Ae Waite Quotes

People, imperfect and corruptible are society's building blocks. Political theories evading this reality are a catastrophe in waiting.

There is also the story about Tyrone Slothrop, who was sent into the Zone to be present as his own assembley--perhaps heavily paranoid voices whisper, 'his time's assembley'--and there ought to be a punchline to it, but there isn't. The plan went wrong. He is being broken down instead and being scattered. His cards have been laid down, Celtic style, in the order suggested by Mr. A.E. Waite, laid out and read, but they are the cards of a tanker and feeb: they point only to a long and scuffling future, to mediocrity...-to no clear happiness or redeeming cataclysm.

God thought he could orgasm right there in the dirty alley from the way Day was tongue fucking his mouth. God took as much as he could before he yanked his face away and gasped for air. “Jesus, sweetheart.” Day groaned. “Need you so fucking bad right now. Come home with me.” It was a demand not a request. Day grabbed God’s cock and gave it a hard squeeze. “Ugh. Fuck yes,” God hissed. “Want you out of this dirty alley and in my bed in one hour, and don’t fucking keep me waiting,” Day demanded and turned to walk away without a backward look. Yeah, make me pay, sweetheart. God

Not the soul that’s whitest Wakens love the sweetest: When the heart is lightest Oft the charm is fleetest. While the snow-frail maiden, 5 Waits the time of learning, To the passion laden Turn with eager yearning. While the heart is burning Heaven with earth is banded: 10 To the stars returning Go not empty-handed. Ah, the snow-frail maiden! Somehow truth has missed her, Left the heart unladen 15 For its burdened sister.

The Tarot embodies symbolical presentations of universal ideas, behind which lie all the implicits of the human mind, and it is in this sense that they contain secret doctrine, which is the realisation by the few of truths imbedded in the consciousness of all, though they have not passed into express recognition by ordinary people.

It is time for you to go. Lan and I must be on our way to the Stone. There can be no waiting, now.” “No.” He said it quietly, but when Moiraine opened her mouth, he raised his voice. “No! I will not leave her!” The Aes Sedai took a deep breath. “Very well, Perrin.” Her voice was ice; calm, smooth, cold. “Remain if you wish. Perhaps you will survive this night. Lan!” She and the Warder strode down the hall to their rooms. In moments they returned, Lan wearing his color-changing cloak, and vanished down the stairs without another word to him. He stared through the open door at Faile. I have to do something. If it is like the wolf dreams. . . . “Perrin,” came Loial’s deep rumble, “what is this about Faile?” The Ogier came striding down the hall in his shirtsleeves, ink on his fingers and a pen in his hand. “Lan told me I had to go, and then he said something about Faile, in a trap. What did he mean?” Distractedly, Perrin told him what Moiraine had said. It might work. It might. It has to! He was surprised when Loial growled. “No! Perrin, it is not right! Faile was so free. It is not right to trap her!” Perrin peered up at Loial’s face, and suddenly remembered the old stories that claimed Ogier were implacable enemies. Loial’s ears had laid back along the sides of his head, and his broad face was as hard as an anvil. “Loial, I am going to try to help Faile. But I will be helpless myself while I do. Will you guard my back?” Loial raised those huge hands that held books so carefully, and his thick fingers curled as if to crush stone. “None will pass me while I live, Perrin. Not Myrddraal or the Dark One himself.” He said it like a simple statement of fact. Perrin nodded, and looked through the door again. It has to work. I don’t care if Min warned me against her or not! With a snarl he leaped toward Faile, stretching out his hand. He thought he touched her ankle before he was gone.

