She had a surprisingly high level of success.This morning her UC had some suggestions. The first and most important: get a digital security firm to go... through her house, looking for bugs and the like. She didn't have much hope for that, though, because she hadn't said "The Traveler" aloud. That, she was sure of. So it had to be something in or on her computer. She went out and bought another laptop, intending to transfer MPC to it. She'd continue to use the University system. She thought that. You would think that I was suffering from the Black Death the way you are behaving! Now, go wash up and come to bed, you must be exhausted.”James smiled and nodded silently, and as he left the room I smiled speculatively as well. It had been several weeks now since my illness had precluded our lovemaking, and though weakened, I felt that James would be able to provide me with a tonic beyond price, a thick and creamy ointment which when applied deeply would leave both the patient and the doctor. Whitfield were supping in the guest house. Our quiet evening alone was enjoyable and a hopeful foretelling of times to come. After dinner, we sat in the porch swing, held hands, and talked until time for bed, which, lamentably, meant we parted until the morning.The following morning, Father did not appear for breakfast and was absent when Jonah and I broke for the noon meal in the fields.That evening when I returned to The Manor for dinner, Ebony announced to Jane Marie and me, "Master Robert,. Down where... where......the humming, the warmth of the spheres, the voice in her ear, the sexual ecstasy that never ended, finally ending, not ending but... *subsiding*... waiting...Melissa looked up at Bill, her eyes as wide as they could be. "Come on." She pulled her arm out of his grip and grabbed his arm instead, leading him past the elevator to a janitorial supply closet. Melissa grabbed the handle and found it locked. Grimacing, she stepped back and kicked it once, twice, and it gave.