As she wiped Thomas down, removing the accumulated sweat and flaking skin, she noted he was once again concentrating on the words of Alice's song."Dam...n it, damn it, damn it!" Alice yelled, pumping Liz's chest."Alice," Mattie cautioned, grasping her shoulder."No!" Alice brushed the consoling hand away. "I'm not letting go. She worked too hard for this. We can't stop. She can't surrender!"Mattie carefully shifted around the bed, trying to afford Alice a bit more room to perform her chest. ?Smack. Etc.I start dropping words, slurring the rest, the sentence getting shorter. I'm forgetting the English language. Cash, I want to explain, debit card, I use mostly, so cash, don't much carry. It's impossible to get it out between the blows. I think I'm punch-drunk. Now you are taking me by the chin, almost gently, taking me by the chin between thumb and forefinger, and lifting my face to yours and asking me very quietly, very seriously. ?Where's the money bitch?? I've given up trying to. I'm not worried." Oh, it's not that," Miranda replied, leaning back against the seat and pushing against the floor with her feet, "I know you, dear. You're tougher than all our pokemon combined. So even if my mother does find some reason to disapprove of you, which I'm confident she won't, I'm sure you can handle her."Misty smiled, giving Miranda's left hand a squeeze as she rested her head on the courier's shoulder. "Then you're worried about your talk with Bob, then?" she inferred, chuckling. “I am going to enjoy making you howl,” she laughed. “This is what you've earned by marching in here little—”The door burst open and Thrak entered.~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ThrakThyrna turned, her cat-like eyes smoking as she looked at me. “Finally decided to obey me? Good. You can stand in the corner and watch as I cane your little—”My hand lashed out and seized her throat. The rage growled in me. The captain's words choked off as I squeezed. Her hand seized my wrists, fingernails scratching.