She had only time, however, to move closer to the table where he had been writing, when footsteps were heard returning; the door opened; it was himself. He begged their pardon, but he had forgotten his gloves, and instantly crossing the room to the writing table, and standing with his back towards Mrs. Musgrove, he drew out a letter from under the scattered paper, placed it before Anne with eyes of glowing entreaty fixed on her for a moment, and hastily collecting his gloves, was again out of the room, almost before Mrs. Musgrove was aware of his being in it - the work of an instant! The revolution which one instant had made in Anne, was almost beyond expression. The letter, with a direction hardily legible, to 'Miss A.E. - ,' was evidently the one which he had been folding so hastily. While supposed to be writing only to Captain Benwick, he had been also addressing her! On the contents of that letter depended all which this world could do for her! Any thing was possible, any thing might be defied rather than suspense. Mrs. Musgrove had little arrangements of her own at her own table; to their protection she must trust, and sinking into the chair which he had occupied, succeeding to the very spot where he had leaned and written, her eyes devoured the following words: 'I can listen no longer in silence. I must speak to you by such means as are within my reach. You pierce my soul. I am half agony, half hope. Tell me not that I am too late, that such precious feelings are gone for ever. I offer myself to you again with a heart even more your own, than when you almost broke it, eight years and a half ago. Dare not say that man forgets sooner than woman, that his love has an earlier death. I have loved none but you. Unjust I may have been, weak and resentful I have been, but never inconstant. You alone have brought me to Bath. For you alone, I think and plan. Have you not seen this? Can you fail to have understood my wishes? I had not waited even these ten days, could I have read your feelings, as I think you must have penetrated mine. I can hardly write. I am every instant hearing something which overpowers me. You sink your voice, but I can distinguish the tones of that voice when they would be lost on others. - Too good, too excellent creature! You do us justice, indeed. You do believe that there is true attachment and constancy among men. Believe it to be most fervent, most undeviating, in F. W.' 'I must go, uncertain of my fate; but I shall return hither, or follow your party, as soon as possible. A word, a look, will be enough to decide whether I enter your father's house this evening or never.

VIII 'Farewell to barn and stack and tree, Farewell to Severn shore. Terence, look your last at me, For I come home no more. 'The sun burns on the half-mown hill, By now the blood is dried; And Maurice amongst the hay lies still And my knife is in his side. 'My mother thinks us long away; 'Tis time the field were mown. She had two sons at rising day, To-night she'll be alone. 'And here's a bloody hand to shake, And oh, man, here's good-bye; We'll sweat no more on scythe and rake, My blood hands and I. 'I wish you strength to bring you pride, And a love to keep you clean, And I wish you luck, come Lammastide, At racing on the green. 'Long for me the rick will wait, And long will wait the fold, And long will stand the empty plate, And dinner will be cold.' IX On moonlit heath and lonesome bank The sheep beside me graze; And yon the gallows used to clank Fast by the four cross ways. A careless shepherd once would keep The flocks by moonlight there, And high amongst the glimmering sheep The dead man stood on air. They hang us now in Shrewsbury jail: The whistles blow forlorn. And trains all night groan on the rail To men that die at morn. There sleeps in Shrewsbury jail to-night, Or wakes, as may betide, A better lad, if things went right, Than most that sleep outside. And naked to the hangman's noose The morning clocks will ring A neck God made for other use Than strangling in a string. And sharp the link of life will snap, And dead on air will stand Heels that held up as straight a chap As treads upon the land. So here I'll watch the night and wait To see the morning shine, When he will hear the stroke of eight And not the stroke of nine; And wish my friend as sound a sleep As lads' I did not know, That shepherded the moonlit sheep A hundred years ago.

Wait!” he told himself, “give it time. After all, a human being is complex and probably responds slowly.” He was still thinking that when a voice said right into his ears, “Emergency report: power be now used by a not known unit.” Marin jumped involuntarily and turned his head. The shock of that voice was throbbing inside him as he twisted his head and looked around wildly for the speaker. Except for the silent form, on the floor beside him, the laboratory was empty. Before he could think about that, a second voice said, “Directional find —did be find interfere unit—Group 814 area.” There was a pause, and once more Marin gazed around the room. It was still deserted. His mind began to work. He thought, Why, they’re speaking straight into my brain. Mental telepathy. But how—what? That was as far as he got. A third voice said, “No contact be possible. Receiving unit be human person. Further operation command be now necessary and include more data.” Other sensations—not verbal—were coming now. They seemed to be more on the level of automatic processes, partly below consciousness. Marin could feel a tugging at what seemed to be the base of his brain, and then, vaguely, stirrings inside his body: changes taking place, readjustments of functions, tiny manipulations of his glands and cells. The contact was as deep and thorough as that.

