. Anyway. It was just a couple of weeks into the fall semester. I had fallen into a routine of going to class during the day, then heading to the mall... and hanging out for a couple of hours, having lunch, window-shopping and reading books at the Barnes & Noble, before reporting to work at four o’clock. I worked five days a week, Wednesday through Sunday, mostly night shifts. While I enjoyed the occasional hundred-dollar night, most days I usually made about half that. Still, waiting tables was. I took a seatat the bar, and ordered a beer. The bartender knew meand being a wise ass, carded me, knowing that it was my18th birthday, then brought me the beer.I was about half way through my beer, when a young ladycame in and sat next to me, which surprised me due toall the empty seats at the bar. I did not say anything,but took a good look at her. She appeared to besomewhere my age, had nice tits (I could see about allof them except the nipples), her skirt was very short,and legs like Betty. Finding that the deposits of alluvial gold are heavier about two feet from the active stream, I started panning the sand starting at the fence. The days that I didn’t pan for gold, one or more of the girls shared the task. Isum and Jimmey were busy cutting lumber and bringing trees back to use for building and for firewood.I heaved a sigh of relief when my first batch of moonshine came out right. I distilled it three times like Dad used to. He had me taste a sip after each time he distilled the. Eldris still hasn't returned from his mission. I'm starting to think one of the Ha'tinre got him." Wasn't he suppose to protect some kind of amulet or trinket? It had magical properties, if I recall what the informant told me," Higzashi responded thoughtfully.Denzin shrugged. "I just know he's been gone longer than the contract called for and he hasn't contacted us at all."Before Higzashi could respond, there was a loud siren from the trap house. Grinning, Higzashi turned to head toward it..