Black Bunny

          She was blacker than her mother. And this is why her mother called
      her Midnight. Many of her friends just called her Black Bunny. The small
      Mississippi town of Decker had lost its way after many business failings.
      It was a truck stop and Black Bunny made a lot of rubber necking.
      "You wanna go out on a date?" she'd asked peering into the trucker's
      window. It was the only work left in Decker for her.
        Her mother had long since passed, working at the mill and then the
      diner after the mill was shut down for unsafe conditions. Midnight could
      only dream of getting a ride to Nevada. "Can I hitch a ride?" she'd ask.
      The truckers weren't interested. They just didn't trust Midnight that much.
      The town's children would shout, "Here comes Black Bunny! You got any
      Easter Eggs?!" It was funny to Midnight, that she had more than most of
      them.
        She sat in her apartment nibbling on some Succotash. "I know if I could
      just get to Nevada, I wouldn't have so much trouble." she thought. The police
      chief made uninvited visits to her apartment. He cost her a lot of working hours,
      locking her up. Then, he'd have free ones. It was enough to make her want him
      dead. "What a pain in my black butt." she cursed the sheriff. Her room felt
      cold that hot Mississippi night. The news wasn't good either. More wars and
      power cut backs, seemed like the whole world was shutting down. Money was
      worth less more and more, then, a knock came on her door .
          Midnight wrapped herself in her red lace night gown. She never wore anything
      else on hot nights. It was the Jaken's boy, Alex. He was barely of shaving age,
      but a regular customer. "I got some money for a date." he spoke, hastily holding
      out the crumpled bills. Midnight smiled and took him in, "Your mom know where
      you are?" The boy gave a quick shake of his head, "No." "Alright. What's your
      pleasure?" she asked. Alex explained his spanking fantasy. Midnight gave a
      toothy smile. And then the night lit up.
          They froze looking across the apartment to the open window. Their was a
      bright light outside. Alex ran back to the door. Midnight was right behind him.
      "Wait!" she shouted, "You don't know what's out there." She held the boy close
      and pulled up the trap door in the floor. "Get down here!" she shouted and shoved
      him into the basement. The building shook. Alex pressed his face against her
      breasts. "What is this the Russians?" he whispered. Midnight put her hand
      on his mouth. She peeked out the basement window. The buildings were burning.
      "You can stay. I"m leaving." she said, dressing in some old jeans and plaid shirt.
      Alex followed her to the transit bulk head. They could see the town was burning.
      "Mom! Pah!" Alex tried to run, Midnight held him. "No. Time for that. We have
      to get up to the woods." her voice was calm.
          Midnight had been to the police chief's cabin and knew the dirt path leading
      to it. Blessedly, the sheriff was not there. "Black Bunny what's going to
      happen?" his voice quavered like a boy. "Just get inside." she spoke firmly
      and pulled the heavy timber across the door. It was a rebuilt mining cabin
      stuck into a cave. Midnight examined the rifles with ease. She sat down in front
      of the boy with a big toothy smile, resting a Winchester on her lap; "Your my
      boy now until we figure out what happened." Alex swallowed hard and nodded
      "Yeah."

      to be continued....

                                                        (2)