The effect of that was startling. Tears came into his son’s eyes. Silently, the young man shook his hand. Afterward—after the interview was over— Marin thought, What kind of future will we have, with an entire generation of over-emotional young people just now coming of age? He visualized future groups filled with adults who had been virtually fatherless in their childhood and youth—tearful people by the million influencing the pattern of group law on the basis of their own inner need for the missing male parent. Was that a true picture? he wondered. If it were, it did not augur well for the future of the land. While he waited for take-off time, he found himself uneasy and unhappy. The fact was he didn’t know what had been happening during his absence. They would unquestionably have turned on the pain circuit, the moment they discovered the connection between Trask and Group 814. The area covered would gradually be extended; better get drugs he could take when the rocket ship landed. He’d stand the pain until his arrival. He didn’t wish to appear doped before the officers who would meet him. As it turned out, the ship was already past the apex of its climb when, abruptly, he felt the stab of pain through his shoulder. As he silently fought the agony, one thing was clear to Marin: the crisis had arrived.

There are certain things that remind me of my destiny to raw dog American capitalism, get the same UTI over and over, and keep going back out of shame and lack of prospects. I skew pretty left, but I will wait in line at Space Mountain for an hour and foam at the mouth over the intellectual property of one of the world's vilest conglomerates. Their labor and integration practices ae sick, their refusal to produce anything new is obnoxious, and when I see a princess at a theme park who has the same hair color as me, I pass out.

North: Tell Noelle I look forward to meeting her. Winter, you’re a jackass. Winter: Fuck you. Since Snow is abandoning us, want to meet up? North: You’re in my fucking living room dipshit. Winter: Shit. Right. The edible kicked in. Have a good night, Snow. Can’t wait to be an uncle. North: I’ll be the favorite.

Please don’t hold back, Llewell. I’m begging you. Don’t hold back. I’ve waited so long for this, was waiting before you even came into to town, I fuckin’ needed this.” Shane panted.

You all right, sweetheart?” God said, inching up against his side. “Holy shit. You have no fucking idea how I’m feeling right now.” Day half-moaned and half-laughed. “Is it good or bad?” God asked, rubbing Day’s smooth chest. Day turned to face him with a sexy wink. “It’s real good. I’m just pissed that we could’ve been doing this four years ago.” Day smiled. “We weren’t ready for this four years ago,” God replied. “Maybe you’re right. Are you ready now, Cash?” Day turned serious eyes on him. God used his thumb to tenderly stroke Day’s bottom lip. “If you’re asking am I going to hurt you or flake out, the answer’s no. You know me, Leo. You’re the only one who knows me. You’re the only one that’s seen this man in front of you right now.” “Do I know you, Cash?” Day whispered into the darkness. “You will know all of me, but you’ll have to wait until morning.” God smiled, lightening the mood. Day

Day snorted at him and rolled out of bed, groaning like an old man and God had to hold in his laugh at Day’s wide-legged walk to the bathroom. He heard Day cleaning himself up and he thought to himself while he waited. He has a right to know. Day got back into bed and fully climbed on top of him, laying his head down on his chest. God laughed. “Uhh, sweetheart. You going to sleep like this?” “Yep. I’ve imagined sleeping like this for years,” Day said settling in comfortably. God kissed Day’s forehead and wrapped his arms around him, trying to calm his mind. Please don’t have a nightmare. Not tonight. Just let this night be perfect.  

Furi wiped his mouth, realizing Doug was staring at him. “What?” “I asked Cel to marry me,” Doug said around a wide smile. “Holy shit!” Furi barked. “Yeah, man. I fucking love her to death.” Doug laughed. “I honestly don’t know why I waited this long.” Furi knew exactly how Doug felt. Love was thick all around him. “I guess from the smile on your face that she said yes.” “Of

Syn waited for them to clear out. He stepped over beside God’s truck, looking up at his love. “I’ll see you tonight, gorgeous.” “Yes, you will.” Furi leaned down and kissed him, slipping him a little tongue just before pulling back. “I love you. Be safe out there.” “Love you too, Furious. And I’m always safe. Got too much to live for.”   The

Deep. Go deeper, Judge. Harder.” Judge pulled out and pushed back in with two fingers. Fucked him hard with them, just like he asked. With his other hand he pushed one of Michaels’ thighs outward so he could lick around his stretched hole. Judge buzzed as Michaels’ spirit exploded on his tongue. He firmly massaged at the tightness, using his teeth to give Michaels that hint of pain he knew he craved. “Awww. Jesus. Fuck yeah,” Michaels moaned. He pushed at Judge’s shoulders. “Wait. Let me get—” Judge stopped his licking but when Michaels turned and leaned over the edge of the bed and pulled out a drawer underneath it, Judge kept twisting and turning his fingers inside him. Michaels’ back muscles flinched and strained while he retrieved what he was looking for. He placed the bottle of lube on the mattress and a couple condoms. Judge took one and tore at the wrapper. Michaels sat up quickly and rested his hand over his, stopping him. The look in those penetrating blues stole Judge’s breath away. Go bare. Damn. He hadn’t done that since Brent. There was silent communication between them. A silent monogamous pact. Judge

