For a few minutes we went through the usual routine. How was Steve? How was Alice? How were our kids? How was your holiday? No-one would have guessed ...that she and I had a dark secret, but we both knew that the subject was going to come up and predictably it was Carmen who took the first step down that road. “You two have been avoiding us, haven’t you?” She said softly, leaning towards me with her eyes full of mischief. “There’s no need, you know. We’re very discreet – your secret’s safe with. We will do that at Punishment later." Now wait a minute," Sarah bristled, but was cut off as Jacqui slashed the crop down hard on to her outstretched hands."Ow," Sarah screamed, "that hurts." Six," said Jacqui menacingly, "How many more stripes do you want across the welts from last night?"Suddenly Sarah seemed to curl in on herself."I am sorry, Madame. I was confused by everything that has happened and I forgot myself." As long as you understand now," Jacqui snarled, not wanting to let up,. I want you to have them.Over the past several years, I've told you stories of Crossroads and Chaos. The hardest thing for you to do right now will be to believe them. But that's what I'm asking. And I am asking that you take my place and become an earth hero and rescue damsels in distress. I've taken the time to really get to know you and to know that you have what it takes to become a hero. You rescued your sister-in-law and niece at the sacrifice of yourself and your father. I know that still. "It brings characters to us"."What do you mean characters?" People. Well entities of people." He looked at me and looked back at the machine. "Characters from books." We already have that, mate. It's called films. That's a shit thing to build," he replied derisively."Yeah, you're right," I told him. "Silly idea". He looked placated for a moment and then stared back at me."What are you not telling me?" he asked and I glanced at my watch despairingly."It's simple. You load the book into the.