I just held her close and kept kissing her, telling her how much I loved her and that it would be all right, that she would be back before she knew it.... She was upset enough that she didn't even give me a dirty look for that stupid statement. I wondered if I had done the right thing, asking her to marry me just before she left. Maybe leaving wouldn't have upset her so much if I had waited until she got back. I just hadn't wanted to wait any more. Oh well; nothing I could do about it now; making. Now that they were back in bed, they romantically cuddled and kissed. He wanted to talk, ‘Joan, I’ve very much in love with you. If you breakup with Eric or you don’t get married some day, please let me know and I’ll give you a real proposal of marriage. I would really like to have you as my wife. I’m going to be broken hearted this morning when we say goodbye, maybe forever.’ She responded, ‘I realize I’m in love with both you and Eric, but I’m going to marry Eric. Maybe we can see you again. I was impressed with all the other safety procedures to protect the miners. There were signs everywhere exhorting care and safe working practices. Okay, these days it was also about avoiding prosecution, lost working time and hefty compensation payouts, but it was good to see the correct emphasis. I remembered how one of our lecturers, discussing broad economics, had told us that Her Majesty's Treasury counted the cost of clearing up after accidents in their figures for Gross Domestic Product,. "Is something the matter, Amanda?"Amanda swallowed. Why was she even thinking along these lines? This decision was no decision at all. A fourteen-year-old girl cannot commit her own life to sexual slavery. And for what? For her love of someone that she wasn't even sure loved her in return in the same way? For some vague promise of transient pleasure?"Not really, I guess," Amanda replied in a small voice."Sirinna tells me you're not to be a slave," Tanyee said. "Even though you're an outworlder..