The House of the Seals / ¦L³¹ªº²³Ä³°|

by Ennien Ashbrook, ashbrook@spots.ab.ca / ÂÇµÛ Ennien Ashbrook,ashbrook@spots.ab.ca


From the Atom Bomb BBS Electronic Messaging System -- / ±q­ì¤lÅF¬µ¹q¤l§G§iÄæ¨t²Î¹q¤lªº°T®§¨t²Î --

From: Avatar Subject: Life? / ±q: ¤Ñ¯«¤U¤Z¥DÃD: ¥Í¬¡?


I still don't understand why they let you call here, but I'm glad they do. It still surprises me to hear that Zoltar actually has a heart. / §Ú¤´µM¤£¤F¸Ñ¥L­Ì¬°¤°»òÅý§A¦b³o¸Ì©I¥s¡A¦ý¬O§Ú¬O°ª¿³ªº¥L­Ì°µ¡C ¥¦¤´µM¨Ï§Ú¦YÅåÅ¥¨ì Zoltar ¹ê»Ú¤W¦³¤@Áû¤ß¡C
He attacked another city today, a lot of people were hurt. I also find it difficult to believe he's as strong as you say. Every time I fight with him, he's a wimp. Yet you say you tested skills with him, and he's that good? Then why doesn't he show it? / ¥L¤µ¤Ñ§ðÀ»¤F¥t¤@®y«°¥«,³\¦h¤H³Q¶Ë®`¡C §Ú¤]µo²{¬Û«H¬O§xÃøªº¡A¥L¬O¹³§A»¡¤@¼Ëªº±j¡C ¨C¤@¦¸§Ú¹ï§Ü¥L,¥L¬O³n®zªÌ¡C µM¦Ó§A»¡¡A§A©M¥L´ú¸Õ¤F§Þ³N¡A¦Ó¥B¥L¬O¨º­Ó¦n³B? µM«á¬°¤°»ò¥L¤£Åã¥Ü¥¦¶Ü?

I know, I know "there's more here than meets the eye".. I just wish you'd tell us what is there, one day. / §Úª¾¹D, §Úª¾¹D " ¦b¨º¸Ì¬O§ó¦hªº³o¸Ì¤ñ¸û·|²´·ú".¡C §Ú¶È¶ÈÄ@§A±N·|§i¶D§Ú­Ì¦b¨º¸Ì,¤@¤Ñ¡C

You say you're being moved.. any idea where to? Why? / §A»¡§A¥¿¦b³Q²¾°Ê¡C¡C ¥ô¦óªº·Qªk¦b­þ¸Ì¨ì? ¬°¤°»ò?

We all miss you. Avatar / §Ú­Ì¥þ³¡·Q©À§A¡C ¤Ñ¯«¤U¤Z

She sighed. She looked beside her, at the swollen, bleeding face of her captor, her lover. His eyes were hidden behind the mask, but the swelling indicated a black eye, surely. She reached up to daub at the trickle of blood oozing from his burst lip. He smiled at her. / ¦o¼Û®§¡C ¦b¿±µÈªÌ¦o¦b¦o®ÇÃä¬Ý,¥X¦å¦oªº®·®»ªÌªºÁy¡A¦oªº·R¤H¡C ¥Lªº²´·ú³QÂæb°²­±¨ã«á­±¡A¦ý¬O¿±µÈ«ü¥X¤F¤@­Ó¶Â²´¯],·íµM¡C ¦o¨ì¹F¦b¤W­±¦b±q¥Lªº¯}µõ®Bº¯¥Xªº¦åºw¶î©Ù¡C ¥L¦b¦o·L¯º¡C

"So why don't you show it?" she asked him. / " ¦p¦¹¬°¤°»ò¤£§AÅã¥Ü¥¦"? ¦o°Ý¤F¥L¡C

"What, and let him know what he's really up against??" he laughed, / "¤°»ò, ¦Ó¥B¨Ï¥Lª¾¹D¥L¯uªº¬O¦V¤Wªº¤Ï¹ï??"¥L¯º,
"No, my dear, I have to save my strength for healing. The blows I take from your commander are nothing compared to what the Luminous One regularly dishes out at me. I cannot waste myself on him." / "¤£,§Úªº¿Ë·R,§Ú¥²¶·¬°ªv¡¸Ñ±Ï§Úªº¤O¶q¡C ¥´À»§Ú®³±q§Aªº«ü´§©x¤°»ò¤]¤£¬O¬Û¸û¤°»òµo¥ú¤@¸g±`¦a½L¤l¦b¥~¦b§Ú¡C §Ú¯à°÷¤£¦b¥L¨­¤W®ö¶O§Ú¦Û¤v¡C"

"But you end up hurt anyways. How does it differ, whether you take it or retaliate?" / "¦ý¬O§AµL½×¦p¦óµ²§ô¶Ë®`¡C ¥¦¦p¦ó¤£¤@­P,¬O§_§A±a¥¦©Î³ø´_?"

His smile turned wry. Gesturing at his body, he explained further, "It differs. If I take it, I choose where I hurt, I am not lamed by it. / ¥Lªº·L¯ºÅܧá¬nªº¡C ¦b¥Lªº¨­Åé§@¤â¶Õ,¥L§ó¶i¤@¨B¸ÑÄÀ,"¥¦¤£¤@­P¡C ¦pªG§Ú±a¥¦,§Ú¿ï¾Ü§Ú¶Ë®`ªº¦a¤è,§Ú¤£¬O³Q¥¦¥´ªº¡C
You saw, after our match -- I could barely walk, though I defeated you." / §A¬Ý¨£, ¦b§Ú­Ìªº¤ñÁɤ§«á -- §ÚµLªk¨«,ÁöµM§ÚÀ»±Ñ¤F§A¡C"

She nodded, then changed the subject, "I know the spiridium windows are ready to be installed. Has there been a decision on where I'll be moved during the renovation?" / ¦oÂIÀY,µM«á§ïÅܤF¥DÃD,"§Úª¾¹D¡A spiridium µ¡¤á·Ç³Æ¦n³Q¦w¸Ë¡C ¦b¨º¸Ì¤w¸g¬O¨M©w¦b§Ú±N¦b­þ¸Ì¦b­×´_´Á¶¡³Q²¾°Ê?¤§¤W"

He looked away. She cocked her head at him, curiously. He hadn't been discomfited with her since.. well, since she saw his face. / ¥L¬ÝÂ÷¶}¡C ¦oÁq¥ß¤F¦b¥Lªº¦oÀY,¦n©_¦a¡C ¥L¨S¦³¦Û±q©M¦o«á¬O discomfited ¡C¡C ¦n§a¡A¦]¬°¦o¬Ý¨£¥LªºÁy¡C

"Taigh nan Ro`n is finished," he began uncertainly, "I was hoping.. / "Taigh nan Ron ³Q§¹¦¨",¥L¤£½T©w¦a¶}©l ",§Ú§Æ±æ¡C¡C
that is, I.. I was going to offer to put you up there." / ¨º¬O,§Ú¡C¡C §Ú±N­nªí¥Ü¦b¨º¸Ì¬°§A´£¨Ñ¿¯±J¡C"

"You mean... you want me to live with you?" / "§A·N¿×¡C¡C¡C §A·Q­n§Ú©M§A©~¦í?"

"I.. have room." / "§Ú¡C¡C ¦³©Ð¶¡¡C"

"Where would I sleep?" / " §Ú±N·|¦b­þùغÎı©O"?