Judge tossed the condom to the side and grabbed the lube, coating his cock good. When he added more inside Michaels’ hot channel, his eyes fluttered with excitement. No barrier this time. This was his man, his partner, his lover. Judge dropped down on Michaels’ chest, again putting his full weight on him. He went in for a kiss, coaxed Michaels’ wine-flavored tongue inside his mouth, moved slowly at first, until it soon spun out of control. With their mouths still connected, Judge lined his cock up with Michaels’ waiting hole and gently thrust forward. Michaels’ mouth opened wider as he gasped. Judge made sure every part of them was touching and their eyes were locked when he pushed all way in on one long drive. Michaels cried a beautiful sound into his face and Judge had to fight the feeling burning at his spine. “Fuckin’ love it when you cry for me like that.” His man tremored beneath him; writhed and squirmed with Judge’s cock deep inside him. “Yes. That’s it. More.” Michaels brought his long legs up and placed his feet flat on the bed and pushed up, urging Judge to move. Regardless, he couldn’t hold back any longer. Judge slid out halfway and slammed back in, the pleasure stealing his sanity. It was so goddamn hot inside his lover, a heat he’d never get tired of. A heat that sparked the fire to a full-on blaze. Judge hooked the backs of both of Michaels’ legs, his palms flat on the bed. Michaels was splayed open for him, ready for the taking. Judge lost his mind. Powered into his man like a fool in love. Fucked him hard, fucked him until it became brutal. Michaels yelled his appreciation into the night. The truest mating call. 

Yeah I see,” Syn said quietly. Ro’s phone rang and he picked it up, giving Syn a couple of private minutes, which were needed because his heart was beating a mile a minute. The fates can’t be that cruel. To make the only man, no forget that; the only person that Syn had been interested in in over ten years a suspect in a murder case he was overseeing. On top of everything else, the man is married. This isn’t good. Ro disconnected his call and Syn asked him, “How soon before this one arrives?” “He’s already here in room five. You coming?” Ro asked, taking Furious’ file from his hands. “I’ll watch.” Syn walked beside Ro to the interrogation rooms. Then he thought better of it, and decided he needed to be honest with his men. They worked effectively together, but most of all they had each other's backs. Ro was a good man and Syn felt he could trust him. “Ro wait.” “What’s up?” Syn blew out a breath and scratched at the hair on top of his head, which was grown out enough that it was already starting to curl. “Syn what’s going on?” Ro looked genuinely concerned, his vibrant blue eyes staring intently at him. Syn looked back and forth as uniforms brushed passed them in the hall. Ro clasped a firm grip on Syn’s shoulder and ushered him into one of the vacant offices. “Talk to me man. You’re my Sarge but I consider you a friend first. That’s the way we operate. If you have a problem, then I have a fuckin’ problem, and so do twenty-one other men. But between you and me right now, what’s up?” Syn rubbed the back of his neck and tried to ease some of the tension there. “This guy Furious.” Ro shook his head indicating he was listening. “I’m kind of, um … we uh … he’s my,” Syn stuttered not quite finding the right words. “You know him and you like him,” Ro finished for him. Syn looked Ro in the eye. “Yeah, I like him.” Syn took a deep breath. “He’s the first him that I’ve liked in a very long time.” “I see.” Ro rubbed his hand over his cheek again. Syn knew the gesture meant Ro was thinking. “Shit’s all fucked up now. I can’t date a goddamn suspect, a married goddamn suspect.” “Hey whoa. We don’t know the situation with the marriage yet. The reasons I thought he could be a suspect? They might be easily explained away.” “You’re the one said you think he’s hiding something,” Syn argued. “Yes, I did. This guy is married, right? He leaves his husband in a way that makes the man file a missing persons on him, and then Furious changes his name, and not back to his birth name. It looks like he’s hiding from him, I just need to find out why.” Ro pulled a paper from the file. “This shows him making regular deposits to an account in a bank located in Los Angeles. The account is under a different name and has over ninety thousand dollars in it.” “So he stole his husband’s money and hauled ass in the middle of the night. Fuckin’ great.” Syn yanked the door open, ready to charge into interrogation room five and tell Furious he could go to hell. “Geez, hold on a minute, Sarge.” Ro grabbed his arm and pulled him back inside, slamming the door closed. “No wonder Day likes you so much. Both of you go off half-cocked all the fucking time. That money wasn’t stolen. It was life insurance proceeds from when his father died. He might’ve been hiding it from the husband. The contributions he’s been making since then have been small but frequent.” “He’s a porn star, Ronowski! I can’t date a damn porn star! Fucking other women and probably men. What the fuck?” Syn was yelling and pacing now. He knew it wasn’t fair to yell at Ro, but he was the only one there now.

