Chapter 14.
When they got to the shuttle bay, the shuttlecraft had already arrived and was settling into position at the foot of the stairs. A moment later the green ‘all clear’ lights illuminated and the shuttlecraft door slowly swung open. A crewman in a shiny purple uniform was the first to exit. He stepped down to the deck and then turned, holding out a hand, offering assistance to the person who appeared at the door.
“That’s him! That’s Ardghal! “Catriona sighed as the figure took a hesitant step forward.
The man looked to be incredibly old. Long white hair fell freely from a receding hairline down the back of a gray and black shawl held close around his slumped shoulders. He extended his free hand to the purple-clad man and then slowly turned to look up toward the two women waiting at the bay door. His wrinkled forehead was highlighted by thick white eyebrows. Half-moon glasses rested partway down his slender nose. Wide-spaced, penetrating blue eyes peered over the tops of the lenses. Thin, smiling lips were framed by a close-cropped white beard and moustache.
Zuri thought she heard him say something to the young crew member as he released his grip on the shawl and reached over to hold onto the edge of the door opening. The young man used both hands to help steady the old man as he stepped down onto the deck. On his feet were what looked like old, worn-out slippers. Scuffs and scratches evidenced years of use. He was wearing a wrinkled, oversized jumpsuit whose frayed pant legs drug the ground as he stepped down.
Catriona led Zuri through the bay door and down the steps to meet the old man. Though he was stoop-shouldered, he was still over six feet tall. He moved with slow, shuffling steps. It was evident from the way he moved that he was having difficulty walking.
Catriona held out her hands for the old man to grasp.
“Thank you, young man.” He said to the guard who had helped him from the shuttlecraft. “Now I’ll have the pleasure of being escorted by these two beautiful young ladies.” He smiled at each in turn.
“Cat, my dear friend.” He took her offered hands and squeezed them gently. “How wonderful it is to see you again. Congratulations on your recent promotion.” His eyes seemed to sparkle as he spoke.
Still holding his hands, Catriona spoke affectionately. “Oh, thank you, sir. It’s an honor to meet with you again after such a long time.”
“Has it been so long?” Ardghal spoke with a reminiscent tone. “It seems that only yesterday you were a young cadet fresh from the academy.” Releasing one hand, he patted her other hand gently. Then, turning toward Zuri, he extended both hands toward her. Instinctively, she took his hands in hers. His long, bony fingers felt remarkably cool to the touch.
“And you must be Zuri.” His smile seemed to broaden as he stepped closer to her. His warm breath smelled pleasant, almost cinnamony.
“Please pardon me, young lady. These old bones are too stiff to offer you a more formal bow. Please accept an old-fashioned hand shake instead.” He smiled and bowed his head ever so slightly, though he never broke eye contact.
Zuri felt immediately comfortable in his presence. An air of sincerity and genuineness seemed to emanate from him as he spoke. She felt noticeably less anxious than she had been only moments before.
“Thank you,” she said awkwardly. Not knowing what else to say, she looked to Catriona.
The old man seemed to sense her discomfort. Squeezing her hands gently he turned toward Catriona.
“Please, my dear. Can we leave this damp old hangar and find a nice warm place where an old man can sit and rest his bones?”
“Certainly sir.” She reached out to support the old man and gestured for Zuri to do the same.
As the three stepped carefully up the steps and out into the hallway, Ardghal began talking amiably.
“It’s been a long time since I’ve been up in a ship.” His voice was gentle and pleasant. “I don’t remember it being so cold, though.” He chuckled to himself as he shuffled forward with their help. “Must be old age taking its toll. Don’t you think?”
Catriona snuggled closer as they walked toward a reception area just off the main corridor.
“With you here, sir, I feel only warmth.”
The room they came to was very small and dimly lit. Soft, indirect lighting revealed four overstuffed chairs, each separated by a low, narrow table.
“Oh, my. Those do look comfortable. But they’re so close to the floor. I don’t know if I can get up once I’ve sat down. Won’t you please help me?” He grunted quietly as the two women helped him into a chair.
As the two women sat on each side of him, a steward entered carrying a tray with four glasses, a decanter of water and a small plate of the little green carrots. Catriona began filling the glasses as she spoke.
“Alger will join us in just a few moments if that would be all right with you.” She offered a glass to each of them.