            "I don't think it's nukes. Why would they waste one on this dump?"
      Alex paced around the small cabin. His skin was wet with sweat.
      Midnight felt a chill and shivered, rubbing her ebony shoulders. "Whatever
      it was-it set the town on fire. People are going run like hell out of it. Were
      better off here. Are you going to put a shirt on? Aren't you cold?"
      Midnight said and threw on the gas lamp. "Cold? It must be 80 in here.
      What's wrong with you?" Alex put his hand to her forehead. He felt no
      fever. He ran his hands under her breasts and made a wicked face.
      "You are one horny boy." Midnight smiled. She admired his copper complexion.
      Why had she been born so much darker than her mother? "Hey! Look! Old
      magazines! Oh-my-God these people look like ghosts." Alex pointed to the
      white people in the magazine. "White bunnies!" Midnight laughed, "Not many
      of them left. The Sun is to bright!"
              She paused. Was that what happened? Did the Sun burn the town at
      night? Alex removed all his clothing and wagged his arousal at her. He wasn't
      black, but copper all over. All the white people had turned copper. The black
      people got darker too. It must be the Sun. Midnight gave Alex what he wanted.
      Then, she waited for sunrise. "Hun, can you find some sun glasses?" she asked.
      Alex dutifully searched the cabin and found five different kinds of sun glasses.
      "I want you to wear these and don't go outside." Midnight knew something
      very dangerous was going to happen at sunrise. Maybe, the forest would burn.
      She gathered Alex under a blanket and they both wore sun glasses. With
      sunrise came a brilliant light breaking through the log door and wall. "Quick!
      Go deeper into the cave!" she shouted as they ran with the blanket over them.
      "I can smell smoke!" Alex said. The Sun was burning the cabin. "It's O.K.
      Were deep enough in the tunnel .. I think we're safe." Midnight answered.
              "How long is this going to take?" Alex sobbed. Midnight kissed his tears,
      "Just give it a little time." She whispered . She knew the tunnel made a
      straight cut to a lake, but what would be there? It was better to wait in the
      tunnel until nightfall. The police chief had stockpiled provision down there.
      He was a survielist and Seventh Day Adventist. "I want my mom!" Alex tried
      to break free of her. "Why do you think that cabin door is burning?" she shook
      him and took off their Sun glasses. Alex hugged her. "Good. Now we stay put."
      she commanded. They slept through the day.


      (Should i stir this up?) Midnight looked at the pan of hash browns.
      Alex was still sleeping. She had gone to the far end of the tunnel. There were
      forest fires, but the Sun did not harm her and the sunglasses were enough.
      She had walked through the forest and collected fresh water. It was as if
      she could not feel the flames around her. What was happening to her?

      Epilogue: Midnight sponge baths Alex.

                                                      (3)

      O daughter of Babylon, you destroyer!
        Happy shall the Heavens be that punish you!
        Happy shall the Heavens be that dash your children against the rocks!
      Psalm 137:8-9

          Midnight read the words in the sheriffs Bible. He had noted the page.
    "To rid the world of cruelty. The world must be rid of cruel people." the sheriff
    had noted and added, Isiah 13:16-18; 14-21. "The four nations of Eden" was
    also written in the leaf. Alex walked toward the cave exit to the lake.
    "No! It's too hot out there!" she shouted and ran to catch him. Alex stood
    at the cave opening. The heat was overwhelming. He fainted. Midnight grabbed
    hold of him under his arms and dragged him back in. She hardly felt the heat.

    "I will forgive my enemy seventy times seven." Mathew 18:21-22. She read as
    Alex guzzled a canteen of water. "Whah?" Alex looked confusedly into her
    brown eyes. "I forgive you." she said. "Oh, because I tricked you?" the young
    man smirked. "No, because I hate what I've become. I wont hate you." she said
    and put a cold damp cloth on his forehead. "Okay. Our we married?" he asked
    nervously. Midnight laughed loudly, "Your all I got!"

          She could see the sky flaming red as the Sun set. "A marvelous sunset."
    she whispered to Alex. "I hope you don't flip out on me. I don't think I can do
    this by myself." Alex whispered back and hugged her. Midnight kissed the top
    of his head and wondered if they could use the Ford F150 by the cabin entrance.
    It was dangerous to go too far from the cave. "I will make a new Adam." she
    said looking closely at the curve of his tailbone.

                                                      (4)