kissed Ruxs on his neck, ignoring his last comment. Making Ruxs feel like his head was going to explode from pleasure was something that had to be shown not spoken. He started up a slow rhythm, holding on to Ruxs’ hip with one hand, and propping himself up with the other. The deeper he went, the more Ruxs moaned his name. He’d been so patient and waited so long for this day. Way longer than Ruxs had been waiting and wanting him. Now he had him. He was buried balls deep in him, almost ready to deposit his love inside him. He

Michaels pushed against the center of Judge’s back, urging him to bend forward as he dropped to his knees pulling the towel off that round ass. “W-what are you doing?” Judge stuttered. “Getting my kiss.” “Wait a minute. Not… not there,” Judge argued, still not pulling away. “Are you going back on your word, Judge?” Michaels tsked again. “That’s not like you.” “I never go back on my word. I will kiss you.” “Unh unh unh. I said I wanted to kiss you. I said you didn’t even have to kiss me back remember?” Michaels ran his tongue over the silky black hairs on Judge’s ass. “I’m gonna kiss you right here until I’m as satisfied as you were with your dinner.” Judge snarled, “You sneaky bastard.” Michaels smiled and feasted his eyes on his dessert.

Judge clenched his fist as he waited for Michaels to make his move. Right now all he was doing was kneeling behind him and staring. It felt weird. On display. He wasn’t a buff, blond hunk with product controlling his immaculate hair or perfectly arched eyebrows. Judge was just a man. Did Michaels not like what he saw? Was his ass too much of an ugly, hairy thing? Had he changed his mind and was trying to think of a way to back… “Ohhhh gaaawd.” Michaels

Oh fuck, oh fuck, oh fuck. What was Michaels saying? Did he know what he was saying? He sounded almost drunk, his words muffled and slurred as those wonderful sentiments were spoken against his ass. Judge’s eyes rolled behind his closed lids as Michaels relaxed his hole in the best way. That tongue was long and thick but he needed more, he wanted more. For the first time in so very long his ass felt hollow and empty, needing so badly to be filled. A fierce shudder racked his body when Michaels buried in as deep as he could, Judge unconsciously pushed his ass back, seeking out at least one more inch. Michaels slapped his damp ass and squeezed it aggressively, rumbling while he ate the hell out of him. Judge was trying hard not to ride that gorgeous face, but it was difficult. A blunt thumb probed at his ass and pushed in right along with Michaels’ tongue and Judge knew he was about to blow. “Ugh. I’ma’ come. Fuck! I’m ‘bout to come!” Michaels pulled back and gripped Judge’s balls at the same time he clamped his fingers around his cock, fending off his orgasm. Judge shook again as his brain caught up and his orgasm receded back into hiding, waiting to be forced out again. Michaels

What’s up grunt? If you’re listening to this, then we’re finally back stateside. Thank fucking God, huh. I uh… I wanted to have you come over, man. I feel like a damn coward doing this on your machine, but… I wanted to let you know that… I think I feel the same way you do. More than brothers, ya know. I mean, I wanna be more. Fuck… this sounds coy as shit. Just get over here… I’m waiting… I uh… I love you, man.” The

Furi stood by the bed. He never broke eye contact as he kicked off his shoes, then leisurely removed each article of clothing. Furi was stark naked as he waited for Syn’s next order. How the tables have turned. “Get

Syn was braced on one forearm while he rubbed Furi’s back with his other hand. Whispering soothingly in his ear, “You feel so good. You’re so beautiful.” He waited for Furi to adjust as he clenched his abs in determination. He wouldn’t move until Furi was ready.

