Zeke is going to be gone for a while on personal business and I could use some help. We’ll pay a good wage, furnish everything, tools, supplies, tha...t sort of thing. Interested?”I rode ahead and let them talk it over. An hour later Elsa trotted up. “We’ll do it. It solves our short term problems, gives us a chance to get a decent stake and go out on our own. How long we talking here?”“Two to four months, dependin’. That’ll give you plenty of time before winter hits to get set up on your own. Be so good to her she forgets me,’ and tears mixed with the oil and blood. She had to hurry. She knew she would be called for soon. The slamming door meant customers had arrived. ‘Isis, mother her in the afterlife,’ Ibis whispered, hearing footsteps in the hall approach her room. These were not living footsteps, they dragged in a way no living person could. Her concentration broke, and her hands sweated as she added herbs to the oil and blood feeding the flame. Ibis heard the pads of fingers. Jackie said that two of their friends and brother were waiting for us there. I just lost it and said tell me that asshole is going to be here, and I am leaving. Dad, yelled at me saying that I better shut up know!!! He was pissed, big time. and I knew I screwed up and said I was sorry to Mike and Kathy. They laughed and said that is ok, He use to be an asshole, but three yrs in the navy changed him for the better. Mandi, said he is so sweet and is a completely different guy. I thought to. He was truly grateful to the government of the day which had introduced a small tax on new plastic shopping bags to encourage just such reuse.Sure enough, half an hour later she came into Best’s supermarket while he was still mooching round picking up his weekly shop.He made sure he finished well before she did and went out to the car park with his shopping. Driving out of there, he travelled some distance further than he knew she had come, to a small housing estate with a local shop which sold.