It took me a bit to recognize her because she looked totally different. Instead of looking like a cheap-assed whore in a dress that was too tight and ...too short. She looked like the girl next door who wore traditional Russian clothing for this area in Russia1.1Russia spans nine time zones and in spite of typical American beliefs, it is very ethnically diverse.She took one look at me, blushed like crazy and Oleg ordered, "Oksana, come and meet our new friend, Comrade Captain Anatoly Andreev. By contrast she wore a neat flower-patterned frock, cut just low enough in the front to reveal a little of her cleavage. Her shoulder length, dark brown hair, curled under at the ends, surrounded a round face that bore little make-up. Her appearance didn't displease him and neither did her conversation. She kept to the point of the travel arrangements and what might be expected of her on the course. "I've been painting, on and off, since school, mainly flowers and only been on two weekend. Emma knows my preferences - I will leave that to her. He nods, his mind already reeling with possibilities......The restaurant is busy and, as is her nature, Emma is late. I sip my drink and glance at my watch. Slight irritation gives way to worry but this is brushed aside as she makes her entrance. Heads turn as she sweeps across the room.Ours is a quiet town, very much set in its ways. Even allowing for the all-pervasive influence of the Internet, the fashions and fads of our more. If anybody comes through ourvalley again, it will be war and you will burn.The note was addressed to me, but what was more important to me waswhat the note said about Seamus's gift. My family had never been ableto figure it out, but it appeared that the Changers had figured it outand the reason why I had her back was solely because of that.As Seamus began to stir, Sheriff Roan took the note and read over it,crushing it in frustration right after. "So that is why they took her,why they only did.