        "This is  strange." Alex said. He could see the fossil remains of a large
    insect in the stone floor. Midnight looked at it, "Probably, some grasshopper.
    Big bugger." "What's your last name Midnight?" Alex lay back on his nap sack.
    "Sangriel. Why?" She fingered her buttons. "Nothing. Just never asked. That's
    French?" he yawned. "Yeah. It means blood." she stretched. A breeze came
    down the tunnel from the opening to the lake. Midnight shivered. "Oh, that's
    sweet. Fresh cool air." Alex took a deep breath, "Pure sweet cool air."
    There was something coming down the tunnel and it was making a scratching
    noise. Alex stood up and Midnight took his hand. She lead Alex into a small
    storage shed. The scratching came up to them and paused. "Is there anyone
    here?" a man's voice called. Midnight peered through a crack in the shed.
    It was the sheriff.
          She stepped out slowly. "Midnight? Alex? Have you eaten all my supplies?"
    the sheriff queried, holding an empty can of hash browns. "I brought him here.
    It was the safest place I could think of." Midnight looked nervously about the
    tunnel. "Yes-yes. A good choice. The towns burnt up. Some people dead,
    others burned and blinded. Jesus; I'm so happy to see you. Let's have some
    beer." the sheriff said with a snort and sat down on rock. "I'm not suppose to
    have beer." Alex replied timidly. "kiddo. You can have all the beer you  can drink."
    the sheriff snorted and chuckled, "Have you been educating the boy?"
    Midnight smirked and snipped the glass nub of her beer bottle. "Well-well."
    the police chief smiled and took Alex under his arm,  "She's a fine piece."
    Alex smiled back and sipped his beer.
          "Jason. Are we stuck here?" Midnight asked with a deep despair.
    "The sun flares are slowing down. I think were through the worst of it.
    I swear you've gotten darker." the sheriff ran his hand over her black hand,
    "Still as soft as silk." Alex slipped away from Jason. He was jealous.
    "That's my favorite Black Bunny." Alex said. The sheriff turned a calculating
    eye on Alex; "Don't push your luck kiddo." Midnight sat beside Jason and
    place her hand on his chest; "Now, you know my profession. Don't be jealous."
    She kissed Jason and rubbed his chest and belly. Alex squirmed and drank
    a swig of beer. "What we have here is a polygamous relationship. I think.
    Will need to set up some-courting rules. I don't see why that should be a
    problem. Alex?" Jason looked over at Alex, who was slightly nauseous..
    "I think the beer gave me gas." Alex belched.
          The police chief looked over at Midnight and they kissed some more,
    then slowly disrobed and made love on the sandy floor of the tunnel. Alex
    sat against the cave wall sipping his beer, watching them. It seemed like
    a movie. He thought about the 70 x 7 that Midnight had spoken of. What
    a strange number and how long is that? Midnight was the first to stand.
    She drank some water and then rested on a nap sack. The sheriff lay on
    his back in a sleep like state, but his eyes were open and looking up at the
    tunnel ceiling.

        "When the sun shall be folded up and when the stars shall fall,
        And when the wild beast shall be gathered together
        And when the leaves of the Book shall be unrolled
                  And when Hell shall be made to blaze and Paradise brought
                  near,
                  Every soul shall know what it hath produced.
                  And by the Midnight when it come darkening on,
                  And by the Dawn when it brighten.
                      Where are you going?"

    Jason's words echoed down the tunnel, "That's the Koran." Alex's eyes
    were as wide as they could be. Midnight turned over on her left side and
    shut her eyes.+

                                                    (5)

        "490." Alex said. "Whah? Midnight stirred slowly from her sleep.
    "70x7" he added. Midnight shook her head and arched her back. "The boy
    is pondering the scriptures." Jason said, "Well, it takes 48 weeks to make
    a year. So, I reckon God's days are 490!" Jason slapped Alex on the back.
    "The Lord rested on the seventh day. I need some coffee." Midnight brewed
    a pot on the sterno. She sat with her legs folded like a Buddha. Alex rested
    his head in her lap. "I believe things happen for a reason." he continued,
    "We have been spared to make things right." Jason walked to the chemical
    toilet. "I'll let you two sort that out." the sheriff said and started up his truck.
    Midnight and Jason intertwined with passionate kisses as Jason drove off.
    "Where's he going?" Alex stretched up to see the truck driving away.
    Midnight pulled him closer.
        "He does that a lot. He'll be back." she smiled and made Alex more
    comfortable in her love embrace. She thought about the future and how
    this would all play out. She felt her body rise and fall in orgasmic rhythm.
    "Adam was never born, but his mother ate him." Midnight was startled by
    this thought. Alex was lost in pleasure and made monkey noises.
    "Morning star I love you give me a kiss of blazing fire." her mind inner voice
    whispered. Alex yelled. He pulled himself out of her. His groin was burned.
    "You burned me! Your eyes-there blazing!" Alex shouted and poured water
    over his blistered groin.
        "You are my consoling Angel. My love." she thought. There were tall
    figures painted on the cave wall behind them: ancient native drawings.
    Alex crawled backwards as he observed the drawings moving .. They were
    following Midnight's swaying. She picked up the sterno and inhaled
    the flame. "Come back .. I need your heat inside me." she said to Alex
    as she reached out to him. "Nope." Alex got to his feet and ran down the
    tunnel toward the lake. Midnight was fast behind him. The lake was his
    hope for escape. She would not like the cold water. He could hear a
    horn. It was the F150. The sheriff had returned.