Best man gets to plan the bachelor party, right?” Furi grinned devilishly. “Wonderful. I got a gay man throwing my bachelor party. I can’t wait.” Doug shook his head. Furi

Furi. You taste so good,” Syn said between licks. He’d reduced Furi to quiet whimpers and shameless motions as he pushed harder against Syn’s face. Syn finally rose up and stretched across Furi’s back and moved all his pretty hair to one side so he could see his face. “I’m going to make love to you, the way you deserve to be made love to. That’s why I wanted to wait. Until you knew for sure that you were special to me and not just a fuck.” Syn kissed the side of Furi’s face and licked at his lips. “Thank you,” Furi whispered. Syn wasn’t expecting that response, but it pleased him none-the-less.

Now, I’m asking for my favor. Are you going to refuse me, Judge?” Son of a—. Judge gritted his teeth. God knew he’d never go back on his word. God gave him a few minutes to stew in his anger. All eyes were on him, waiting. Reluctantly he asked, “Who is he?” “Detective Austin Michaels,” God replied. His voice and demeanor looked as if he was proud to present this guy. Judge rolled his eyes when he saw Detective Michaels stand up. Of course it had to be him. The sexiest one of them all. Shit.

He stood in front of Judge, their chest only inches apart. He could smell Judge’s sweet breath from that fucking sugar cane stick, but he held his breath and said his piece. “I’m not here to slow you down. I just want to get this asshole back in prison where he belongs. I’m not concerned about your ethics, your routine, your schedule, your pace, or your goddamn feelings. I’ll do my job and get the fuck out of your way. You’ll never see me again… if I’m lucky.” Michaels yanked his coat of the back of the chair. “I’m gonna step outside.” Judge was staring, his mouth tight. Michaels turned and made a sharp whistle. The dog’s ears pointed up higher turning in his direction. Michaels voice was deep and commanding when he spoke to it. “Come. Go outside with me, big boy.” With his hand lowered, fingertips curved under, Michaels waited while the large Dane sniffed his hand, familiarizing himself with his scent. When he was satisfied that Michaels wasn’t a threat, he happily followed him outside. That oughta show him. He’d walked off with the asshole’s dog. He

Judge looked over, his jaw clenched tight. I can’t wait to fuck you until that sarcasm turns into begging. Decision made. Detective Michaels would be sent back to his office with his suspect but also thoroughly fucked. “Look, you don’t have to keep eyeing me like that. Being gay ain’t contagious, so unscrew your face.” “Damn,

told you I wanted this pretty cock in my mouth. Did you think I was joking?” Green didn’t wait for a response. He closed those delectable lips over his cock head and took him into his mouth, going down halfway before pressing his tongue flat against the underside of his shaft and dragging it back up slowly. Ruxs’ back arched, his head pressing back into the pillow. Instinctively one of his hands weaved through Green’s hair, the other ghosting over his nipple. “I fuckin’ love it when you do that. It looks so pornographic. Pinch ’em harder,” Green whispered. “I’ll come too fast,” Ruxs said back, his own voice rough from sleep. “So what? I’m gonna make you come all day. You really have no idea what you’ve just started.” Green went back down and worked his cock like a professional. Slurping and sucking, quick then slow, then fast again. “Oh

at AES, the builder and operator of electricity-producing cogeneration plants, CEO Roger Sant implemented a “they busters” campaign with all the necessary buttons, posters, and flyers to help workers stop blaming the elusive “they” who always seem to stifle results. “They” represent all the finger-pointing, denying, ignoring, pretending, and waiting habits that grow up in organizations and keep people from taking charge of their own destinies.

Later, as they climbed out of the car which had brought them to the official residence, and as they started along the walk, a young man who had been sitting in the garden alcove, evidently waiting, stood up and came forward. He was a big youth, and Marin recognized his son, David Burnley. He paused. For a moment he felt a desire not to have Delindy see this product of his loins. He had a father’s critical feeling toward a child that has somehow missed living up to the family potentiality. His own father had been one of the great soldiers of the early war period. He himself was certainly not to be discounted. And now, here was his oldest child a belowpar individual, or so it seemed. The young man came up and said respectfully, “Hello . . . uh . . . Dad.” Marin nodded, and turned to Delindy. “My dear, I want you to meet a young man whom I discovered just the other day. His mother sent me her token in the very first mating games ever held, and I was bold enough to dare to win her. It’s an amazing thing to realize what time can do.