"There's the couch.. I could.." / "¦³ªø´È¡C¡C §Ú¥i¥H¡C¡C"

"But its your new house!" / " ¦ý¬O¥¦ªº§A·s©Ð¤l"!

"Well?" his voice quavered uncertainly. How do you invite a woman to sleep with you, without looking like scum? / "´é¥X"? ¤£½T©w¦aªº¥LÁn­µ quavered¡C §A¦p¦óÁܽФ@­Ó¤k¤H©M§AºÎı,¤£¹³¯B´í¬Ý?

Her thoughts spun wildly in her head. That night.. the night she saw his face... She had slept with him then. Not sexually, just..slept. / ¦oªº·Qªk³¥©Ê¦a¦b¦oªºÀY¤¤§Ö³t±ÛÂà¡C ¨º©]±ß¡C¡C ©]±ß¦o¬Ý¨£¥LªºÁy¡C¡C¡C ¦o¤w¸g·í®É©M¥LºÎ¡C ¤£¬O©Ê¦a,¥¿ª½ªº¡C¡CºÎ¡C
It had been wonderful, the best sleep she had ever had. Her arms wrapped around him, the world's largest and best teddy bear. She craved that -- but he had been deep in a drugged sleep, barely aware of her presence. She had had to be there, he couldn't be left alone. To face him directly, sleep with him with his awareness? What would he expect of her? The thought chilled her to the bone. / ¥¦¤w¸g¬O¥O¤HÅå©_ªº, ³Ì¦nªººÎ¯v¦o´¿¸g¦³¦³¡C ¦oªº¤âÁu¦b¥L©P³ò¥]¸Ë, ¥@¬Éªº³Ì¤j©M³Ì¦nªº¨àµ£ª±¨ãºµ¡C ¦o´÷±æ¤F¨º -- ¦ý¬O¥L¤w¸g¬O³Q¤UÃĪººÎ¯v²`³B, ´X¥Gª¾¹Dªº¦o¥X²{¡C ¦o¥²¶·¦b¨º¸Ì, ¥LµLªk¦V¥ª©t¿W¡C ¬°¤F­nª½±µ¦a­±¹ï¥L,©M¥L¥H¥LªºÄ±¹îºÎı? ¥L±N·|¦o´Á«Ý¤°»ò? ¨º·Q¤w§Nªº¦o¨ì°©ÀY¡C

He saw her withdraw. Blast! He hastily apologized, then rose to leave, feeling upset and disgusted with himself. Her hand upon his stopped him. / ¥L¬Ý¨£¦oºM¦^¡C ¯e­·! ¥L¥^¦£¦a¹Dºp,µM«á¤W¤ÉÂ÷¶},·Pı©M¥L¦Û¤vÄAÂЦӥB¥O¤H¹½´c¡C ¦b¥Lªº¤§¤Wªý¤î¥Lªº¦o¤â¡C

"Zoltar, wait..," she said, then paused,"I just.. I don't know what to think, what to expect.. I want to believe that you're different from the other men who have...." she couldn't go on. His fingers stroked her chin. / "Zoltar ¡Aµ¥­Ô¡C¡C,"¦o»¡,µM«á¼È°±", ¥¿ª½ªº§Ú¡C¡C §Ú¤£ª¾¹D¸Ó·Q¤°»ò¡A¸Ó´Á«Ý¤°»ò¡C¡C §Ú·Q­n¬Û«H¡A§A¤£¦P©ó¨ä¥Lªº¨k¤H¤w¸g...."¦oµLªkÄ~Äò¡C ¥Lªº¤â«ü¦E§À¼Õ¤F¦oªº¤U¤Ú¡C

"Is that what you think?" he said softly, "No, Princess, that's not what I want. I want you to feel safe, secure," his voice took a teasing tone, "I was not so dead as you might think, that night. I felt you cuddle up to me. I felt your tears. You need that, don't you?" She nodded. "Well, and now's your chance. Would you like to come to Taigh Nan Ro`n with me?" / " ¨º¬O§A·Q¤°»ò"? ¥L¬X©M¦a»¡,"¤£,¤½¥D,¨º¤£¬O§Ú©Ò·Q­nªº¡C §Ú·Q­n§Aı±o¦w¥þªº¡M¦w¤ß,"¥LªºÁn­µ±Ä¨ú¤F¤@­Ó´Û­t©ú·t ",¨º©]±ß§Ú¤£¹³§A¥i¯à·Q¨º»ò¦º¡C §Ú·Pı§A¼¾©ê¥Ñ§Ú¨M©w¡C §Ú·Pı¤F§Aªº²\ºw¡C §A»Ý­n¨º,¤£¬O¶Ü?"¦oÂIÀY¡C "¶â, ©M²{¦bªº§A¾÷·|¡C §AÄ@·N¨ì¹F Taigh Nan Ro n ¥Ñ©ó§Ú?"

Again, she nodded. Might as well take the risk.... / ¦A¤@¦¸¡A¦oÂIÀY¡C ³Ì¦n±Ä¨ú­·ÀI....

* * * / ***

It was nightfall by the time the convertable landed at the clearing, a quarter mile from the house. They skiied into the homestead site, that being the only way to access it. Taigh nan Ro`n was remote, forbidding, inaccessable, private; exactly how Zoltar wanted it. / ¥¦¦b®É¶¡¤§«e¬O³Ä±ß¨º¥iÂà´«ªº¦b²M±½µn³°,¨Ó¦Û©Ð¤lªº¥|¤À¤§¤@­ù¡C ¥L­Ì¶i¤J®a¶é¦ì¸m¤§¤ºªº skiied, ¨º­Ó§@¬°°ß¤@ªº¤èªk¦s¨ú¥¦¡C Taigh nan Ro n ¬O»»»·ªº¡M¥i©Èªº,inaccessable,¤Gµ¥§L; §¹¥þ Zoltar ¦p¦ó·Q­n¥¦¡C

The thought preyed on Princess' mind: The lonliness, the dark, the unfamiliarity, all alone with a dictator who made a regular practice of decimating her homeworld. For a moment, all of the kindnesses were forgotten and she felt naked fear. / ·Qªk¦b Princess' ¤ß¤W®·­¹: lonliness ¡A¶Â·t¡A¤£¿Ë±K,¥þ³¡¿W¦Û¦a©M¤@­Ó¨Ï¤Q¤¤¿ï¤@ªº¦Ñ«È¤á½m²ß¦¨¬°¦oªº homeworld ªº¿WµôªÌ¡C ¤@·|¨à¡A©Ò¦³ªº¤¯·O³£³Q§Ñ°O¡A¦Ó¥B¦o·Pı¤F¨ª»rªº®£Äß¡C

