"Of course,"said Ma.Ximena as if it had just occurred to her. "We should think of the best names for these girls. I think they should be like us, having the same initials. We're ten, so we have names, even though we only go by the first two, the rest wouldn't fit on the watches. They are eight, so they should have eight names, but only go by the first two, or maybe the first one."

"One should be named in honor of Ana Patricia Rojo,"said Ma.Xitlalli. Arthur groaned. "La nueva mujer de madera. Tan fuerte como el amore, es una mujer de madera."

"And let me guess,"started Arthur. "The others should be named in honor of more actresses."

"Actually, no, Cuzzy. They should have the same initials, but the same first name, AP. You know, it could be neat, don't you think. That they have the same initials, just like us, right?"

"That would be neat."said Lance. "But why in honor of Ana Patricia Rojo. I think I liked Edith better."

"However, I thought maybe we could sneak the name Cristina in there, in honor of Cristina from El Privilegio de Amar, and in honor of Cristian Castro. You know, and that way, we could call her Tina."

"That's true."

Arthur just walked out of the room, leaving the dectuplets arguing with Lance over the names.

"Shouldn't you be outside by now."he asked when he saw Pietro.

"I was, I was just wondering if the work hours were going to be shorter today."

"They won't. At least I don't think so. The only difference is that you'll have to do everything yourself. Like always."

"Of course, I just thought that it would be nice if everyone were to celebrate..."

"Things don't work like that here. Work is work, and everybody works just the same as any other day. Now I suggest you get going, before something happens, and you're to blame for it all."

"Yes, of course."Pietro said quickly, putting his hat on, and starting to walk away.

So things were going to go the same as they always did. He was an idiot to think they wouldn't. He got on his horse, and went off, gritting his teeth.

"You see, we have the perfect names."the dectuplets were telling Kitty.

"After you told me some of the names you've given your pets, I'm not sure I'll agree."

They put on their most pathetic looks, and pretended to start to cry.

"To think that we worked so hard, looking up all the names. You know, it could just be Ana, and the second names can start with C, like Cristina. Ana could be for Ana Patricia Rojo. You know, the actress that came on after the other one left. The one with the blonde hair."

"I know."

"Well, see, the first name should be Ana, of course, with one being Ana Cristina. The others:Catalina, Cecilia, Carolina, Carmen, Caridad, like Chachi, but, oh well, Camila, andCarlota."

"Where do you get all these names?"

"I don't know, we love names. That's part of the reason we have so many pets, because we have so many names. We run out of pets, so we have to get more for the names."

"Oh."

"That's true."said Ma.Eugenia. "Very true indeed."

"Well, what do you think of the names? Or should we could change the initials, or maybe the first name if you don't like it. What about it?"

"You've put a lot of thought into this, haven't you?"

"Well, I guess we did."

"Well, for that, I think I agree."

"That's great. That's just great."

"Yes, it is Sissy."a voice was telling Sissy. "I like that name."

Sissy was just sitting. She purred.

Ma.Eugenia was going through all the things she, the dectuplets, Francisca and Kitty had knitted for the babies. Of course, the first things they were wearing was what Francisca had knitted for them.

"The only reason I would want a baby is to dress it to look pretty and give it a nice name. Of course, they grow, and they're not the same anymore."

She sighed. Jean walked into the room.

"Hello."said Ma.Eugenia, looking over her shoulder to see who it was.

"Tell me where Scott is."

Ma.Eugenia walked out of the room, and Jean followed her.

"I don't know where he is."

"You should know."

"I don't. Besides, supposing I did, I don't have to tell you. You and I are nothing."

"You must have some idea."

"None what so ever. Why do you want to know, anyway?"

"Isn't it obvious? The way they pulled him out, those men. It was just horrible."

"He deserved it."

"No, he didn't"

"He should never have said the things he did. He is no one to be telling other people how to act, and especially reproaching them for things that were not their fault. I should know. There are people who have always treated me like trash, just because I'm illegitimate. It wasn't my fault, you know. He had no right to say those things to Lance."

"And the dectuplets were right in wanting to send him to eat in a choza?"

Ma.Eugenia shrugged.

"Maybe he deserved it. He does, after all, cover his eyes. Anyway, if you do want him to be released, you would have to make someone give the order for that."

"And you think they will?"

"Maybe, maybe not."

That evening, after dinner, everyone sat in the parlor. Mama Teta was sitting in her chair, doing a word search. Rebecca and Guillermo were upstairs, looking at the new babies. The dectuplets decided to go to bed early, and others followed. The only ones left at the end were Lance, Ma.Eugenia, the professor, Pietro, and Logan.