Over and above the nagging pain, Marin had a reaction to that. It was as if he had somehow been hoping all this time, and now, suddenly, there was no hope. He felt the letdown, a kind of apathy of acceptance, a dull conviction that the worst was true, and a great sadness. He looked toward where he remembered having seen Riva that first night, her nude, tanned body half covered by the sheets of the bed. And then he visualized the same body at the instant of the titanic explosion, charred and smoldering, quickly burned to a fine ash. And in the shattered buildings all around him the members of Group 814, who had offered Wade Trask their good will, had died in a flash of dissolving fire. What was immensely disturbing was that they had died because he had discovered a secret. As he walked stiffly over the broken floor, back to where the laboratory had been, he had another thought: Even if he could survive the sentence of death, the Brain would search ceaselessly for the individual—himself—who knew of its existence. And, accordingly, it was time to be logical. “Am I going to try to save myself?” Marin asked himself the question. He had been waiting, he realized tensely, for something to happen that would automatically get him out of his predicament. He thought, Suppose I handled this entire affair as if it were a military campaign—who is the enemy? The Brain? He felt restless and indecisive. He bent down painfully and pushed a charred metal bar out of the way. And then he was able to look at the spot where—if his calculation was correct—his own body had lain. Right here, two days ago, the awareness entity that was Wade Trask inhabiting the body of David Marin had met instant death. Because of that event, the issue was now confused, but not too much. If the enemy were truly the Brain, then he could treat everyone else as if they were but puppets. “They were . . .” He tried to think it with intense conviction. “They are!” How could any competent authority fail to find the Brain? All those who were looking must be agents of the Brain. The entire search for such a massive structure was a farce. It was impossible to fail. He recalled Slater’s words and attitude, the secrecy of the search. Every Control officer who sought with such apparent determination was sworn to silence, and somehow they had managed to create a mental attitude whereby it became dangerous for anyone to remember that the Brain existed.

His mind drifted oddly. . . . . . . Hard to imagine what moment would be right for a rebellion against so powerful an adversary as an immortal dictator. The group in Jorgia might delay their action too long; he couldn’t wait. Marin frowned sleepily. “Did I think that?” He had not ever before even considered rebellion. And what was that about a Jorgian group? Could it be that, just for an instant, here at the edge of sleep, a Trask plan had slipped through to his consciousness? But why rebellion? It didn’t fit. A man who could shift his awareness and his identity from one body to another didn’t need revolutions. Besides, it would be impossible. The group idea, combined with free enterprise, and pregnant with great ideas, was just beginning to take hold. Like a giant, it strode over the land, crushing all resistance and simultaneously inspiring hope. At such moments men did not listen easily to voices that warned against faraway disaster or urged the possibility of even greater creativity. Again his mind wandered. If they don’t act, he thought, I’ll have to act on my own. He felt relieved that he hadn’t told anyone of his invention. And so, all by himself, he was able to act—on the greatest scale. Marin slept uneasily, and his dreams were vague yet purposeful. He seemed to be permeated with secret plans that were not his own.

She stared at her phone like she was giving it serious thought. “I guess you’re…” On cue, her phone rang. Her eyes widened. She reached for her phone and looked at the number. “It’s him,” she squealed excitedly as the phone continued to ring. “Mom, what are you waiting for? Answer the phone.

Your cock is mine to do with what I want tonight. Until you just relax and feel, trusting me to take care of your needs, then I’m gonna make you wait for it.” Syn