    "Hey? Does anybody work here?" Jason shouted down the tunnel to Midnight.
    He found more can goods and brought Fatima the owner of the diner. Fatima was
    black as coal. Jason had taken a shine to her. Jason was mediterranean and
    loved copper women. "What the hell are you doing?!" he shouted again to
    Midnight. She turned and ran back to him. "Alex got burned and ran out to ..
    the lake." she said timidly and smiled at Fatima. "Of course he knows the noon
    day sun is very hot?" Jason said sarcastically. Midnight spun about and ran
    to fetch the boy. Jason sighed and unloaded the truck with Fatima.
    "What if more people come to the cave?" she said. "I'll shoot them." he replied
    calmly. Fatima gave a bright toothy smile, "I love you."

    "Wicked world makes decisions by opinion. And yet holds contrary to it by
    opinion." Jason answered, "That's Saint Jerome." Fatima hugged him and
    they kissed with open mouths. "Alex wont come out of the lake." Midnight
    said, gasping from her running. "Mom, who's the that lady?" Fatima's daughter
    Kimmy asked. Fatima held her close, "That's the prostitute." Midnight clenched.
    Jason put his hands on Midnights shoulders, "Are you ashamed?"
    Midnight unclenched her hands. She walked slowly to put the rest of the
    supplies away. "I-i think my body is changing. Alex burned himself inside me."
    Midnight said. Fatima told Kimmy to sit in the truck. "Okay Midnight. I wont
    have you talking like that in front of my daughter." she said. Midnight nodded
    yes, "It's not VD .. My body is getting hotter." Jason put his hand on her
    forehead and felt no fever. "I have a rectal-thermometer." Fatima pulled it out
    from the supplies. "Worth a peek." Jason opened the package and handed it
    to Midnight. She went into the shed to get her temperature.

    Midnight return shortly. The thermometer had burst. "Holy Smokes!" Jason
    gasped and looked at Fatima. "I don't know what that means." Fatima said,
    "Your not human. No human can be that hot and not roast." "Mom?" Kimmy
    had been standing nearby. "Honey, just go and read your book." Fatima
    said. Kimmy pouted and read aloud, "I have heard some, when they first set
    out for Paradise, say positively there is such a place; who, when they have
    been almost there, have come back again, and said there is none."
    (The Pilgrim's Progress; John Bunyan)  Everyone looked at Kimmy with
    astonishment. "Can't read something silly?" Fatima said handing Kimmy
    an Entertainment Weekly magazine. "I'm not stupid!" Kimmy pouted, "I'm only
    9 years old, but I can think!" Kimmy stomped away with her Pilgrims Progress
    in hand and the Entertainment Weekly stuffed in the back of her Levis' pocket.
    Midnight laughed, "Girl you ain't kiddin!" Fatima glared at Midnight.
    Jason was grilling hamburgers with a big smile.

    Maybe another chapter?

    ^ +
    *V*

                                                      (6)


          The strange family began their first meal. Jason had placed a barrier at the
    lake exit. It was a fishing net with bells on it. He would construct a wooden
    gate later. The tunnel rang with the sound of clattering bells. Jason took
    the Winchester to investigate his netting. Midnight and Fatima hid in the shed
    with Kimmy. "What if he can't stop them?" Kimmy whimpered. Midnight ran
    her hand over Kimmy's afro, "We have guns, but Jason's a sheriff."
    Fatima pulled Kimmy close, "Don't touch my child." Jason knocked on the shed.
    He was with Alex. Alex had been caught in the net. "Looks like our boy has
    found his way back." Jason smiled. Alex had gotten darker in complexion;
    as dark as Fatima. "Well-well, look at my brothah!" Midnight laughed.
    "He's really hung." Kimmy whispered to her mom. She quickly covered her
    daughters eyes, "Get some clothes on!" Alex found some overalls and a
    a Steve Miller Band T-shirt.

                            "Are you alright?" Midnight asked.

                            "I feel like a panther." Alex answered.

