"Fine!"She released Noriko's arms and stood up."But Noriko, let me ask you this. Just a while ago you were saying youwere losing your mind. You wanted... to go to a psychiatrist. And here Iam. Not only a psychiatrist, but your mother too. And I love you. Iwant to help you. And you're not letting me help you." But what kind of help is this?" Noriko said with anger while standingup. "You are forcing me to have sex with my own father! Don't you seeanything wrong in that?"Tetsu took a deep breath.. Now I just wanted to get started – the suspense was killing me. Finally I heard Dave’s footsteps coming up the stairs. He stopped to use the bathroom and brush his teeth – arrggghh… didn’t he know I was in here waiting on tenterhooks? Why was he mucking around worrying about his teeth, of all things! “Stand up,” Dave’s loud voice startled me. I jumped up from the edge of the bed as though I’d been shocked. I hadn’t realized he’d finally come into the bedroom. He looked me over, and nodded. His colleagues lay buried somewhere beneath the rubble and he knew he was the only one left alive.He picked his way carefully among the debris until he reached the parking lot and looked about. The entire research complex had been devastated. A missile barrage from the Asian Triumvirate must have penetrated the defenses. He checked the dosimeter on his lapel and it was green; no radiation. Both sides had reverted to conventional explosives of immense power since the initial exchange of atomic. So it’s very late at night when they check into their hotel for the night. This is going to be their longest stop so Smoky can meet the bulk of Mia’s family he hasn’t met yet.Although actual dates aren’t booked yet their return trip will be up through Abilene, Texas, to Fort Worth and Dallas, Texas, for a few days. Then up through Texarkana to Memphis, Tennessee, for a couple of days. Over to Nashville, Tennessee, for a few days before heading home via Chattanooga, Tennessee. They’ll firm up.