"Well?"

"I've worked it out," she said. "Do you know how long you'll be paying for the war?"

"Oh, quite a long time."

"Eleven seconds."

It was a little disappointing.

"Eleven seconds," repeated Celia. "One—two—three—four——"

"That's too fast. Begin again."

"One——two——three——"

"That's better."

She counted eleven. It seemed much longer now. One——two—— three——four....