        His eyes glimmered .. There was a blaze in them. "Your Alex Jaken.
    Remember me at Marshwood High?" Kimmy asked bouncing on her toes.
    "Ah-no." Alex replied with a dead pan expression. "How old are you Alex?"
    Fatima inquired with a raised eye brow at Midnight. "Ah-20." he answered
    looking at the dinner. Jason laughed loudly, "Your in middle school! I say
    maybe sixteen and that's pushing it!" Midnight put both her hands on Alex
    face and kissed his lips, "Did that hurt?" "Nope. Let's just keep this simple.
    I don't want to get burned again." Alex's answer was monotone as he began
    to eat. "Your eyes are glowing like gold ingots." Kimmy cooed.
        "No monkey business until your thirty." Fatima scolded. "That is a
    good point." Jason stood up to address the group. He snorted, "We could
    be in this cave for a long time. We need to set boundaries. Now, then, who
    will be having sex with whom?" "Oh-shut up!" Fatima tore some bread.
    Kimmy scampered over to Alex and kissed his left cheek, "I want Alex!"
    Fatima grabbed her daughter back and slapped her face. Jason rubbed the
    back of his neck, "This is going to be tricky." "Not really, just follow the Bible."
    Midnight gave a bright toothy smile. "Right!" Jason exclaimed and slapped
    his hands together. He collected the Bible from his cabin.
          "Hmm. Now, then, polygamy is allowed: Gideon had many wives.
    Hmf? And a maiden is of marriageable age upon her first menstruation
    'alma' a young girl; Canticles 6:8; Isiah 7:14; Genesis 16:11.
    Hagar became pregnant before her marriage and was a young girl, who had
    not known man. King Solomon had a harem of many young girls." Jason sat and
    read. Fatima looked ashen. Kimmy started to dance, like a harem girl. Fatima
    grabbed her wrist and put her in the shed. "Don't you ever-don't you ever!" she
    screamed, "I will kill you!" Fatima sat down on a canvas camping chair in front
    of the shed with her snub nosed 38 in hand. "Ah-maybe we should just abstain."
    Alex said rubbing his burnt crotch. Jason snorted and lay back on a nap sack.
    Midnight lay down beside him, "That was unpleasant." She rubbed his belly.
    "Are you still boiling inside?" Jason asked softly. Midnight kissed him, "I guess."
    "Then we're just friends." he said and shut his eyes.

    to be continued?

    (*)(*)
    '

                                                      (7)

        Alex made a steaming stream into the chemical toilet. He as Jason for
  a rectal-thermometer. The thermometer exploded in Alex. "I think we can date
  Midnight." Alex smirked at her. "Do you know what love is Alex?" Fatima asked.
  "For the love of Mike! I not getting married." Alex shouted and his breath made
  vapor. "Well, if your as hot as me you might think about it." Midnight walked up
  to Alex and gave him a sizzling kiss. "That tasted like hot tea." he sighed and
  kissed her back. "Good. Now, you two can have each other and Jason is mine."
  Fatima grabbed hold of the sheriff's arm. Jason looked longingly at his favorite
  prostitute and then kissed Fatima.
        Midnight took Alex to a hideaway in the cave. There were more ancient drawings
  on the walls. One showed a race of fire people. They drank fire. Alex stared at the
  paintings and was aware that the only illumination was coming from their radiant
  skin. Their clothing had burned off. Midnight embraced him and ran her sizzling
  tongue over him. "I feel like their is a bursting Sun inside me." Midnight whispered.
  The paintings began to dance to pulsating flames of their intertwined bodies.
  Kimmy giggled. Alex broke free, "Oh my God." Midnight gave a toothy smile
  at Kimmy,  "Studying hard hun?" Kimmy's eyes popped wide open and she ran
  back to the tunnel camp.
        Fatima and Jason were not be found. Kimmy panicked. She started to sob
  and twisted her t-shirt as she looked about. The F-150 was the only place left
  to search. There was no one in the cab, but the hatch was fogged. She peered
  in lifting the glass hatch slowly. Fatima and Jason were in passionate love
  embrace. "Can I have some dinner?" Kimmy asked timidly. Fatima screamed.
  Jason barked at her to shut the hatch. "Oh-kay." Kimmy answered nervously
  as she shut the hatch slowly. She turned to see Midnight and Alex standing
  directly behind her. "I'm sorry." she said twisting her t-shirt into a knot.
  "That's no big thing. Just don't spy on us. Okay?" Midnight said softly and
  handed Kimmy a hot dog. "Ah-ah okay. Thank you." Kimmy was lost for words.
  She scarfed down the hot dog.
        Fatima stumbled out of the back of the Ford F-150. She had roughly pulled
  on her jeans and blouse. "You must never do that again." Fatima said clearing
  her throat, "Mommy and Jason need private time." Fatima hands were shaking
  and fumbling at the buttons of her blouse. Jason hopped out behind her,
  "Don't just stand around! Do something!" Everyone looked about and gave him
  a blank stare. "We need a barrier at the other end of the tunnel. And I think
  the short wave is working. So, let's get going!" the police chief commanded.
  Alex started work on the new barrier with Midnight and Fatima's help.
  Jason tried to call up the National Guard. The Sun spot interference was severe.
 
