Chapter 33

“Justice for the many, justice for the free. Let each man be paid in full, that’s just enough for me.” - an old Irish verse.

“He who knows all the answers has not been asked all the questions.” ― Confucius

“A well-composed book is a magic carpet on which we are wafted to a world that we cannot enter in any other way.” ― Caroline Gordon

0945 hours, local time, Friday, 2 January, 2015 Rachel Schumacher Dining Hall The University of Toledo Toledo, OH

Breakfast was a rather splendid experience, though it had to be toned down for the benefit of the youngsters now that they and their assigned babysitters were around all of the adults (and adolescents). Charles, Justine, Mike, Susie, Miranda, Jeannie, Jeremy, Richard, Anne, Therese, Chantal, Bill, Bethany, Nicole (aka Slave Nicki), Larry, Helen, Chelsea, Rupert, Cecilia, Naomi, Lisa, Dave, George, Vo, Tim, Ralph, Linus, Al, Courtney, Joey, Tabby, Hank, Carrie, Doc, Moon, Smitty, Brig, Simon, Kirk, Dandelion, Anika, Daevi, Saryss, Sandra, Sabrina, Selene, and Lionel, among several others, all behaved themselves for now and contented themselves with the hearty breakfast food.

“So, this is your new way of life, which admittedly fits reasonably well with the Havenite faith and philosophy. Communal life has its charms for sure, doesn’t it?” Rupert acknowledged, trying not to think too much about his most recent partners.

These included Sally and Kelly, two local cousins who had made a point of doing their absolute best to service him, Cecilia, and Naomi most of all. They certainly did their best to give up their holes for the pleasure of him, his sister, and his first wife. The former rabbi had to admit to himself that he would love a lot more time with the duo, who were quite the contrast. Sally had sandy hair with a mix of red and blonde highlights, and just a hint of curls in her hair. She had a slight farmer’s tan in the summer and was pale in winter, with a decent number of freckles on her naked flesh. Kelly, for her part, was swarthy, with jet-black hair and an olive complexion that contrasted with her gray eyes.

“I’m really hoping that you got me pregnant, Rabbi,” Sally whispered, “Kelly does, too. Did you know that her father is a sabra from Israel? He’s a Mizrahi Jew, if I remember correctly.”

“Yes, and I love that your Ashkenazic blood and my Mizrahi will mix together as I have your love child. Imagine how beautiful our baby will be. I hope that it’s a girl, so someday, when she’s of age, well, you can meet her again and knock her up, too,” Kelly added seductively, making it clear that she was very fond of the former rabbi from Concord, New Hampshire.

“I have a suggestion, in any case, since a certain rabbi and the rest of his company can’t stick around much longer. I propose that you two ... join Lionel, me, Sabrina, Selene ... and Saryss in a seven-way marriage. It would be open, of course, but it would be a marriage. I love the idea of my husband having six wives, just like Henry VIII,” Sandra suggested while helping a new mother out by weaning her newborn.