She sure ran me around, he thought. But she can't now. She's not superior to me any more. I'll be able to hold my own. She's, she's so helpless, so pliant. That's the way I like her. Poor tired girl!
We'll travel, he thought. I want to see all of the planet. All the sights, all the cities. I want to live in the bustle of its life, in the hurry of its crowds. I want to travel and learn all the different smells and experience all the different places, and I want to celebrate its richness and its newness; I want to devour it; I want to—
She'll be there; I want to feel her by my side: sweet Julia, so compliant, waiting my decisions and anticipating my wishes. I want to see her laugh. And I want ... I want....
I'll have to ask her about things like that.
... I'm no longer so innocent, but I'm not yet so wise. I have grown and matured marvelously, and I will further: I know what I want. And she'll be there to, to help me see and do and....
He felt a great warm glow of bursting and bubbling emotions.
"I'm going to sleep twenty-four hours," Julia said. "Just as soon as I can get in bed."
"Better leave before the fourth estate gets here," the general said. "I'll have the staff car drive you back to the hotel."
"Don't tell anybody we're there."
The general nodded. He took Julia's arm. "I'll walk you outside." He sent an orderly for the car.