The moment passed. They skiied down the slight basin that led into the house, then took off the nordic gear. Bustling into the house, she heard Zoltar's voice crowing -- Mala had been by. The fireplace and woodstove were stoked and blazing, filling the redwood house with warmth. Princess smiled as he offered her a cup of ti, with which to warm chilled hands. She glanced around the house, then froze as she registered what was on the computer monitor. / ¤ù¨è³q¹L¡C ¥L­Ì skiied åP¸¨¶i¤J©Ð¤l¤§¤º¤Þ¾Éªº·L¤p¬Ö¦a,µM«á²æ±¼ nordic ¤u¨ã¡C º³º³ÄcÄcªº¶i¤J©Ð¤l¤§¤º¡A¦oÅ¥¨ì¤F Zoltar's ªºÁn­µ³Ú¥s -- Mala ¬O³Q¡C ¾ÀÄl©M woodstove ¬O stoked ©M¿K¿Uªº,¶ñ¥R¬õ¦â¤ì§÷¥H·Å·x¦¬®e¡C ·í¥L´£¨Ñ¤F¦o¤@ªM ti ªº®É­Ô¡A¤½¥D·L¯º,ÂǥѸӨº¤@­Ó·Å·x¤w§Nªº¤â¡C ¦o¦b©Ð¤lªº©P³ò¿h°{, ·í¦oµn°O¤F¦b¹q¸£ºÊµø¾¹¤WªºªF¦è¡AµM«á­áµ²¡C

"AIIIIIISHE!!!!!" he screamed, darting for it, "That bitch!!! That slimy, grease-cunted.." and he railed off a stream of profanity, in every language he knew, describing the lowness of his practical-joking sister. Princess was laughing hysterically. / "AIIIIIISHE!!!!!"¥L¦y¥s,¬°¥¦§ë®g ",¨º¤@­Ó¥Àª¯!!! ªdªº,ªo¯×¤k¤H³±³¡ªº¨º¡C¡C"¦Ó¥B¥L¨«¶}¥H¾î¤ì³òÄæ¤@±øªg¦Ã¯«¸t¤£·qªº¤ô¬y,¥H¥Lª¾¹Dªº¨CºØ»y¨¥, ´y­z¥Lªº§C¹ê»Úªº- ¶}ª±¯º©n©f¡C ¤½¥D¥¿¦b·²´µ©³¨½¦a¯º¡C

"You didn't see that!" he screamed at her, "I order you not to have seen that!" She laughed harder, then choked on her ti. The picture had evidently been from Zoltar's private picture files. Princess had tried, out of curiousity, to hack into the directory several times, never succeeding in passing the multiple security locks on it. He changed them more frequently than he changed the codes on the military files (and that, she knew, was often enough!). Evidently, he felt he had something to hide. Well, why not? She understood; she, too, had .gif files, and many she didn't want others to know about. Her sexual tastes were her own business, and what would the other G-Force members think of her if they knew she got turned on by such things? / "§A¨S¦³¬Ý¨£¨º"! ¥L¦b¦o¦y¥s,"§Ú©R¥O§A¤£¤w¸g¬Ý¨ì¨º"! ¦o§ó§V¤O¦a¯º,µM«á¦b¦oªº ti ¤W²¿®§¡C ·Ó¤ù¤w¸g³Q©úÅã¬O±q Zoltar's ¨p¤Hªº·Ó¤ùÀɮסC ¤½¥D¤w¸g¹Á¸Õ,±q curiousity, ¶i¤J¥Ø¿ý¤§¤º¬å¼A¦n´X¦¸, ±q¤£¦¨¥\¦a¸g¹L¦b¥¦¤Wªº¦h¼Ë¦w¥þÂê¡C ¥L§ïÅܤF¥L­Ì¤ñ¥L§ó®É±`¦b­x¨ÆÀɮפWªº±K½X ( ©M­þ¤@,¦oª¾¹D, ®É±`¬O¥R¨¬ªº!)¡C ©úÅã¦a¡A¥L·Pı¥L³Q¦³¬Y¨ÆÂáC ¦n§a, ¬°¤°»ò¤£? ¦o¤F¸Ñ; ¦o¡A¤]¡A¦³¡Cgif ¥Ó½Ð, ©M¦h¼Æ¦o¨S¦³·Q­n¨ä¥¦ª¾¹D¡C ¦pªG¥L­Ì»{ÃѤF¦o³Q¦p¦¹ªº¨Æª«³Q±o¨ì¥´¶}¡A¦oªº©Ê«~À|¬O¦o¦Û¤vªº¥Í·N, ¦Ó¥B¥t¤@­Ó G- ¤O¶qªº¦¨­ûı±o¦o¦p¦ó?

He looked to be thinking the same thing, from the humiliation etched upon his flaming cheeks. She laid her hand upon his shoulder, still giggling, "It's okay, I have .gifs that are similar. Mala must be getting to know me," and she giggled again. / ¥L´Á«Ý·Q¬Û¦Pªº¨Æª«,±q®¢°d¦b¥Lªº¿U¿NÀU¤§¤W»k¨è¡C ¦o¦b¥LªºªÓ¤§¤W©ñ¸m¤F¦oªº¤â,¤´µM¦Y¦Y¦a¯º,"¥¦¬O¦n, §Ú¦³¡C¬Û¦üªº gifs¡C Mala ¤@©w­n¶}©l»{ÃѧÚ,"¦Ó¥B¦o¦A¤@¦¸¦Y¦Y¦a¯º¡C

"I'll kill her," he muttered, "I'll freakin' kill her.. I'll murder the bitch.." / "§Ú±N±þ¦o",¥L³ä³ä¦Û»y ", §Ú±N freakin'±þ¦o¡C¡C §Ú±N¿Ñ±þ¥Àª¯¡C¡C"

"That would just leave you alone. I'm sure she wouldn't have done it if there'd been anyone else, but me" / "¨º±N·|¶È¶È§OºÞ§A¡C §Ú½T©w¦o´N¤£·|°µ¥¦¤F¦pªG¬O¨ä¥L¥ô¦ó¤H , ¦ý¬O§Úªº there'd"

He spun around, glaring at her, "And I heard that 'Ol' Kinky' comment, / ¥L¦bªþªñ§Ö³t±ÛÂà, °{Ä£ªº¦b¦o,"¦Ó¥B§ÚÅ¥¨ì¨º 'Ol' ªÈµ²ªº'·N¨£,
I'll have you know!" / §Ú±NÅý§Aª¾¹D!"

She fell over laughing. He was referring to a time quite a long time ago, when Spectra used a pollution weapon on Earth's oceans. She had no idea *how* he could have overheard, but by now, she didn't doubt it. / ¦o±q¯º¶^¸¨¡C ·íÀWÃШϥΤF¦b¦a²yªº¤j®ü¤Wªº¤@­Ó¦Ã¬VªZ¾¹ªº®É­Ô¥L¥¿¦b«Ü¤[¥H«e¬Û·í´£¤Î¦¸¡C ¦o¤£ª¾¹D *¦p¦ó* ¥L¥i¯àµL·N¤¤Å¥¨ì,¦ý¬O¨ì¦p¤µ¡A¦o¨S¦³ÃhºÃ¥¦¡C
He was railing on about "just what do you think you know about me, anyways??" and she was laughing so hard her ribs were starting to ache. / ¥L¬O§ß¤â¦bÃö©ó¤§¤W "¨s³º§A»{¬°§Aª¾¹D§Ú¤°»ò,µL½×¦p¦ó??" ¦Ó¥B¦o¥¿¦b¯º¦p¦¹Ãø¦oªº¦Ø°©¶}©lµh¡C

"One day," she said, once she'd recovered herself, "You can show me your gif files." / "¤Ñ",¦o»¡, ¤@¥¹¦o¦³§ä¦^¤F¦o¦Û¤v ",§A¯àµ¹§Ú¬Ý§Aªº gif ÀÉ®×".