Jean had asked Lance to order the workers to release Scott that same day, but he had refused, saying that only when he felt Scott had suffered enough, would he be released. However, she had given him an idea. He didn't know where Scott could be, but surely wherever that was he was chained, and suffering, or so he hoped. He thought he should go see for himself.

"I wonder,"he asked Ma.Eugenia. "Where would they take someone, misbehaves."

"I don't know. You ask Teodora. Teodora es la encargada de darles comida a los que esten encerrado por X razon."

"And where can I find this Teodora?"

"In her choza."

"I think I could've guessed that. Where's the choza?"

She told him the direction. He got up.

"She can't be too hard to miss. She wouldn't wonder very far, anyway, she's an old lady."Ma.Eugenia told him.

"Pietro, go and saddle my horse. Voy a salir a montar un rato."

"At this hour?"asked Pietro.

"No, tomorrow. Of course I want it right now. Now, get moving! And make sure you're there to unsaddle and groom the horse when I come back."

Pietro got up, and headed towards the stables. He never thought he'd live to see the day when he was taking orders from someone else, especially Lance.

"Where would he be going at this hour?"asked Ororo.

"I don't know. And I really don't care."answered Ma.Eugenia, gathering her crochet work and going upstairs.

Lance found the choza Ma.Eugenia told him very easily. He dismounted, and walked toward the door of the small shack. He knocked.

Teodora was asleep when she heard the knocking. Who could it be at this hour, she thought, and she opened the door. In front of her was a man. He was very well dressed, in the most expensive clothes. The only people she had seen dressed like this was el patron viejo, Don Rigoberto. But as she looked more closely, she saw that this man looked like him, with the same nose, mouth, he was not as tall, or broad around the shoulders, and his hair wasn't jet-black, and it was longer than Don Rigoberto's. He also had Doña Francisca's eyes.

"You know where they keep the prisoners?"he asked.

"Yes."she answered slowly.

"Good. I need you to take to see one. A guy they took from the house yesterday. You know where he is?"

"Yes, in the bodega."

"I want to see him."

Teodora took her keys, and went where the workers had taken Scott. It was a depressing place, Lance was pleased to see. Teodora had to bring a candle, since there was no light.

"Here he is, Patron."

Eagerly Lance took the candle from her, and looked at Scott. There were many cuts and bruises on his face, and his clothes were torn. There were a lot of heavy chains binding him. He was glad he was still wearing his day clothes. Scott looked up, and saw Lance, and an old lady looking down at him.

"What are you doing here?"

"Now, now, Summers, more respect. This is my hacienda, my property, I can go wherever I please, and besides, I don't think I have to tell you why I do what I do."

"You think you're all bad, just because everyone obeys everything you say. If it weren't for all those men, you wouldn't be alive at this hour." He pulled on the chains, but they were too heavy.

"I was thinking I should probably order them to release you in about...three weeks, however, you don't seem to be behaving yourself."Lance shook his head. "Talking to me like that. Behave yourself, Summers, the better you behave the sooner you'll be out of here. Otherwise...well, you'll spend more time in here, and with less privileges. You don't seem to care much about other people, especially Jean."

"Jean?"

"She's in great distress over you. She wants me to tell them to let you go, you see, begging on her knees, almost. How will she react when she finds out you don't seem to want to go. You don't behave well enough. So, I think you need a little lesson." He smiled. "To think that I used to think Sissy was just a cute, harmless little kitty. She knows quite a lot. She's taught me quite a bit."

"You take orders from a cat? Just like your stupid sister."

"Not just any ordinary cat, Summers, and not just a cat, either. Besides, remember my sisters could always beat you easily. Without any effort. You see, with Sissy and Arthur's help, I can, too. You wanna find out how I can split your skull? I don't think we should take such a risk, though. Right now, you will only be learning a small lesson, you see."

He gave the lamp back to Teodora, and he used his powers, aiming the vibrations at Scott. Sissy and Arthur had trained him, just like the dectuplets, and just like them, he not only used his powers to cause earthquakes anymore, they were much, much more useful and destructive, and didn't give him migraines any more. Scott screamed in pain.

"And that was just a taster. Unfortunately, I won't be able to come visit you every night. However, don't worry. I shall give orders that you be beat at least twice a day, and you won't will only receive one piece of bread every three days until further notice. I gotta go now. It's kind of cold in here, and I didn't bring a jacket. Oh, yeah, and you are to have no visitors."

He walked out of the bodega, Teodora behind him.

"That man, isn't to have any visitors, none, and you will not release him until I personally come and tell you to do so, you hear, otherwise, you will be in a lot of trouble. He is to have nothing to eat, except a small portion of bread, every three days. As for the rest, I'll tell Pietro to take care of it.