Zuri accepted the glass and sipped the water tentatively. She wondered how such a sweet man could possibly be party to what had been described.
Ardghal accepted the proffered glass, but only held it without bringing it to his lips.
“Thank you, my dear. Perhaps it would be better if just the three of us visited for a while.” Turning to Zuri, he added, smiling; “Would that be all right with you, young lady?”
“Yes. Thank you, sir.” Zuri felt relief that she wouldn’t have to confront the three of them all at once.
“Good. Good.” The old man sat his glass on the table and placed a withered hand on the arm of Zuri’s chair.
“Now, my dear. Alger tells me you have some questions regarding some of our procedures. What may I do to ease your concerns?”
His demeanor was so calming and reassuring that Zuri felt reluctant to confront him. But she knew that she must if the issue was to be resolved. Freedom to choose was fundamental to her beliefs. What Alger and Catriona had said seemed to threaten the very foundation of her standards and expectations.
“Yes, sir.” She began haltingly. Placing her glass on the table next to his, she tried gathering her thoughts. Then remembering, she chose one of the ‘greffs’ and took a small bite off the end. The pleasing warmth came over her again.
As though he could read her mind, Ardghal began.
“Yes, my dear. That’s good,” he said reassuringly. “We all like to use ‘greff’ when we engage in important discussions such as this. We find it helps us to speak rationally, rather than be distracted by unnecessary emotional responses.”
“That’s the first thing, then!” Zuri shot a cold stare at the old man. “Why is it necessary to use a drug under such circumstances? We can be rational when we need to be.” She knew immediately that she had started off on the wrong foot. Guiltily, she placed the rest of the ‘greff’ back on the plate.
“Yes. You see, my dear, don’t you? Each of us recognizes when we are reacting emotionally in a given circumstance. By that I’m not suggesting that emotions are bad. I only suggest that they are sometimes out of place. If we are wise, we will do what is necessary to return to a rational state. How else can we be sure that we are honestly doing and saying the right thing? How else can we be sure that the person we are speaking to will understand clearly what we are endeavoring to convey?” He chose one of the ‘carrots’ from the tray. Thin, blotchy fingers held it up for examination.
“This small ‘fruit’ helps to facilitate that behavior. nothing more, and certainly, nothing less.” He returned the ‘greff’ to the tray.
“Why don’t you use it, then?” Zuri blurted.
“Ah, yes. One of the wonders of the ‘fruit’ is that it helps us to recognize within ourselves when we are approaching an irrational state. With time and practice, we learn to control ourselves without it. I’ve had a very long time to practice,” he chuckled.
“Yes. But I saw Catriona using it. What about that?” Zuri realized almost immediately that she was becoming defensive. Deliberately, she worked to suppress the feeling.
“There. You see
?” He smiled and nodded his head ever so slightly. Zuri felt that he had just read her mind. “That’s how it works. It helps us see ourselves more clearly. Dear Catriona.” He smiled and looked toward her.
“She knew she was in a stressful situation. It’s not every day that she gets to meet with a new race.”
“I’m sorry, sir. I was only trying to. . . .” Catriona lowered her head in embarrassment
“There, now. Don’t worry yourself. You did what you thought to be the proper thing. And you were right.” He patted her hand gently and then turned back to Zuri.
“And so did you, my dear. Now, tell me. Do you feel as though the ‘drug’ has controlled you? Or do you feel that you have controlled yourself?”
Zuri was amazed that he was able to get to the heart of the issue so quickly. Was he really reading her that easily?
“No, my dear Zuri. I can’t read your mind.” He shifted his weight slightly and reached to pick up the glass. Cupping it in both hands, he raised it to his lips and took a sip. Lowering it again to his lap, he continued.
“You see, I’ve been around so long that I have a good feel for how people will react under most circumstances. It’s one of the few benefits of old age. Worlds over, people act in very similar ways, you know. Take Catriona for example. Just now she felt uneasy and somewhat embarrassed when you mentioned her use of the ‘greff.’ Did you notice the subtle change in her demeanor? Did you see how her shoulders tensed, how she glanced very quickly at you and then lowered her eyes, and how her eyebrows raised ever so slightly? These are all signs of an inner turmoil. She felt guilty, and even a little self-conscious. Then when I spoke to her, did you see how the tension in her body quickly dissipated?”
