” Laura was showered, in costume, and dinner was almost ready when Dan walked through the door. To his surprised look, Laura told him she took off a... few hours early to fix dinner. Dinner was delightful, just good food and conversation about Dan and Laura stuff. Nothing about Greg intruded. Soon enough they were in the den, ready for story time. Laura poured champagne for tonight’s lubricant, surprising Dan. “You bought champagne on your way home?” “No, Baby, I brought two bottles home Monday. .. jump." First shift Pilot Yurtloss... , report!" Ship heading st steady. Ready f for jump."Somewhere, deep within his mind, the power indicator approached its extreme position. It fell back to zero, and a new wave of dizziness assaulted him with a rising tide of darkness. For what must have been a long, long time, he could only gaze uncomprehendingly at his surroundings, where each thing he looked at was haloed by flickers of crimson. Then, one by one, things took on meaning. There was the. . I tink hes wents ... whans ... wantsies to makes uzzzes ... youuzes ... meez to ... goes tinkle.”Kay replied, “Slain ... I twinks I slikes ... strikes ... likes ... yes likes ... you tinkles. Me swatch his pee wee bees ... from sma smuh ... gets bigs when youz snaked.”Yeah, they are toasted.I tried to say something to them. Even though I seem to magically know any language I hear, I found I can’t understand drunk. I did keep making them drink water with an occasional heavily caffeinated. " I thought I could man the telephone if they got involved in anything." And if Dobson managed to start a fire they'd be concerned for your safety, which might take their eye off the ball, and endanger themselves." Oh shit! Sorry, darling."She said nothing, just tightened her arms and kissed the top of his head again.Ray came in having seen Len leave. "Break it up," he smiled.Eleanor smiled back. "I've just been trying to persuade our wounded warrior to drop the heroics."Ray picked it up in a.