She glanced down at her body, encased in the dark blue bikini.For the first time, she had decided to throw caution to the wind andtry wearing it alone.... It was fairly late at night after all, and thepool was pretty much deserted. It was an indoor pool, to boot. She stretched an arm over her head, beginning a leisurelybackstroke. The water was a nice cool temperature, which was a welcomerelief from the heat of the day. During the car ride up, she had sat inthe cargo area of the station wagon,. "I'd be willing to buy you a couple of drinks for a favor that won't cost you a dime." I'd been able to tell by his car that he was the frugal type so I thought that buying him a drink or two might lead him into my web."What would I have to do?" he asked."Oh, there he is now," I said, as we walked into the bar. I pointed towards a table in the back where a man sat alone with a laptop computer attached to a box. I lead my new friend over to him."I work for a company that insists that all of its. "She lives!" several warriors cried out.At that exact moment, the sun edged over the horizon, casting its life-giving energy over the land and just incidentally lighting Brie up with an almost supernatural glow. Everyone immediately dropped down on their knees, finally acknowledging the divinity of the dark-haired girl they'd named after their ancient goddess.Brie stood in the morning sunlight, her smooth, unscarred backside displayed for all to see where she'd been wounded as she stripped off. As she took it she looked me directly in the eye. “And I am no better now, it seems.” She spoke with sadness in her voice. “You have one advantage, Jemima, a huge one as I see it.” “I do?” she replied. “You do. You know what you have become and are unhappy about it. You can change and that makes you stronger than them.” “Damn it Karen, you are right!” Her face lit up, “I can change, I will be stronger!” Suddenly she threw the towel onto the shelf and hugged me so tightly I couldn't.