”“Should we risk detection and draw nearer?” Ship asked.Jeff thought for a moment. “Any evidence that they are doing anything other than obser...ving the interceptors and their games?”“They do not have any weapons powered up, but I can only surmise as to the reason the alien craft is there.”“And that is?”“To observe Earth, of course. Even I did not know precisely where the teams were going to practice, and probably neither did they until they arrived in the belt and their commander decided.”“Could. “Which is nowhere near as many as the Ironrod!”Elaina’s grin deepened. “I’ve read some texts on Palavus. It’s a shame I’ll never get to meet him. So tell me, who was your ancestor?”“Darius Sunblade,” he said quietly, remembering the visions from the Stone.Surprise flashed across her face, then became sadness as Elaina sat forward, compassion in her voice. “Oh, Aran. That cannot have been an easy thing to learn.”“It wasn’t,” he replied ruefully, manifesting an armchair of his own so he could. ” Pam said to me. At a nod from Pam the men approached me.We all had a seat at the table that I was standing near. All four of these men were in their 60’s or older. “Hello Teddy, my name is Riley, and this is Larry, Sampson, and Cleophus. We all brought some of our key people with us. Let me first say that we were all there at that big to do you threw last September. We were drawn to each other as we all felt kinda out of place, being that we are all southern small-town folk, and all. And when. I just came by for the last box, she said. She turned to the tank. Alan, what is this? He paused. Hot water heater, he said. Its new. Been sitting in here since before the funeral. Keep meaning to call someone to hook it up. He hefted the box and took it to her car. He shook her hand five or six times, squeezing too tightly. His palms were always wet. Thanks for taking this. I really dont know what Id do with it. Everything in the house is hers. Everything reminds me of her. There was no real.