“Yes, I guess I did. I just didn’t think anything of it.” Zuri was beginning to feel very self-conscious herself. She could feel her body tensing, her breaths shortening. Consciously she forced herself to relax.
“Of course you did. We all do. We just don’t usually ‘consciously’ pay that close attention. We see these actions so often that we become accustomed to them. They become part of an unspoken vocabulary that all of us are familiar with and use all the time. We take queues from them as much as, or even more so than we do from what is being said. With much training and practice, we can hide much of what we feel inside. We can train our bodies to ‘not’ react. But when we do that, we leave the other person in an awkward position, especially if what we say doesn’t square with what we ‘show.’”
“I understand all that,” Zuri responded testily. “But what does that have to do with ‘greff’?”
“‘Greff’ really isn’t a ‘drug’ in the strict sense of the word. It doesn’t change how we feel or what we think. It doesn’t alter our perception of reality. All it really does is help us to see ourselves in a more realistic light. It helps us to become more introspective, more ‘self’ conscious and less defensive.”
“It sounds to me like you’re contradicting yourself,” Zuri shot back.
“How so?” Ardghal turned in his chair to face Zuri more squarely.
“You said everyone uses it when they’re talking about important things. Then you turned around and said that with time they learn to do without it. That sounds like a contradiction to me.” She leaned slightly forward to emphasize her point. Ardghal held his position. His voice was still calm as he responded.
“I’m sorry, my dear. Perhaps I didn’t make myself clear. I believe what I said was that with time and practice we learn to control ourselves without the help of ‘greff.’ Certainly that is true. But each person is different. Some of us learn more quickly than others. A lucky few are by nature more inclined to react in an even tempered and calm manner. Sadly the rest of us, myself included, seem predisposed to react more emotionally.”
“I understand that, sir. But. . . .”
The Procurator raised his hand to stop her in mid-sentence.
“The key to understanding this concept is ‘time and practice.’ For me it has taken a long time to learn this lesson. When I was about your age I was very forceful and even a bit head-strong. In those days such characteristics were seen as being beneficial for advancement within one’s career.”
Zuri recognized those traits within herself. As a child she had been independent and forceful. It was she who had chosen which games she and the other children played. Her friends called her bossy and mean, but she didn’t see herself that way. She just didn’t see much point in wasting time arguing over trivial things like which game to play. For her the playing was more fun than the deciding.
As she grew from adolescence into young adulthood she always seemed to be the center of attention even though she had never actively sought that status. She had always had lots of friends but still felt strangely detached from them.
Sometimes she just wanted to be one of the girls, laughing and giggling and being carefree. But whenever she tried it she always felt unfulfilled. The only time she felt really content was when she was in charge. Sometimes it caused friction between her and her friends, but she saw that as the price she must pay for feeling good about herself. She had had her share of boyfriends too. But even they had capitulated whenever she asserted herself.
She had naturally gravitated into leadership positions. As a young cadet in flight school, her instructors and mentors recognized her qualities and encouraged her to sharpen and refine them. She graduated at the top of her class and had immediately been assigned to the Brighid’s Operations Staff. Now, as Senior Command Officer, the top position in the fleet, she was convinced it was her ‘no nonsense’ approach which had gotten her here.
Ardghal continued. “It goes without saying that leadership is not without its problems. Its easy to loose friends and even make enemies when one has to make unpopular decisions. Allowing ones emotions to cloud judgement can become detrimental and hinder ones ability to bring consensus. Much time and energy must then be expended endeavoring to bring people ‘back into the fold’ so to speak.”
Zuri nodded her understanding, remembering how Chetan reacted when she had asserted herself.
“But sir . . . I still don’t see how that applies to the original question.”
“I’m certain that as a leader you’ve experienced friction between yourself and others when your decisions have met with resistance. Is this not so?”
Zuri nodded again. How was it that he could anticipate her reaction and come up with the appropriate response with such apparent ease?
“Would it not be more efficient and beneficial to spend ones time solving problems rather than trying to sooth hurt feelings?” The Procurator leaned back in his chair raising a hand slightly to emphasize his point.
“Please don’t misunderstand. Feelings . . . emotions . . . have their place. They are what make us human. Compassion and caring are the driving forces behind what we are endeavoring to do here and elsewhere throughout the universe. If we didn’t care, what would be the point of ‘seeding’ at all?”
Zuri began feeling a warmth within her as she listed to his words.