  Reflections: "All fell in Adam and All were raised up in Christ" Romans 5:18;
                    1 Corinthians 15:22. But, the children shall not be punished for
                    their father's sin; Dueteronomy 24:16.


                                                  (8)


        "Nine is the number of strength. On the seventh day God rested, on
  the eighth day God chastised and on the nineth day God killed." Kimmy
  read her Kabbalah. She had lit a candle in the dark cave where Alex and
  Midnight had made love. "There are 13 Divine powers each are feminine or
  masculine within the God head. Kimmy sang softly, "You cause the wind
  to blow and rain to fall. Fill me with your dew and rain." She felt a mist on
  her skin and tingling inside her. Her lips were dripping moist. She stood from
  her kneel and felt taller. Her jeans had shrunk and her t-shirt was tight.
  She had breast. Kimmy ran out of the cave, calling for her mom.
        "Woe-ah!" Alex spotted her, "Where'd you come from?" "I was in the
  dark cave!" Kimmy stammered pointing. "Kim? Ah-noway. This is nuts."
  Alex squeezed Kimmy's ripe breasts. They bounced. Alex took Kim by the
  hand to Fatima. "What happened to my little girl?!" she screeched.
  "Mommy-mommy!" Kimmy hugged her mother and their round breasts
  pressed against each other. Fatima pushed back, "You are not my daughter."
  "I am! I was in the dark cave.. and I said one of your prayers.." Kimmy started
  to answer and then tears swelled up. "Your wearing my girls clothes." Fatima
  hesitated and looked into Kim's face. "Oh-my-God!" she hugged Kim about
  the shoulders so as not press so hard against her daughter's breasts.
  "This is too tight." Kimmy said, playfully removing her t-shirt. Her breast
  bounced out of her t-shirt. "Get a shirt on!" Fatima shouted.
        Alex laughed, "She looks great just like that!" Jason had been busy
  with the radio, but heard the shouting. "Your Kimmy?" he looked boggled.
  "It this cave. We need to get out of here." Fatima growled and put a plaid
  lumber jack shirt on her daughter. "No. I said your prayers for beauty.
  And-ah God spoke to me." Kimmy fumbled with the shirt, leaving several
  top buttons open. "That's awesome. Can you call the National Guard or
  anyone on the radio?" Jason gave a wicked toothy smile, leering at Kimmy.
  "I don't like that dirty look." Kim pouted. The back of her jeans split.
  Midnight laughed, "Oops! There it is!" Kim was not wearing panties. Her butt
  had just grown out. Kim scowled and dropped the torn jeans inside the shed.
  "Does anyone have a pair of pants I can wear?" Kim shouted. Midnight handed
  her a pair of pants. Kim was her size. "I feel like a jiggly balloon." Kim wiggled
  into the jeans.
        "So? Waht-yah think?" Kim exited the shed with her hands up in the air.
  "Just awesome." Jason leered. Alex smacked her jiggly butt, "I like it!"
  "Don't you dare!" Fatima grabbed Kim's wrist and pulled her away from the men.
  "She has a woman's body, but she's just a child." Fatima scolded.
  Jason shook his head and walked back to the F-150 and the short wave radio.
  "I think she needs a crash course in how to use that equipment." Alex smirked.
  Fatima pulled her snub nose 38 out from her back pocket; "Not today."
  Alex rubbed the back of his head and Midnight took him by the hand.
  Kim looked her mom in the eye, "How long can I be a child?" Fatima's eyes
  widened, "Just take it one day at a time."


  (*)(*)