A group of five walked past, hands roped behind them. The captain smiled. “Birthday party, the colonel’s boy’s sixteen. None of them with surviv...e it. See that big bunch over there getting in the bus, targets, that’s what they are. Going to archery in the plaza for some visiting big shot.”We walked on and I tried not to think about bows and arrows, especially the arrows.I lifted a blonde girl’s chin, saw she was lovely and had her tagged.“Smart man,” said the smarmy captain, holding out his. "Wow, I had the weirdest dreams." Really? About what?" And she clearly wasn't just asking to be polite--or because she worried they might portend some looming apocalypse. She was asking because she really cared, which made Satsu fall in love with her just a little bit more."I don't remember, exactly. Xander was there… and Kennedy… Andrew… Dawn… Willow… and I think I was mad at you. And then at the end, I just kind of felt sad." I'm sorry." Don't apologize--they were just a bunch of stupid. " Well, perhaps just a little."Grandmamma smiled. "It's quite a diverting pastime, isn't it? I do it allthe time."They shared a secret and absolutely delightful grin with one another.9Ann got off the train in Griply after trying unsuccessfully several timesto nod off. The third class carriage was crammed so tight with people thatshe'd been jostled continuously, and being lower class oikes, they'd beenunable to sit still and just enjoy the countryside. Instead they'd alljust chattered and made a. Entering this glorious hall was like plunging into a fountain of youth. Smiles appeared, brows relaxed. Blasé mistresses turned into careless girls, stern masters into reckless boys. And it brought a naughty gleam to the eyes of their entourage of enslaved creatures.The soiree had been planned for months. Thousands of details had been carefully considered. The list of invitees, and maybe just as important: the list of the not-invited. The table setting had been studied thoroughly, of course..