"AI," she murmured, "since when do hedgehogs tunnel?" It is a long story," the AI replied in Elizabeth's head. She chuckled. The children didn't seem ...to object. On the contrary, the tunnel seemed as much an attraction as the hedgehog. Michael seemed to delight in pouncing on a section of tunnel, collapsing it back.Elizabeth turned and found John huddled up with Stephanie. He had taken the butterfly illusion a step further. With the aid of the surprisingly intuitive AI, John was doing magic. ..Yes I can feel fingers but then they have gone -no touching any fingering???? What the..................... I feel something sharp on my inner thigh!! And move --its still there!! I carefully run my hand up under the dress --- what the fuck --- a piece of paper --- I take it from between my swollen lips --- the paper is soaking wet --- but it does say --ladies toilet now !!!!!I tell Charlie “going to the toilet” -- yeh whatever is his reaction!! Again my heart is pounding -- the note also. . it may have to go in edgewise, though ... I think I’ll try the prawns risotto.”“Look at this,” she remarked. “Tenderloin of boar.”“When was the last time you saw a wild boar in these parts? You should order that, just for curiosity.”“Gee ... I don’t know. I sort of liked the sound of the prawns. I don’t want to duplicate what you’re ordering.”“Go ahead. I’ll order the boar and give you a full report. What about some wine?” He opened the wine list. “It’s going to be tough to find a bottle. It had to be a dream. I’m so sorry. Please forgive me, I didn’t mean to upset you.” Daisy McBride smiled at me in her wide-toothed, friendly grin. She patted my shoulder and spoke to me in her familiar country twang. “It’s OK Fannie, honey. You haven’t been in this house for a long time. You’re bound to have memories. I do.” Her smile was replaced with anguish, the anguish of losing her son. Silence seemed the best response. An easy quiet slipped between us and, without thinking, I hugged her..
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