He knew what she was saying. / ¥Lª¾¹D¤F¦o¥¿¦b»¡ªº¡C

"And," she went on, "Find out if they're physically possible" / "¦Ó¥B",¦oÄ~Äò ", µo²{¦pªG¥L­Ì¨­Åé¤W¥i¯à"

They both cracked up. / ¥L­Ì­Ç³£§Ë¸H¦b¤W­±¡C

That had all been months ago. Her cell's renovations had been completed, but she had never moved back in. All of her belongings had been moved to Taigh nan Ro`n. Mala kept watch on her when Zoltar was away; Mala or Adraig or Nalia or Tonala.. She was also watched by the ro`in, though they watched for different reasons. Now she sat on the rock at the bottom of the bluff, bundled in sweaters, capes and blankets, watching the grey swells wash the beach. Zoltar would come home tonight, and then.... / ¨º¥þ³¡¬O¼Æ­Ó¤ë¥H«e¡C ¦oªº²Ó­M­×´_¤w¸g³Q§¹¦¨¡A¦ý¬O¦o±q¥¼¦V«á¦a²¾°Ê¦b¡C ¦oªº¥þ³¡©Ò¦³ª«¤w¸g³Q²¾¨ì Taigh nan Ron¡C ·í Zoltar ¥X¥hªº®É­Ô¡A Mala ¦b¦o¨­¤Wĵ§Ù; Mala ©Î Adraig ©Î Nalia ©Î Tonala¡C¡C ¦o¤]³Q ro ¬Ý¤F¦b,ÁöµM¥L­Ì¯d·N¤£¦Pªº²z¥Ñ¡C ²{¦b¦o¦bÂ_±Vªº©³³¡§¤¦b©¥¥Û¤W,¦b¤ò¦ç¡AÌa©M¤ò´à¤¤®¹,¬Ý¦Ç¦âªº¼W¤j¬~®üÅy¡C Zoltar ¤µ±ß±N·|¦^®a,µM«á....

Tonight, she had decided. They had talked about it for a long time; their hopes, their fears.. It was a difficult business, the altering of memories, the changing of an experience from one of pain to one of pleasure. / ¤µ±ß¡A¦o¤w¸g¨M©w¡C ¥L­Ì¤w¸g½Í½×¥¦¦³«Üªøªº¤@¬q®É¶¡; ¥L­Ìªº§Æ±æ,¥L­Ìªº®£Äß¡C¡C ¥¦¬O§xÃøªº¥Í·N¡A°O¾Ðªº§ïÅÜ¡A¤@ºØ±qµh­W¤§¤@¨ì§Ö¼Ö¤§¤@ªº¸gÅç§ïÅÜ¡C

She had decided months ago, had asked him to make love to her. He had agreed, then spent the rest of the night kissing her, embracing her, stroking her back, her hips.. not touching her breasts or her thighs. / ¦o¤w¸g¨M©w¼Æ­Ó¤ë¥H«e,¤w¸g­n¨D¥L§@·Rµ¹¦o¡C ¥L¤w¸g¦P·N,µM«áªá¶O¤F§k¦o¡A¾Ö©ê¦o¡A¦E§À¼Õ¦oªº­I³¡¡A¦oªºÁv³¡©]±ßªº¨ä¥¦³¡¤À¡C¡C ¤£¸IIJ¦oªº¯Ý³¡©Î¦oªº¤j»L¡C
That wouldn't come for weeks. When it did, she was truly ready for it, and had accepted the caress without fear. She came to enjoy his touch, so different from the caresses of her previous boyfriends. They had been posessive; he treated her like priceless porcelain. They touched her like they owned her; his touch was reverent, as though priviledged. / ¨º±N¤£ªø¹F¼Æ­Ó¬P´Á¤§¤[¨Ó¡C ·í¥¦°µªº®É­Ô,¦o¯u¹ê¦a°µ¦n·Ç³Æ¥¦, ¦Ó¥B¤w¸g±µ¨ü¨S¦³®£Äߪº·R¼¾¡C ¦o¨Ó¨É¨ü¥LªºÄ²Ä±, ¦p¦¹¤£¦P¦oªº¥ý«e¨kªB¤Íªº·R¼¾¡C ¥L­Ì¤w¸g¬O posessive; ¥L¹ï«Ý¤F¦oªº¬Û¦üµL»ùªººÏ¾¹¡C ¥L­Ì±µÄ²¦oªº¹³¥L­Ì¾Ö¦³¤F¦o; ¥LªºÄ²Ä±¬O´L·qªº, ¦n¹³ priviledged¡C
They were demanding; he asked her permission for everything, whether by his words or his touch or his shining, luminous eyes. She had refused once, apprehensive, fearful of scorn or derision; neither were forthcoming, and she drew strength from his acceptance. / ¥L­Ì¥¿¦b­n¨D; ¥L¬°¨C¥ó¨Æª«°Ý¤F¦oªº³\¥i,¬O§_ÂǵۥL©Ò»¡ªº¸Ü©Î¥LªºÄ²Ä±©Î¥L°{Ã{¡Aµo¥úª`·N¡C ¦o¤w¸g©Úµ´¤@¦¸,´m´m¤£¦wªº, ®£©È»´½°©Î¼J¯º; ¬J¤£¬O¤£¤[´N­n¨Óªº¡A¦Ó¥B¦o¤Þ°_¨Ó¦Û¥Lªº»{¦P¤O¶q¡C

But tonight... / ¦ý¬O¤µ±ß¡C¡C¡C

Yes, tonight would be different. Tonight would be magical. Tonight, all of the memories would be relegated to the past, to be replaced by something new. He loved her. She knew that, it was in his voice, in his touch, in the way he walked when he was near her; he told her, not too frequently, but saving it for moments when it would truly matter. / ¬Oªº¡A¤µ±ß±N·|¬O¤£¦Pªº¡C ¤µ±ß±N·|¬OÅ]³Nªº¡C ¤µ±ß¡A©Ò¦³ªº°O¾Ð³£±N·|³Q©R¥OºMÂ÷¨ì¹L¥h, ³Q·sªºªF¦è´À´«¡C ¥L·R¦o¡C ¦oª¾¹D,¦b¥LªºÄ²Ä±¤¤¥¦¬O¦b¥LªºÁn­µ¤¤, ¦b¥L¨«ªº¤è¦¡¤¤·í¥L¦b¦oªºªþªñ®É­Ô; ¥L§i¶D¤F¦o, ¤£¤Ó®É±`, ¦ý¬O´©±Ïªº¥¦¥¦±N·|¯u¹ê¦a¦³­«¤jÃö«Yªº¤ù¨è¡C
Often enough to convince her. She knew that she returned that love. I wonder what Mark would make of that, she mused, smiling to herself. / ®É±`¨¬°÷¨Ï¦o¬Û«H¡C ¦oª¾¹D¤F¦oÂkÁÙ¤F¨º·R¡C §ÚÃhºÃ°¨§J±N·|¨º»s³yªº,¦o¨I«ä,¹ï¦o¦Û¤v·L¯º¡C