“It’s sometimes difficult, if not impossible to make rational decisions when our emotions are so highly invested in the process. At those times it is always better to step back from the precipice and consider our options. Selfishness is almost always a part of such a situation. That is not to say that ‘selfishness,’” (He emphasized the word.) “is, by definition, bad under all circumstances. To the extent it is harmless to others, seeing to ones own needs and desires must always be a consideration. It’s best to be honest with yourself first. That will make all the difference in what you decide to do. Setting emotion aside, if only for a few moments, can make all the difference in the final outcome. Ultimately we strive to satisfy both. We strive to be rational and compassionate in our decision-making.
“But now, to return to the original issue. I believe it had to do with the right to choose, or something like that.” Ardghal smiled gently as he settled back into his chair.
br /> Zuri was taken a bit off balance by his abrupt change of subject. In fact, as she thought about it, what he had just said was directly related to her first concern. That was whether or not ‘seedlings’ had had their right to autonomy tampered with. Or was it the ‘greff’ thing?
“Thank you, sir.” She shifted slightly so she could face the old man squarely. “I can’t tell you how the words you’ve spoken have effected me. They comprise the whole of my own belief system.” She thought desperately, realizing that by saying what he did, he had helped clarify her concerns. Now her original argument was beginning to disintegrate.
“OK, sir.” She cleared her throat and collected her thoughts. “I guess it all boils down to freedom of choice. By administering ‘greff’ to ‘seedlings’ here in the ship, aren’t you putting an undue influence on them. You’ve taken them out of their environment, brought them to this strange place, and then fed them an unknown substance which alters their state of mind. That sounds, at the very least, like gross infringement.”
Ardghal chuckled.
“Interesting turn of a phrase, my dear. Did you come up through the judicial ranks?” He chuckled again, raised a finger for attention, paused, lost in thought, then tapped himself on the side of the head.
“Oh, yes. Sorry.” He took a deep breath, let it out slowly, and began.
“Our top priority is, has, and always will be: Love each other. That means everybody. Even the ‘seedlings’ as we like to call them, or the newcomers such as yourself, or the old salts like me.” He tapped himself in the chest, then the temple, then held his finger up once more to emphasize the point he had made. His eyebrow furrowed as he leaned forward. Gently he laid his hand on Zuri’s hand. Patting it softly, he began.
“My dear young girl. Bless you for listening so closely, and for finding the words to express yourself so . . . forcefully.”
His gray,sparkling eyes peered deep into her own. Instead of feeling challenged by such intimacy, she felt comfort, such inner peace as he spoke. His words penetrated as easily as did his eyes. She felt as if she were almost swooning as she listened to him speak.
“All that we do here is for love!” The smile in his eyes made his face seem to glow. Zuri remembered what Catriona had said about this man. She was quickly realizing that what he was saying was in complete agreement with her innermost beliefs and expectations. Involuntarily, she turned a bit more toward him. She felt a chill run through her as the realization sunk in.
“To do otherwise goes totally against our nature,” he smiled. “We are loving, caring people. All of us. Each one of us has progressed differently than anyone else. Each one of us has had questions, fears, apprehensions. Each of us has dealt with them in our own way. How we have resolved differences,” he patted her hand again. “has generally proved to be less important than what we choose to do going forward.” He sat up a bit and took a quick shallow breath.
“Each of us has feelings, too. And that is what makes us so beautiful. Unique above all other creatures in the universe. We have feelings!” He paused for a moment, considering. “I suppose there might be some who will argue that certain ‘lower’ animals have feelings, too. I certainly wouldn’t argue to the contrary. I’ve loved my share of kitties and pooches, and felt love returned. I guess love is universal. All creatures must have it to some degree. Maybe we’re just not smart enough to see it.
“The other thing that MUST go along with love, is choice.” He sat up straight, excitement in his expression. He noticed that Zuri again had that puzzled look on her face. “Does my choice of words confuse you, my dear?”
Zuri opened her mouth, but could think of nothing to say. She sat in awe, waiting for him to provide answers for questions she had as yet not thought of. There was excitement in the words he said. There was a passion in them that went beyond description. Zuri knew in her heart that what he was saying was true. She could sense no guile or deception in the man.
Ardghal rubbed his hands together excitedly. Zuri glanced past him toward Catriona. Her hands were clasped in her lap. She was smiling, her gaze fixed on the old man sitting between them. She seemed excited, anticipating.
