounds themselves were tender, but as I moved, my body loosened and the soreness dissipated. I was standing in the commons open area of the center village at the area that was once the compound for the lead women and was now an opened area for all to use. I was still leaning supportively on the boys and they seemed intrigued by their proximity to the discussion with me.