A head poked out of the water to look at her. As she watched, unmoving, a ro`n slowly pulled itself out of the sea. It used a humping crawl like that of a seal, to propell itself over the sand towards her. Its black hair streamed, otterlike, over its shoulders. / ¤@­ÓÀY¼·¶}Â÷¤ô¬Ý¦o¡C ·í¦o¬Ý,¤£²¾°Ê,ron ºCºC¦aÂ÷¶}®ü¬v©Ô¤F¥¦¥»¨­¡C ¥¦¨Ï¥Î¤F¹³¦L³¹ªº¤@¼Ë¶©°_¦¨¶ê¥C§Îª¦¦æ,¨ì¦b¨F¤l¤Wªº propell ¥»¨­¦V¦o¡C ¥¦ªº¶Â¦âÀY¾v¬y¥X,otterlike,¦b¥¦ªºªÓ¤§¤W¡C
Its whiskers were thick and coarse; male? She thought so. She watched the ro`n come closer, curiosity written on his face. / ¥¦ªº¸|Ž¬O«pªº©M²ÊÁWªº; ¨k¤H? ¦o³o»ò·Q¡C ¦o¬Ý¤F ro n ¨Ó¤ñ¸û¾aªñªº,¦b¥LªºÁy¤W³Q¼gªº¦n©_¤ß¡C

Zoltar had said they were sapient, related more closely to the Spectran humans than the Terrans were to apes. They had been hominid, he said. / Zoltar ¤w¸g»¡¡A¥L­Ì¬O¸ËÁo©ú¼Ëªº, §óÄY±K¹ï Spectran ¤HÃþ¬ÛÃö³Ó©ó Terrans ¬O¨ì·á¡C ¥L­Ì¤w¸g¬O­ì©l¤HÃþ,¥L»¡¡C
Yes, she thought, looking at the ro`n; the flippers could have been feet, the face apeish, with a short muzzle. The hand was similar to her hand; thicker, with shorter, stubbier fingers. Zoltar had said that the ri, the merfolk of the southern hemisphere, had hands identical to humans, with similar faces. / ¬Oªº¡A¦o·Q,¬Ý ron; Å_ª¬ªÏ¥i¯à¬O¸}¡AÁy apeish,ÂǥѤ@­Óµu°Êª«¤§»ó¤f¡C ¤â»P¦oªº¤âÃþ¦ü; §ó«p¦a,ÂǥѤñ¸ûµu¤S¤ñ¸ûÂ_®è¤@¯ëªº¤â«ü¡C Zoltar ¤w¸g»¡ ri ¡A«n¤èªº¥b²y merfolk, ¦³¤â»P¤HÃþ¬Û¦P,ÂǥѬۦüªºÁy¡C

Earth and Spectra, she mused again. How was it that the two seemed so linked? The ri, the ro`in -- Zoltar's racial ancestry, from the Magh / ¦a²y©MÀWÃÐ,¦o¦A¤@¦¸¨I«ä¡C ¥¦¦n¶Ü¨º¤G³o»ò¦ü¥G³s±µ? ri,ro ¦b -- Zoltar's ªººØ±Ú¯ª¥ý,±q Magh
Tuireach region of Lower Feileidh, they were much as the Tuatha de / ¸û§Cªº Feileidh ªº Tuireach °Ï°ì, ¥L­Ì¦h·í°µ Tuatha de
Danann were described in Scotland and Ireland. Adraig's race, from / Danann ¦bĬ®æÄõ©M·Rº¸Äõ³Q´y­z¡C Adraig's ªº¤ñÁÉ,±q
Upper Fheidhleich -- he was slimmer than most of them, but shared their characteristics of heavy bones, stout bodies and heavy body hair. A sea people, fisherfolk, who wore the sleek, seal-like pelts of bhariche, their womenfolk as lovely and delicate as the men were sturdy -- did they not match the descriptions handed down of the Selkies, the seal people? Yet here, in front of her, was a genuine selkie. / ¤W­±ªº Fheidhleich-- ¥L¬O¤ñ¥L­Ì¤j³¡¥÷´îªÎªÌ, ¦ý¬O¤À¨É¤F¥L­Ìªº­«°©ÀYªº¯S©Ê¡A¯P°à°sÅé©M­«ªº¨­ÅéÀY¾v¡C ¹³¨k¤H¬O±j°·ªº¤@¼Ë¥i·Rªº©M²Ó½oÀu¶®¬ïµÛ¤F bhariche ªº¥ú·Æ¤S¹³¦L³¹¤@¼Ë¤ò¥Ö¡A¥L­Ìªº°ü¤k¤@­Ó®ü¬v¤H,fisherfolk-- ¥L­Ì¨S»P Selkies ³Q¶Ç»¼¤U¨Óªº´y­z¬Û°t¶Ü? ¦L³¹¤H ¤´µM¦b³o¸Ì,¦b¦o¤§«e,¬O¯u¥¿ªº selkie¡C

She smiled as he stared at her. His blunted hand reached out to touch her ankle, then snatched back as though burnt. An angry bark broke the silence and the ro`n hurled himself to the sand, hurrying towards the waves. A young one, she realised. Just entered puberty? Probably; he was nearly full sized. The ro`n who had called him must be his parent, she thought. / ·í¥L¨nµÛ¦o¬Ýªº®É­Ô¡A¦o·L¯º¡C ¥Lªº¶w¤â±µÄ²¸IIJ¦oªº¸}½ï, µM«á¦V«á¦a¹Ü¨ú¦n¹³¿U¿N¡C ¤@¤ù¥Í®ðªº§pÁnÂ_±¼¤F¨HÀq©M ron ¹ï¨F¤l¥Î¤O§ëÂY¤F¥L¦Û¤v,¦Vªi®ö¶Ê«P¡C ¤@­Ó¦~»´ªº,¦o¤F¸Ñ¡C ­è­è¶i¤J¤F«ä¬K´Á? ¥i¯à; ¥L´X¥G§¹¥þ¦a³Q«ö³W©w¤Ø¤o»s§@¡C ro n ½Ö¤w¸g¥´¹q¸Üµ¹¥L¤@©w¬O¥Lªº¤÷¥À,¦o·Q¡C

Her mind returned to the problem of Earth and Spectra. They were too close, yet how was it possible? The fossil records showed humans to have lived on Earth for over 35,000 years -- they had gone through an / ¦oªº¤ß¦^¨ì¦a²y©MÀWÃЪº°ÝÃD¡C ¥L­Ì¤Ó±µªñ,µM¦Ó¥¦¦p¦ó¥i¯àªº? ¦¨¤Æ¥Ûªº¬ö¿ýÅã¥Ü¤F¤HÃþ¤w¸g­Ê¿à¦a²y¥Í¬¡¹F¶W¹L 35,000 ¦~¤§¤[ -- ¥L­Ì¤w¸g¬ï¹L¤@
Ice Age. Spectra's humanity was undergoing an industrial revolution at the time Earth's humans were just figuring out how to make fire from flints. Earth's fossil records showed the human ancestry, through Homo erectus and habilis, through the Australopithecines and back through / ¦B­á¦~ÄÖ¡C ÀWÃЪº¤H©Ê¥¿¦b¨º®É¾ú¸g¤@­Ó²£·~­²©R¦a²yªº¤HÃþ¥¿¦b¶È¶È²z¸Ñ¸Ó¦p¦ó§Q¥Î¥´¤õ¥Û°µ¦¨¤õ¡C ¸g¹L Homo erectus ©M habilis ¦a²yªº¦¨¤Æ¥Ûªº¬ö¿ýÅã¥Ü¤F¤HÃþ¯ª¥ý, ¸g¹L Australopithecines ©M­I­±¬ï¶V
Ramapithecus -- yet similar fossil identities were found on Spectra. / Ramapithecus-- ¤´µM¬Û¦üªº¦¨¤Æ¥Ûªº¨­¥÷¦bÀWÃФW³Qµo²{¡C
Other hominids, like the ri and ro`in, were alive on Spectra, yet mere myth on Earth. The Spectrans had myths about great, tusked mammals, with noses like snakes; snake-deer, who fed on the branches of trees; a bizarre creature, composed of ro`in, mole and waterfowl -- it had taken her little to recognise Earth's own, living, elephants, giraffes and duck-billed platypus. / ¨ä¥Lªº­ì©l¤HÃþ, ¹³ ri ©M ro¦b,¬O¬¡µÛªº¦bÀWÃÐ , µM¦Ó¤p´ò¦b¦a²y¤Wªº¯«¸Ü¤W¡C Spectrans ¦³¤FÃö©ó¤j®vªº¯«¸Ü,³Q¥H¤ú¨ëÂWªº­÷¨Å°Êª«, »P»ó¤l³ßÅw³D; ³D-³À,¥H¾ðªº¾ðªK¬°­¹; ©_²§ªº¥Íª«,ro ²Õ¦¨¦b, µi©M waterfowl-- ¥¦¤w¸g±Ä¨ú¦oªº¤@ÂIÂI©Ó»{¦a²yªº¦Û¤v,¥Í¬¡¡A¶H¡A giraffes ©MÀn¤l°e±b³æªº platypus¡C

