Hello Readers!

First off, I want to say thank you for continuing to read this tale. Your interest is what has kept this story going for this long.

Then I want to say I'm sorry for the delay, this installment took much longer to write than expected, as I, the same as you the reader, have been dreading what is to come and have been delaying in getting there.

Which then leads me to warn you, this chapter is longer than usual. Much as the last one grew too long for one chapter (and the need to break it into two -- Ch. 16