posting 20050824

In the office, Michelle was lying on the floor. Rajiv, panting, was placing
ice cubes on her forehead. He had sprinted to the bar to scoop up the cubes,
proving chivalry was not dead, merely out of breath. Avika sat on the couch
, not knowing whether to look concerned or outraged.
"I will," I said. "But you have to promise me not to scream."
"Don't be a baby," Miranda said. "I don't bite."
Van Doren puffed himself up, mock pridefully. "While you two were wasting ti
me sleeping, I wandered around this place. Not bad. Although I have to say i
f we ever plan any joint human-Yherajk spaceship, they're going to have to c
ome up with taller passageways. The top of my head is bruised. Enough chatte
r. I was sent to get you. They'll be annoyed with me if I show up by myself.
"