Ardghal noticed the break in eye contact but continued.
“OK. Let’s get down to it. When a ‘seedling’ comes here for the first time, he is scared, to say the least. What are we supposed to do with a near-hysterical brother about to do harm to himself or others? Hold him down and speak softly to him? It’s been tried. Sometimes it works. But not usually. I say we intervene, on his behalf, so that he can comprehend what’s going on without feeling threatened. Take the perceived threat away and the ‘seedling’ gets his answers without too much trauma.” Ardghal sat even taller, happy with what he had said.
“Now, did we deprive him of his right to freak out in our presence? I guess the answer is yes. But what of the consequences if we chose only to cuddle and cajole? What good would that do? Would it not be better for ALL of us to stand on equal terms where issues can be resolved. That is the gist of why ‘greff’ exists. It doesn’t alter your perception of anything. It doesn’t lessen your capacity to function properly and appropriately. It’s only function is to help us learn how to control our emotions. Not deny or destroy them. SELF control, not induced obedience.” He relaxed a bit as he came to his conclusion.
“The thing that makes ‘greff’ such a wonderful tool is that most people loose the desire for it after only a short period of use. There are, of course, some exceptions. But those are usually people who work in very stressful environments, such as extra-vehicular and propulsion systems. As a matter of fact, we find that to be the case with nearly all ‘controlled substances.’ Once they are understood and seen for their true worth, or lack thereof, curiosity soon wanes. The stimulation experienced by an unencumbered mind is much more rewarding than that simulated through ingestion of various chemical concoctions.
“In short, ‘greff’ shortens the path for those who strive to become truly self-aware. The more we learn on our own, the less we rely on any substance to help us cope. The true joy is rising to the point where it no longer affects you. You have progressed to the level where you can, at will, separate from the emotional turmoil that is your daily life. In a very real sense, you have attained a measure of inner peace. Where there is little turmoil, there is little need for distraction. I like to say about ‘greff.’. . It got us this far, but where we go, it cannot follow.”
Zuri leaned back in her chair, feeling the tension in her muscles drain away. Could it be that just his words were having such an impact on her body too? The old man turned toward Catriona and gave her a friendly, knowing wink.
“I guess it all comes down to choice, doesn’t it? I mean, you can choose to slog your way through everything, hopefully picking up some knowledge along the way. Or you can take the ‘short cut’ and get to the same place. The more I think about it, the more I see benefit in both! Ultimately it depends on individual personality.”
Before either woman could formulate a response, Ardghal sat forward, shifting his weight and grunting ever so slightly.
“Yes, yes!” he chuckled. “It IS about choice, isn’t it? And trust, too. Don’t forget that.” He raised a finger in emphasis.
“Here, sir. Let me help you.” Catriona was on her feet almost immediately, arms extended, hands gently supporting the old man’s skinny arm.
“Thank you, Cat, my dear. It is not often these days that I may indulge in such pleasure as meeting with a beautiful young woman.” Turning to Zuri, who was rising to help. “But two! Such amazement! It is such a joy to be in the presence of you both.”
The two women each took hold of his thin hands, helping him rise.
“OK, ladies. My body is vertical. Now I must wait for the blood to catch up.”
They all stood still momentarily until the old man spoke.
“Well, then. My dear Zuri,” he sighed. “It has been my complete pleasure to meet you. I am so happy that our paths have crosse
d.”
“Thank you sir.” Zuri looked down self-consciously, then up into the old man’s happy eyes. Her throat was tightening, making her voice hard to control. “I know you mean that.”
“Oh, indeed I do, my dear! We will meet again one day, I am sure.”
Zuri felt a flush of heat touch her cheeks as she slid her hand around his arm. She knew that he was leaving, though he had said nothing.
“Sir, before you go, may I . . .?” Her mind seemed to flush full of questions . . . more than she could sort out.
“Of course, my dear.” He pulled her close to him. The warmth of her arm against his old creaky frame gave him pleasure.
“Do you have to go now? I have so many questions.”
“MY, yes! I’m sure you do. I’m flattered that you would think so highly of me to want me to stay.” With his other arm, he pulled Catriona close also, then shifted his weight backward slightly, slowing their pace.
