ReaderPaul

Great start to this story.

Loving, soothing, thought-provoking, and reflective, all at the same time. Love it!

Would an Admin please delete my accidental post? Thank you.

A good addition to the Boot Series, it can be read on its own. Even better is if you have read other stories in the series. A warm story at time, it also has some sad elements. Often life has sad and glad and mad elements. This story presents in an understandable way what happens to the boys, and I very much liked the resolution.

Gentlemen, I prefer apple cobbler, although each of the above are quite good. A town close to where I live put cobblestones and old style bricks in some sidewalks and walkways. For those of us who use canes, or others who use wheelchairs, this increases tripping hazards and bumpiness – especially on hills and non-level surfaces. A caution to those towns who wish to do this -- DON'T! @Myr, I first learned "cobble" as a child in the meaning of "one who makes or repairs shoes." Later I learned the word could mean something like "putting a workable solution together from available materials", as @Bill W pointed out in different words. Thank you very much for these "Word of the Day" vocabulary builders.

Something I noticed on this reading which was not explicitly explained -- from near the top of this chapter: "The three of them were wearing lightweight thermal gear, which was rated to protect them against the most frigid air that Benteen had to offer. The northern pole was far beyond the edge of the seasonal ice pack expansion, and far beyond where a vessel like Vespris might ever travel; but those that had first surveyed this new world had planned for every contingency. Light parkas over their work suits, and nearly invisible thermal face masks that did not interfere with speech, and which warmed the air they would breathe, ensured that they could focus on the job at hand." One of the few authors I have seen address moisture in the air when breathing was Robert Anson Heinlein. In one of his books taking place on Mars, he mentions the dryness there required moisture added to the air humans breathe there. Do the face masks Jem and Nico and Mya are wearing have moisture capability? Cold air holds much less moisture than warm air, so throats could quickly dry out on Benteen.

Well, @Geron Kees, two or three days ago, I re-read the story where Browbeat met the guys, Horace, Bob, Ragal, Casper, and Chirka, as well as Jol and Lane Tallfield. Browbeat stated that he had been to about 100 thousand or more realities in the lower level. With his nose for news, eyes for enquiring, and intelligence with information, it very reasonable that he guessed about the probability discriminators. Good use of your previously established stories to be pertinent in this one.

"antilong" is a Filipino word basically meaning -- comprehension • understanding • the manner or stage of understanding • • grasp • perception • cognition. It is sometimes confused with "antilog" -- which means antilogarithm. Thanks for the Word of the Day, @Myr.

Right on all counts, @drsawzall. Great authors and stories, and "LaTombola" is good both in the shorter version, on another site, and the expanded version on GA.

Old saying: "He is so organized. If he compiled an alphabetical dictionary, it would have an index."

Once again, beauty and meaning with an economy of words. Well done, @Mikiesboy.

What is the problem, youngster? I am in my seventies, and still ticking.

I seem to be unusual -- I like kale. I am NOT a vegetarian, but like kale -- and broccoli -- but hate Brussels sprouts. Good story, @Laura S. Fox.

Good choice of a sample sentence, @Myr.

Somewhat offbeat question, @Geron Kees -- in this chapter, when Charlie and the others are introduced to Mr. Grampet by Amy, did she introduce Robin as -- Robin, or -- Robin Hood, or -- Robin Loxley, since Robin Hood is sometimes referred to as Robin Loxley or Robin of Loxley or Robin from Loxley? Kind of curious if you had thought about that, and what Amy used as an introduction. I hope you are recovering well from your medical issue or issues.

You are certainly right, Chris. With authors such as @Geron Kees -- @P. E. Knapp -- @Myr -- @Bill W -- @dkstories -- @W_L -- @Aditus -- @astone2292 -- and more that I need to try a person cannot go wrong. And titles are important. I was attracted to P. E. Knapp first by the title of his story, "It All Started with a Shuttle Flight." Well worth it for the other stories it led me to find. I was attracted years ago to "Crash Landing" by Bill W.'s story title as well. "Crash Landing" is not as "wham bam slam cram glam" as some stories, but well told with several surprises and delights. And in this Deep Dive I see more titles I have to try. Thanks, Myr!

In looking up possible harm to Marie-Louise's not-yet-born baby, Lee Wilson is basically correct. In a normal low-risk pregnancy, even with a very large male member, intercourse is normally safe for the baby. The cervix, uterus, and amniotic sac toughen up during a normal pregnancy quite a bit. Perhaps with triple penetration of three simultaneous 15 inch (38.1 centimeter) members, all inserted to the max possible in a triple penetration experience (which would not be all the penile length in a TVP -- triple vaginal penetration -- experience) MIGHT get close to bumping the baby. And the chances of finding three members that erect length at the same time? Very slim-to-none in probability. Looking forward to seeing the next chapter.

@Laura S. Fox is a talented author, able to use humor, drama, events, and timing all at the same time to make wonderful stories. I need to read this one. Thanks for pointing this one out, @wildone.

In many states, a person can be declared "Innocent" if the evidence is clear enough to be certain. In looking it up on Bing, Tennessee, Colorado, and Missouri are three of the states where a defendant may be declared "Factually Innocent" or "Innocent."

"Reasonable" is assumed in a not guilty verdict. Had the judge been convinced he was innocent, he would have declared him so. All indications point to his guilt, but concrete evidence is missing. It takes much more evidence to declare someone "innocent" than not guilty.

The judge did NOT find him innocent; he found him "not guilty beyond a reasonable doubt." Memory lapses showed up in the testimonies. Circumstantial evidence is not, in itself, conclusive proof in this case. As an obviously troubled juvenile, the judge has considerable latitude in his ruling(s). Until the truth comes out about Marie-Louise being pregnant by another than Nelson, Nelson will be very worried. He is going to stay upset for quite some time. However, horny males such as Nelson might end up screwing her again -- eventually. Or, maybe not. Plenty of the brown stuff left to hit the rapidly rotating air-moving device. (Or, a sanitized version of the way I have heard it for years -- "The excrement will hit the fan.")

@drpaladin, @Bill W, and @sandrewn -- there is also the word "ponent," meaning western, occidental, or "where the sun sets". There is also a word called "unponent" meaning a word not paired with another word.

Way to go, @Jeff Burton.

A vampire puffin or a vampire whale, maybe?

I don't often read poetry, but this was written with feeling and very well done. Definitely worth reading.