thinking. I am Merilee. I am eating a peach. He is shouting. At Merilee? This has happened before. Experience. Straight people and their funny thing about the degree of separation between money and not money. Hassle me not. Sure as your ass is brown.

She let Alfred drive home. On the way she stopped several places, but the hogans were dark and the hearths cold. In a canyon by moonlight she gathered a handful of moose moss and an armload of wija grass. Not a feast, but enough for the likes of Sam. He banged away at 'La Primavera' while she cooked Keeble meatballs with garlic and moss. Delicious AND good for your fur.

"Jesus Christ Merilee! I will not eat dog food!"

Sam had smudges of black on his face. Merilee picked up the plates and put them on the floor. Alfred inspected his and then came over and ate Girl's while she stood by, all good breeding and patience.

Shouts. Shouts turned Merilee off. Vows made long ago never to shout or be shouted at again. Once more she envisioned the lovely gown, but it was behind glass now and its story did not move. The beads had died. She thought she heard Sam threatening to leave her and she touched Girl's ragged left ear for luck and strength. Velvet ear of Girl.

Sam finished yelling and Merilee got up and stubbed her toe on the table leg and hobbled out to the TR. Girl and Alfred came with her and settled themselves hopefully in the suicide seat. Eternally expectant voyagers. Sam came too and asked where in hell they were going.

"To Alyosha's."

"For what?"

"Some peace of mind. Come too, you. Alyosha will feed us all."

"Beet juice," said Sam. "Do you realize the extent of your dependence on-"

Merilee backed out into the street and stripped up into first Sam ran along side and leaped in beside her, landing on poor Girl's tail. Bow! Wow! Wow!

18. Peace in the valley

She streamed silently up the wooded canyon to the very ridge and-her insides were like to burst open when she noticed the stop atop the mountain where she and this man had first come together-backfired down the other side to the vacated hunting grounds.

In an inner room before a pine fire and an icon. Alyosha, his legs locked behind his head and his arms out gently rocking him back and forth, grinned up softly at his visitors. His Deidre was tending to the tea. Beside her the young Alpha Beta brother sat with his head clasped between this knees, trying to contain abounding joy.

Deidre fed them while Alyosha completed his devotions, did his ablutions and anointed his body. He returned to them in an ancient brocade robe with a feather boa collar. Merilee sniffed odorless peace in this place of places, and Sam inhaled some too. In a rush Merilee knew it was right and they should come here. Alyosha massaged her throbbing toe, did his subtle ministrations to reduce the pain and told Merilee of a duty she had to perform. Young Stefan was staying behind when Alyosha and Deidre left to find the Tribe in Oaxaca and the boy would need someone to watch over him. "Stefan will be my parting gift to you," the Master said, his fingernails curling like smoke along the bones of Merilee's outstretched ankle.

Resenting his Merilee lending even a toe to another man, old-fashioned and possessive Sam watched, not understanding yet that love is a variety pack. He leaned back on the carpet and Merilee could hear his head broadcasting "I knew it, I knew she couldn't keep one thing in her mind for more than a minute."

But even Sam could not help loving Alyosha. Faced with the pure gentility of love, we are as helpless as babies.

Alyosha began to speak of the secrets