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           "Enough,"sheanswered."Michaelsaysthatthewatercouldbecompletelyinthethought;itisthesharing.Igrokhespeaksrightly."

           "Igrok.Andit’sjustwhatIneeded.Thanks,Patty."

           "Oursisyoursandyouareours.We’regladyou’resafelyhome.Justnowtheothersareallatservicesorteaching.Butthere’snohurry;theywillcomewhenwaitingisfilled.WouldyouliketolookaroundyourNest?"

           StillpuzzledbutinterestedBenletherleadhimonaguidedtour.Somepartsofitwerecommonplace:ahugekitchenwithabaratoneend–rathershortongadgetsandhavingthesamekind-to-the-feetfloorcoveringaselsewhere,butnotnotableotherwisesaveforsize–alibraryevenmoreloadedthanJubal’s,bathroomsampleandluxurious,bedrooms–Bendecidedthattheymustbebedroomsalthoughtheycontainednobedsbutsimplyfloorsthatwereevensofterthanelsewhere;Pattycalledthem"littlenests"andshowedhimoneshesaidsheusuallysleptin.

           Itcontainedhersnakes.

           Ithadbeenfittedononesideforthecomfortofsnakes.Bensuppressedhisownslightqueasinessaboutsnakesuntilhecametothecobras."It’sallright,"sheassuredhim."Wedidhaveglassinfrontofthem.ButMichaelhastaughtthemthattheymustnotcomepastthisline."

           "IthinkIwouldrathertrustglass."

           "Okay,Ben."Inremarkablyshortordershereplacedtheglassbarrier,frontandtop.Buthewasrelievedwhentheyleft,eventhoughhemanagedtostrokeHoneyBunwheninvitedto.