He stood among several guests engaged in conversation, that blonde vixen beside him… he stood taller than the others, not handsome really, she supposed… his face was too thin and his nose too long, but it had been his gentleness of eye and his firm, thin-lipped mouth that had first attracted her… that she had fallen in love with. She watched him smile; his handsome white teeth sent a little thrill through her. Antoine Poirier, President of Galaxy Mining, Ltd., how impressive it sounded. Of course, Galaxy was one of Uncle Gaston's enterprises and it was not as if Antoine had worked his way up the ladder the hard way; all the same such an executive responsibility required great intelligence and ability, and Uncle Gaston was not to let him remain in such a capacity if he didn't merit it. She was so proud of him… loved him so… God, if there was only some way she could unburden her soul to him and have him understand, perhaps, even bring her Igat into their family… Heavenly Father, how wonderful that would be… if only there was some way… But she was groping for straws and she knew it. There was just no way… no way in the world… at least, not at this time with only three months of marriage behind them, and that somewhat strained with their individual efforts of trying to discover each other.

She thought about that now as she wore her pleasant little smile and feigned being a good listener while Uncle Gaston argued with Ernest Mallory, the Minister of Citizenship and Immigration over existing, 'stupid' immigration laws. She thought about their love-making, and her own inability to respond fully because of her constant pressure of mind over Igat. In effect, the unfulfilled results, time and again, had left her as flustered as Antoine, for invariably, once he had emptied his loins into her, he would blame himself over her lack of climactic achievement, often-times with tears and swearing that next time it would be different… but as yet, it was not.