“Are we, umm .... going to do it here, now?” asked Murray.

“No. I made friends with the star of that old sitcom called ‘Marriage ain’t Easy’ after her boyfriend directed my episode of ‘Romance Hotel’. She picked up on my moody fixation with you, and asked what it was. I told her everything, all about the giant land, the other timelines, the way you saved me, and how much I was yearning to eat you up. She was very understanding and supportive, and encouraged me to do something about getting back with you. I once said that I’d give you some time with me first, if I ever recaptured you. I’ll keep you concealed over here, and on the flight back home. Then we’ll have another week together, so you can settle into my new home in the California hills. After that, you’ll have the opportunity to settle into your new home in my tummy,” said Trudi.

“I can’t help but think of the expression ‘opportunity cost’,” said Murray.

“Well don’t start any of that. After all we’ve been through, and after all the discussions we’ve had about this, you don’t really think there’s any likelihood of you talking me out of it with a psychological discourse, do you?” said Trudi.

“I wasn’t thinking that. I know the situation well enough by now,” said Murray.

“That’s good to hear ... and Murray?” she said, lifting him up to her face.

“Yes.”

“It’s lovely to see you again.”

With that, she gave him a long slow kiss.

“Let’s get back into town,” she said.

She slipped him under the top of her dress and walked back to her hotel room and locked herself inside with him. Trudi sat on the bed, and put him down on the blanket beside her.

Then she got up, stepped over to the bedside table, and unplugged the telephone from the wall socket. She rolled up the cord, and placed the whole unit on top of a high cupboard, before she walked back to the bed and sat down again, with her legs draped over the side and her left foot touching the carpeted floor.

“Now that there’s absolutely no chance of you calling whichever one of my former neighbours has been helping you all this time, and therefore no chance of her ever being able to help you escape from me again, could you satisfy my curiosity about one thing?” asked Trudi.

“What’s that?” said Murray.

“Who was she?” asked Trudi.

Murray thought for a moment. Trudi had just reminded him that her former neighbour and the leprechaun who was dating her were the only two people in the next village who had an ongoing vested interest in keeping Murray rescued and safe. If there was even the slightest chance that he could make an overseas call to Ireland from the telephone in Trudi’s California Hills estate, perhaps one day while Trudi was out on an acting job, then he didn’t want to make their anonymity any less effective.