Tath La`an, she thought. The Lost Continent of Atlantis? The legends of the Ragnarok, the Armageddon -- they had long been thought to have been prophecies of nuclear war. Could they have been memories of an event that happened here? How? / Tath La¤@,¦o·Q¡C ¨È¯SÄõ´£´µªº¥¢¥h¤j³°? ¸Uª«·Àµ´ªº¶Ç»¡, ¥@¬É¥½¤éµ½´c¨M¾Ôªº¾Ô³õ -- ¥L­Ì¤w¸g³Q¤[»{¬°¤w¸g¬O®Ö¾Ôªº¹w¨¥¡C ¥L­Ì¥i¥H¤w¸g¬O¤@¥ó¦b³o¸Ìµo¥Íªº¨Æ¥ó°O¾Ð¶Ü? ¦p¦ó?

How.. that was the eternal question. The more she saw, the more questions there were. / ¦p¦ó¡C¡C ¨º¬O¥Ã«íªº°ÝÃD¡C §ó¦h¦o¬Ý¨£,§ó¦hªº°ÝÃD¦³¡C

Mala was descending the path to the stony beach, a vacuum bottle in her hand. She smiled as she approached, noting the marks in the sand from the ro`n's passage. / Mala ¬O­°¨ì­±µLªí±¡®üÅyªº¸ô®|,¦oªº¤â¤@¤ä¯uªÅ²~¤l¡C ·í¦o±µªñªº®É­Ô¡A¦o·L¯º,ª`·N¨Ó¦Û ro ªº¨F¤l¼Ð»xn's ªº³q¹D¡C

"They've been investigating you?" Princess nodded. "I thought they might. They've never seen an Earth person before and are curious as to how different you might be." / "¥L­Ì¤w¸g½Õ¬d§A"? ¤½¥DÂIÀY¡C "§Ú·Q¥L­Ì¥i¯à¡C ¥L­Ì±q¥¼¬Ý¨ì¤@­Ó¦a²y¤H¦b©M¤§«e¬O¦n©_ªºÃö©ó¦p¦ó¤£¦Pªº§A¥i¯à¬O¡C"

"That's what I've been thinking. We're not different at all. / "¨º¬O§Ú©Ò¤w¸g·Qªº¡C §Ú­Ì¤@ÂI¤]¤£¬O¤£¦P¡C
Genetically, we're identical to you. The only differences are in how you've adapted to your planet, we to ours." / ¿ò¶Ç°ò¦]¦a¡A§Ú­Ì©M§A¬Û¦P¡C °ß¤@ªº¤£¦P¬O¦b§A¦p¦ó¤w¸g¾AÀ³§Aªº¦æ¬P, §Ú­Ì¨ì§Ú­Ìªº¡C"

Mala nodded. It was as much a puzzle to them as it was to Princess. / Mala ÂIÀY¡C ¥¦¬O·í°µ¦h¤@­ÓÁ¼ÃD¹ï¥L­Ì·í¥¦¬O¹ï¤½¥D¡C
They all wondered the same things -- Who had come from where, how and why? / ¥L­Ì¥þ³¡ÃhºÃ¤F¬Û¦Pªº¨Æª« -- ½Ö¤w¸g¨Ó¦Û¦b­þ¸Ì, ¦p¦ó©M¬°¤°»ò?

"Are you looking forward to tonight?" / " §A¥¿¦b¤µ±ß´Á±æ"?

Princess nodded, smiling. She had found Mala as easy to talk to as / ¤½¥DÂIÀY,·L¯º¡C ¦o¤w¸gµo²{ Mala ¦p®e©öªº»¡¸Ü¨ì·í°µ
Zoltar, and delighted in having a real girlfriend; someone with whom she could share her deepest thoughts, her fears, her feelings. Mala, in turn, had found someone in whom she could confide her fears about her brother, herself, her work. Friends were hard to find on Spectra, and Princess' life didn't allow her the luxury. / Zoltar, ¦Ó¥B¨Ï¦b¦³¤@­Ó¯u¥¿ªº¤kªB¤Í¤è­±°ª¿³; ¦o¥i¥H³Ì²`¤J¦a¤À¨É¦o·Qªk¡A¦oªº®£Ä߬Y¤H,¦oªº·Pı¡C Mala,¨Ì¦¸ , ¤w¸gµo²{¦o¥i¥H¦RÅSÃö©ó¦oªº¥S§Ì¦o®£Äߪº¬Y¤H,¦o¦Û¤v,¦oªº¤u§@¡C ªB¤Í¬O§xÃø¦bÀWÃФWµo²{¡A¦Ó¥B Princess' ¥Í¬¡¨S¦³¤¹³\¦oªº»¨µØ¡C

They sat in silence, drinking the herb ti from the vacuum flask, watching the grey sky and greyer waters. Ro`in, bharichean, and other unidentified sea creatures sported in the surf. The wind picked up threads of Mala's unbound hair. It was nearly as long as her brother's, and as rich. Princess' own black hair, grown longer during her sojourn, blew in strands about her face. Occasionally the wind would pass the two colours over each other, making tangles the two women laughingly unsnarled. / ¥L­Ì¦b¨HÀq¤è­±§¤,³Ü¨Ó¦Û¯uªÅ²ÓÀV²~ªºÃįó ti ¡A¬Ý¦Ç¦âªº¤ÑªÅ©M¸û¦Ç¦âªº¤ô°ì¡C Ro¦b,bharichean,¦Ó¥B¨ä¥Lªº¥¼¸g½T»{ªº®ü¬v¥Íª«¦b®ü®ö¤¤¹CÀ¸¡C ­·¬B°_ Mala's ªº¤wÀò±o¦Û¥ÑªºÀY¾v½u¡C ¥¦¬O´X¥G¹³¦oªº¥S§Ì¤@¼Ëªºªø, ©M¦p´I¦³ªº¡C Princess' ¾Ö¦³¶Â¦âªºÀY¾v¥H¦b¦oªº³r¯d´Á¶¡³QÅܤñ¸ûªø,¦b¦oªºÁyªþªñªºÀؤ¤§j¡C ¦³®É­Ô­·±N·|³q¹L¦b©¼¦¹¤Wªº¤G­ÓÃC¦â,»s³yÄñµ²¤G­Ó¤k¤H¯ºµÛ¦a¸Ñ¶}µ²¤l¡C

