137 "It said in your complaint," Bullet began,
"that one of the Guards was making indecent proposals to you. Do you
say now that that isn't so?"
138 "The proposals the Guard was making," the man explained, "was that
I live here in her apartment, and take care of her children, and see to
their disciplinary needs. Considering what had just been done to me, I
considered the offer obscene, but that was just my bitterness at the
moment. I've had a lot of time to think since then.
139 I've found that life goes on, and you simply have to make the best
of what you have left and stop feeling sorry for what you've lost. I
made my bed, now I have to sleep in it. If I'd done what was right when
it needed to be done, I wouldn't be here, or, not like this, anyway. "
140 "You still sound a little bitter," suggested Bullet.
141 "Maybe," the man continued, "but I don't mean to be." He stopped
stirring what he was mixing and looked at Bullet. "Would you think a
man the way I am could fall in love?" he asked.
142 "Nothing's impossible," answered Bullet, "especially for love. It
very often has no respect for station or position."
143 The man went back to his mixing. "I kind of like you!" he laughed.
"You remind me of my father. He'd have said something like that. It's
too bad my brothers didn't listen to him. They'd still be alive today."
144 The door bell sounded and the man went to answer it. A Guard stood
outside with a group of children of varying ages. "Here's your two
charges," she announced, motioning a young girl and an older boy
through the door.
145 The man shut it behind them. "Take your things to your room," he
instructed, "and clean up. We've got a guest. I'll introduce you."
146 The girl started for her room, but the boy threw