After a 3 month trip to Australia she had been looking forward to coming home. A bit earlier than planned but that became necessary because she had ru...n out of money. Secretly she had also been looking forward to meeting Jim again, her subtenant to see where their relationship would lead to. She had quite willingly given him lodging shortly before she set sails to down under. He had shyly approached her having read her ad on the university blackboard. None of the previous applicants had given. We are trying to prepare for an unknown situation. We haven't heard from Europe even by radio since about two years after the Day. We have some satellite pictures about five years after the Day at night. The lights were off then. Of course, those pictures showed the same here. Too few people are left."Other than Preservation and Protection, we only know of societies in Pintlala, Alabama, Port Lavaca and El Paso, Texas, and Phoenix, Arizona. We are allied with all of them. There are also. Come with us, our parents are waiting to see you.’ ‘Any more tests like that lady’s, and I am history.’ ‘Agreed, butit does not mean you are hired.’ ‘I know. I just want you to understand I have limits, and I will stand by them.’ ****************** ‘This is a nice house, it’s almost as big as mine.’ ‘We’ve seen the blueprints of your house. It’s on one level, and it’s smaller than our house. We have two floors, your house can’t compete.’ ‘Looks are deceiving, we have two levels. One is. Immediately, I felt much more comfortable. Standing above the center of the ringriver allowed me to observe it as I never had before, a great curve of water arching around me but hidden below my feet, the closest I could ever get to being at the center of all things.“There is one more thing that needs to be done,” Mother said as she stood beside me, looking into the night. “I’d make it an event, but it’s only the two of us. Ceremony is for other people.” She looked at me. “Are you prepared to.