"What's it like?" Princess asked softly. / "¥¦¹³¬Æ»ò"? ¤½¥D¬X©M¦a°Ý¡C

Mala continued to gaze at the sea. "It's different when you want it. / Mala Ä~Äòª`µø®ü¬v¡C "·í§A·Q­n¥¦ªº®É­Ô¡A¥¦¬O¤£¦Pªº¡C
Your body changes, becomes accomodating. It might hurt, it might not. / §Aªº¨­Åé§ïÅÜ,Åܦ¨®e¯Ç¡C ¥¦¥i¯à¶Ë®`, ¥¦¤£¥i¯à¡C
It won't hurt as much as when you're forced, and it's a different kind of hurt," she shrugged, "You've already lost the physical barriers; they're what make a lot of the pain for a first time. I think what will hurt more will be the memories." / ¥¦±N¤£¶Ë®`·í°µ¦h·í°µ·í§A³Q±j­¢¡A¦Ó¥B¥¦¬O¤£¦PÃþ«¬ªº¶Ë®`®É­Ô,"¦oÁqªÓ ",§A¤w¸g¥¢¥h¹ê»Úªº»Ùê¤F; ¥L­Ì¬O»s³y³\¦h²Ä¤@­Ó¦¸ªºµh­WªF¦è¡C §Ú»{¬°¡A±N¶Ë®`§ó¦h·N§ÓªºªF¦è¬O°O¾Ð¡C"

Princess nodded. The memories had interfered with their explorations, over the months. Fear was strong for both of them; they had both suffered much. For her, each act had its repellant associations: For him... well, simply being touched was bad enough. / ¤½¥DÂIÀY¡C ¦b¼Æ­Ó¤ë¥H¨Ó°O¾Ð¤w¸g¤zÂZ¥L­Ìªº±´ÀI¡C ®£Äß¹ï¥L­Ì¨â­Ó¬O±jªº; ¥L­Ì¨â­Ó¤w¸g¦h¾D¨ü¡C ¬°¦o¡A¨C­Ó¦æ¬°¦³¤F¥¦ªº±Æ¥¸¨ó·|: ´N¥L¦Ó¨¥¡C¡C¡C ¦n§a¡A¥u¬Oºë¯«¥¢±`°÷Ãaªº¡C

"What does it feel like? Is it different, too?" / "¥¦·Pı°_¨Ó¹³¤°»ò? ¥¦¤]¬O¤£¦Pªº¶Ü?"

Mala smiled warmly, closing her eyes, remembering her first time -- and all the times after it that she had chosen. "Yes, it's very different. / Mala ¿Ë¤Á¦a·L¯º,Ãö³¬¦oªº²´·ú, °O±o¦oªº²Ä¤@®É¶¡ -- ¦Ó¥B©Ò¦³ªº®É¥N¦b¥¦¤§«á¦o¦³¿ï¾Ü¡C "¬Oªº¡A¥¦«D±`¤£¦P¡C
It's hard to describe..you feel full and stretched, but it doesn't hurt, it feels good. And if he touches your cervix..Mm!" She turned her shining green eyes to look into Princess', "And of course, there's that great ego-stroke of knowing you're driving him crazy. You can twist, flex, turn, use muscles you didn't even know you had, let alone control.. and all the while you're bringing new sounds from his throat, new expressions to his face. It's pretty great," she summerized. / ´y­z¬O§xÃø¡C¡C§Aı±o¥Rº¡¦Ó¥B¦ù®i¡A¦ý¬O¥¦¤£¶Ë®`,¥¦Ä±±oµÎªA¡C ¦Ó¥B¦pªG¥L¸IIJ§Aªº¤l®cÀV¡C¡C¤½Âç!"¦oÂà¦V¤F¦o¥ú«Gªººñ¦â²´·ú½Õ¬d Princess'", ©M·íµM,¦³¨º¤@­Ó¤j®v¦Û§Ú- ª¾¹Dªºµ§¹º§A¥¿¦b§â¥L¹GºÆ¡C §A¯àÀ¾,Ås¦±,Âà, ¨Ï¥Î¦Ù¦×§A¬Æ¦Ü¨S¦³ª¾¹D§A¦³,¿W¦Û¦aÅý±±¨î¡C¡C ¦Ó¥B©Ò¦³ªº¨º·í§A¥¿¦b±a¨Ó¦Û¥Lªº«|³ï·sÁn­µªº®É­Ô,¥¿¹ïµÛªº·sªí¹F¡C ¥¦¬Oº}«Gªº¤j®v," ¦o summerized¡C

"That sounds like the understatement of the year!" Princess laughed. / "¨ºÅ¥°_¨Ó¹³¨º¦~ªº¥´µÛ§é¦©»¡¤@¼Ë"! ¤½¥D¯º¡C

"It is. But you'll know.. You'll find out." / "¥¦¬O¡C ¦ý¬O§A±Nª¾¹D¡C¡C §A±Nµo²{¡C"

"I hope so. You've been right about everything else, so far. Thank you." / "§Ú³o»ò§Æ±æ¡C ¨ì²{¦b¬°¤î§A¤w¸gÃö©ó¨ä¥L¨C¥ó¨Æª«¬O¥¿½T¦a¡C ÁÂÁ§A¡C"

"Hey, you think I want my brother to be a lousy lover?? If I can give him any benefit of experience, I will! I know he wants to be good for you, and I do too. I want you both to learn what I learned." / "¶Ù,§A»{¬°§Ú·Q­n§Úªº¥S§Ì¬O¦Ã©ªº·R¤H?? ¦pªG§Ú¯àµ¹¸gÅ窺¥ô¦ó¨ü¯qªº¥L,§Ú¨M·N! §Úª¾¹D¡A¥L·Q­n¹ï§A¬O¦nªº¡A¦Ó¥B§Ú¤]°µ¡C §Ú·Q­n§A¨â­Ó¾Ç²ß§Ú©Ò¾Ç²ßªº¡C"

Tears sprang to Princess' cobalt eyes. Why was it she had to become a prisoner to find real friends? / ²\ºw¸õ¨ì Princess' ¹W²´·ú¡C ¬°¤°»ò¬O¥¦¦o¥²¶·¦¨¬°¤@­Ó¥}¥Çµo²{¯u¥¿ªºªB¤Í?

* * * / ***

The convertable had arrived, the snow brushed off and a light meal taken. Mala had left, with reminders that she would be back to help with breakfast. Conversation had flowed, life was bitched about, and finally they sat silent, their arms around each other, staring at the fire. / ¥iÂà´«ªÌ¤w¸g¨ì¹F, ³·©Úµ´©M³Q®³ªº»´¤@À\¡C Mala ¤w¸g¯d¤U,»P´£¿ôªº¤H¦o±N·|¥H¦­À\¦^¨ÓÀ°§U¡C ¥æ½Í¤w¸g¬y°Ê, ¥Í¬¡¨ì³B³Q¥Àª¯¡A¦Ó¥B³Ì«á¥L­Ì§¤µÛ¨HÀqªº, ¥L­Ìªº¤âÁu¦b©¼¦¹ªº©P³ò,¨nµÛ¤õ¬Ý¡C

"How do you feel?" she asked at last. She had grown more fluent in / "§A·Pı¦p¦ó"? ¦o³Ì«á°Ý¡C ¦o¤w¸gÅܧó¬y§Qªº¦b
Lower Feileidh, and spoke it now more often than English. He turned to look at her. His eyes were hidden by the mask, yet she could still feel the tenderness in his face. / ¸û§Cªº Feileidh, ¦Ó¥B²{¦b»¡¤F¥¦§ó®É±`¶W¹L­^°ê»y¡C ¥L·Ç³Æ¬Ý¦o¡C ¥Lªº²´·ú³Q°²­±¨ãÂäF,µM¦Ó¦o¥i¥H¤´µM¥¿¹ïµÛ·Pı¬X³n¡C

"Scared," he admitted, "I'm afraid of hurting you." / ÅåÀ~,¥L©Ó»{ ",§Ú®`©È¶Ë®`§A".