Cool. I know an awesome spot called Henry’s. They have the absolute best beer selections and the wings are great. They also have darts and pool.” Furi stopped talking when he noticed Syn looking a little pale. “Hey, what’s up?” “Uh, nothing.” They were in Syn’s old faithful truck and Furi sat silently watching the man next to him. “We going or what?” Furi narrowed his eyes, staring at the side of Syn’s face. His jaw was clenched and his neck was flushed. What the hell? “Yeah. Let’s go.” “Okay.” Syn thought he was going to be sick. It was just his goddamn luck that Furi would suggest the one place where half the department liked to hang out. Hell, even his Lieutenants frequented this place. It would be cruel to subject Furi to Day’s inappropriateness so soon. Syn wasn’t necessarily afraid of being with a man; he just wasn’t the type to make his personal life public. Or am I scared? Fuck. Syn didn’t think Furi would go for keeping them a secret. The man had made that quite clear when they were in the alley. Syn gripped the steering wheel and willed his foot to press the accelerator. Maybe … just maybe, there wouldn’t be anyone familiar there. Syn drove under the speed limit and felt Furious’ probing eyes on the side of his face. He tried to smile and keep his jaw from showing his nervous tick. Despite his efforts, they got there in what felt like record time. Furious got out and waited for Syn to slowly make his way toward the entrance. “Are you sure everything is alright?” Furious asked, annoyed. “I’m good. Really. Good. Perfect,” Syn said, mentally kicking himself for sounding like an idiot. Furi took his hand in his and it took every ounce of Syn's willpower not to pull his hand back. Of course he’d be into PDA. Furious pulled open the door and walked in as if he hadn’t a care in the world. It was almost nine p.m. and the though it wasn’t packed, there were quite a few people there. Syn tried not to look around, keeping his eyes on the back of Furious’ head as he led them to a booth; thankfully located in the back of the bar, where it was a little bit darker. Syn made sure to sit so he was facing the door while Furi sat opposite of him. Furi didn’t speak. He picked up one of the menus and started to look through it. “First time out with a man?” Syn's head snapped his up from hiding behind his menu. “Uh. Yeah, but ya know.” “No, I don’t know,” Furi answered quickly. “If you didn’t want to come out, why didn’t you just say so? You look like you're about to pull a disguise out of your coat. Or do you plan to just stay hidden behind your menu all fucking evening?” “Furious.” “Although that’s going to make eating really difficult. Should I be prepared for you to fake a stomach ache?” “Enough,” Syn barked, Furious’ dark eyes widening at his tone. “Look, cut me some slack alright? I am not new to dating men. I’m new to dating: period. Just about all of my adult life I’ve focused on being a cop, a damn good cop. I had little time for anything else in my life including dates. Dating takes time and patience, two things I didn't have. I was prepared to accept being alone the rest of my life until I saw you. I wanted you, and I was more than willing to take the time and effort to be with you. So forgive me if I don’t do everything exactly right on our first date.” “I’m not expecting you to. I haven’t dated in years myself. But one thing I’m not concerned about is being ashamed.” Furi looked Syn dead in the eye. Syn didn’t have a chance to respond, the waitress came to set a pail of peanuts on the table. Speaking in a cheerful voice: “What can I get you guys to drink?

Just take me home,” Furi mumbled and moved to the passenger side of the truck. The drive home was deathly quiet. Syn wasn’t sure if Furi was going to forgive him or not, he was certainly hoping he would. Syn really did like Furi. He was the type of man he’d want to spend hours talking to because the deep sexiness of his voice did funny things to Syn’s groin, listening to him laugh was like the sweetest music to his ears. He wanted to see Furi's gorgeous face when he came home from working a shitty case, knowing he would make it better. He wanted to get into bed with him after a hot shower and bury his face in Furi’s soft hair and just lose himself in the erotic scent that lingered in those gorgeous locks. Syn fought the urge to apologize again; he’d done it at least five times now. He looked over at Furi, wishing he would turn and look at him. “Are you going to say anything?” Furi did look at him then, but what he said wasn’t exactly what Syn wanted to hear, “Your truck needs a tune-up.” Then he turned his head back toward the window. Syn pulled up to the curb opposite Furi’s apartment and shut off the engine. Furi didn’t say anything; he just opened the door, got out of the truck and walked across the street. Syn jumped out calling to him, “Furi, please wait.” Furi stopped in the middle of the street and turned to face him, looking completely exasperated. “What?” Syn was just making his way around the truck when he heard tires screeching and bright headlights headed directly at Furi. “Furious!” Syn yelled, but he saw there was no time. He ran at full speed, leaping and slamming his body into Furi's, the car’s front end just missing them. Syn rolled with Furi, a messy tangle of long limbs, hitting the curb hard. Syn kept one arm around Furi while craning his neck to try to see where the car was. All he could see was the make of the dark vehicle and two letters of the license plate. Syn pulled his S&W from behind his back just in case they circled back around. Syn jumped up and pulled Furi up with him. “Inside, now.” Furi moved quickly, Syn right behind him. As soon as they got inside the apartment, Syn turned Furi to face him. He looked him over and determined that he was okay for the most part. Furi looked like he was in shock, and rightfully so, someone had just tried to kill him. Syn put both his hands on Furi’s flushed cheeks. “Furious look at me.” Syn waited for those now haunted eyes to look at his. When Furi finally focused on his face, he had to slip into cop mode and ask his questions while the details were fresh in his mind.