." Alex choked on the words, then continued, "your ma was hurt some, son, that's why she couldn't come to you." I heard her scream, but I couldn't..."... Josh's body convulsed in pain and Alex tried to soothe him."It's okay, boy. You done good. A man couldn't hope for a better son." Alex looked down into his son's face, and didn't know if he had heard him. Like his mother's, Joshua's blue-grey eyes now stared skyward, unseeing. A gust of wind stirred a sandy lock of hair."I buried 'em," Alex told. Her mind was screaming, while her heart was beating like a drum. Her fistsfell down, powerless as Kuno kissed her with a full tongue. It was like hedrained all her strength and energy with that kiss. Ranma felt her bodytrembling. Her legs were like made of cotton. She had no idea what wasgoing on. Despite the female body, she was still a boy. Or wasn't she? Shecould feel the strange wetness between her legs. Her nipples hardened andher knees trembled.Ranma was always a fighter, a strong one.. Saxen and Rahima raised their goblets again and at their urging, all of them drank. Four times this was repeated and the effects of the strong drink soon made its presence felt in their bodies. Its warmth spread through them inducing a feeling of total relaxation like being asleep but at the same time wide-awake.Four people came to stand before each Explorer and Rahima announced that these would be their slaves for the evening. As if reading their minds Rahima spoke, "Do not be concerned for. When she died, it was a relief. I never mourned the loss, like you mourned Michael. There was no need. I had mourned the loss of my marriage years before. Her death, was the finality I sought. Her death gave me freedom. Funny, when we first met, and married, we had a satisfying sexual relationship. When she started having the affairs, I lived a life of celibacy, not wanting to be the one who stepped out on his spouse, so she could ask me for a divorce." Michael was my first lover, I was.