“We can go slowly if you like. . . . But I’m afraid I must leave very soon. I promised my sweetheart that we would spend time together tonight, and I dare not disappoint her.” Zuri still seemed to be unsure of something. He could see it in her furrowed brow.
“What’s on your mind, my dear?” He squeezed Zuri’s hand against his side.
“It’s hard to put it in words. I guess it has to do with the whole issue of ‘seeding.’ Why is it necessary to use simians as hosts in the first place? Wouldn’t it be easier to just transplant some people to a planet and let them populate it.?”
“It’s a fair question and it deserves more than just a quick explanation. Let me see if I can do it justice.” They stopped in the middle of the hall as Ardghal released the two women’s arms. For a moment he stood there quietly, arms folded, head bowed, as if in prayer.
“You have to know what it feels like to belong to something.” He began, head still bowed. Then slowly, as though straining to find the right words:
“You have to understand, deep in your own heart, what it means to truly belong to something beyond yourself, something more important than yourself.
“Our civilizations have advanced to a point where we can engineer most anything we want. If we so desired (and we have done so in the past) we could completely build the entire human genome from component parts we have at our disposal. We could build an entire race of them if we so desired. We could modify them as needed, with small bodies for working in tight places, or strong bodies for work in heavy manual labor. We could even engineer a race of humans specialized in colonizing planets, with specialized digestive systems so they can metabolize foreign nourishment.
“We can do all these things, but we CHOOSE not to. Instead, we choose to place our precious seeds . . . ourselves . . . our posterity, in “fertile soil” so they may grow with a natural affinity for the place of their birth, rather than a longing to return to one which is no longer within their reach. The one gives a sense of purpose, of belonging. The other leaves a sense of despair.”
“Isn’t what you’re saying, that one is a transplant which doesn’t belong, while the other belongs because of the place of it’s birth? Whether transplanted or sewn as seeds, do they not both have the same roots?” Zuri felt that she had gained some ground in her understanding, but still wasn’t quite sure that she could agree, primarily on moral grounds.
“One could put it another way also.” Ardghal raised a finger in emphasis. “One could recognize the difference between himself and his parents, and believe that he could not possibly be the result of their union; and at the same time deal with the realization that he, himself, did not know where he came from. This disparity is the place where myth is born.”
Ardghal stepped closer to Zuri and placed a hand on her shoulder.
“My child, I sense that there is more to what you ask than what you are saying. I will approach this from one more perspective, and then I must go. Perhaps what I say will give you pause as to your own preconceptions. Please don’t be offended. Everyone has preconceptions. Everyone has their own favorite myths. In the end, it becomes a moral issue on theological, as well as philosophical grounds.
“Do you believe in a supreme being? Or do you believe that you are the center of your universe?” The old man smiled and patted Zuri’s arm.
“Be careful how you answer, my dear. It’s a loaded question.” He smiled and again started walking. “Just in case you wanted to know, but were afraid to ask, Yes. I do believe in a supreme being. Whether or not I believe in just ONE is quite another matter.
“I don’t like the word ‘supreme.’ It implies a maximum to the amount of knowledge one can attain. Our species has come a long way over the millennia. And everywhere we go, we have gained in knowledge. One of the things we have learned is that someone has been there before us. And how can that person (or race) remain ahead of us unless they continue to increase in knowledge? Knowledge is eternal. And so is truth. In fact, they are one.”
There was a long pause in the conversation as the three walked slowly toward the shuttle bay.
Zuri never had much time for religion. It always seemed to pit one group of people against another. She had never seen any advantage (other than a selfish one) to subscribing to any particular religious philosophy. But there were times, quiet times, when she was alone in her solitude, when she wondered if there was a god. The thought only began to bother her when she became associated with organized religion. She learned what she called the ‘god and devil thing,’ or as she referred to it, the ‘carrot and stick’ routine. The carrot is the reward (worship god), always held just out of reach. The stick (devil) is there to make sure you stay in line.
After having listen to this man, Zuri had gained a better understanding of this issue. She would take time to ponder all that he had said.
The three of them arrived at the door, arm in arm. A guard standing just outside pushed the door open and extended a hand to help steady the old Procurator.
“I need to get home now, by dark.” He remarked, more to the guards than to the two women. “There’s a show on that we like to watch. My wife will kill me if I’m not there to catch the beginning with her.” He laughed sheepishly as he sidled forward into the waiting arms of the other guard.