She smiled shyly, remembering Mala's words, "I'll tell you if it does." / ¦o®`²Û¦a·L¯º,°O±o Mala's ªº¦r,"¦pªG¥¦°µ¡A§Ú±N§i¶D§A" ¡C
Their lips met. / ¥L­Ìªº®B¸I¨ì¡C

She too had heard the whispered rumours, and knew the truth of them. / ¦o¤w¸g¤]Å¥¨ì³Q¦Õ»yªº¶Ç»D, ¦Ó¥Bª¾¹D¤F¥L­Ìªº¨Æ¹ê¡C
Supple indeed, were the lips of Zoltar; she well understood the / ¬X³nªº½T,¬O Zoltar ªº®B; ¦o´é¥X¤F¸Ñ¨º
Spectran women's fascination with full lips, understood why the men were envious of their Leader. His kisses were sweet, his tongue quick and light. He pulled her lower lip lightly with his teeth, sending a shiver down her spine. She had never thought of her lips as an erogenous zone -- yet, at least with Zoltar, she responded quickly. / ©M§¹¾ãªº®B Spectran ¤k¤HªºÅ]¤O,¤F¸Ñ¤F¨k¤H¬°¤°»ò¹ï¥L­Ìªº»â³S¬O¶ú§ªªº¡C ¥Lªº§k¬O²¢»e¡A§Öªº©M»´¥L¦Þ¡C ¥L»´»´ªº¥H¥L¤ú¾¦©Ô¤F¦o¸û§Cªº®B, °e¤@¥´Å¸¤U¨Ó¦oªº¯á´Õ¡C ¦o±q¥¼§â¦oªº®B·í°µ¤@­Ó©Ê·P±a -- ¤´µM¡A¦Ü¤Ö¥H Zoltar ¡A¦o¦^À³±o«Ü§Ö¡C

Gently, she peeled a glove down his arm, off his fingertips. He had removed the tiny blades from his nails and the pink beds caught the firelight, turning salmon in the golden light. She kissed the pad of each finger, traced the scars on his wrists with her tongue. The other glove came off and the process was repeated. He bent to remove his thigh-high boots, rolling the suede over his legs. The belt came off next, then he reached up. / ¦b¥Lªº«ü¦y¥~³vº¥¦a¡A¦o§â¤@Âù¤â®M¥Lªº¤âÁu¥Ö¤U¨Ó¡C ¥L¤w¸g§â·¥¤pªº¤M¾W±q¥Lªº°v¤l²¾¶}¡A¦Ó¥B¯»¬õªº§É®·®»¤F¤õ¥ú,Âàª÷ªº¥úÂD³½¡C ¦o§k¤F¨C®Ú¤â«üªº¶ñ¸É,¥Î¦oªº¦Þ°lÂܦb¥Lªº¤âµÃ¤Wªº¬Í²ª¡C ¥t¤@­Ó¤â®M²æ¸¨¡A¦Ó¥Bµ{§Ç³Q­«½Æ¡C ¥LÅs¦±°£¥h¥Lªº¤j»L- °ªªºªø¹u,ºu°Ê¦b¥Lªº»L¤Wµ³­±­²¡C ±a¤lµM«á²æ¸¨, µM«á¥L¨ì¹F¦b¤W­±¡C

The mask was pulled away, and the silken hair cascaded down over his shoulders. He shook it into place, pulling out the pins, then looked at her shyly. / °²­±¨ã³Q¶}¨«¡A¦Ó¥Bº÷ªºÀY¾v¦b¥LªºªÓ¤§¤W¦¨Âr¥¬¸¨¤U¤U¨Ó¡C ¥L·n°Ê¥¦¶i¦a¤è,©Ô¥X¤jÀY°w,µM«á®`²Û¦a¬Ý¦o¡C

"Will you brush it for me?" / "§A±N¬°§Ú²¨¨ê¥¦¶Ü"?

Her heart stopped. Tears sprang into her eyes as she nodded. She had been offered a monumental honour, as great as the honour she offered him. She jumped up to find a hairbrush. He had finished undressing when she returned. / ¦oªº¤ß°±¤î¡C ·í¦oÂIÀYªº®É­Ô¡A²\ºw¶i¤J¦oªº²´·ú¤§¤º¸õ¡C ¦o¤w¸g³Q´£¨Ñ¤@­Ó¬ö©À¸Oªº¥úºa,¹³¥úºa¤@¼Ëªº´Î¦o´£¨Ñ¤F¥L¡C ¦o¸õÅD¦b¤W­±µo²{¤@­Ó¾v¨ê¡C ·í¦oÂkÁÙªº®É­Ô¡A¥L¤w¸g²æ¥h¦çªA§¹¡C

She positioned him facing a window. The moons gazed down upon them, but more importantly, the firelight reflected off the spiridium glass. / ¦o©ñ¸m¤F¥L­±¹ï¤@®°µ¡¤á¡C ½Ã¬Pª`µø¥L­Ì¡A¦ý¬O§ó­«­n¡A¤õ¥ú¨«¶}¤Ï¬M spiridium ¬Á¼þ¡C
She would be reflected too, reminding him of who was touching him. / ¦o±N·|¤]³Q¤Ï¬M, ¨Ï¥L·Q°_½Ö¥¿¦b¸IIJ¥L¡C

His eyes were closed, the tension showing. His knuckles were white and he swallowed audibly. She remembered doing the same things, when she first touched him, a task of as much significance. / ¥Lªº²´·ú³QÃö³¬,ºò±i¦¨ÁZ¡C ¥Lªº«ü¸`¬O¥Õ¦âªº¡A¦Ó¥B¥L¥iÅ¥¨£¦a§]¡C ·í¦o³Ìªì¸I¤F¥Lªº®É­Ô¦o°O±o¤w¸g°µ¬Û¦Pªº¨Æª«,·í°µ«Ü¦hªº­«­n©Êªº¤@¥ó¤u§@¡C

Gently she touched the fall of shining, tangled strands. Then she applied the brush, straightening the mass, bringing them to order. His hair was like sandwashed silk, with an almost-powdery feel, exquisite and opulent. She understood why it had drawn such attention -- the beauty of it delighted the eye, invited the touch. The feel of it invited more. / ³vº¥¦a¦o¸IIJ¤F°{Ã{ªº¬î¤Ñ,¨ÏÄñµ²ÀØ¡C µM«á¦oÀ³¥Î¤F¨ê¤l, ÁBª½¤j²³,¨Ï¥L­Ìµd¿ô©R¥O¡C ¥LªºÀY¾v¹³ sandwashed µ·, ¥Ñ©ó¤@´X¥G- ¯»ª¬ªº·Pı,ºë½oªº©MÂ׸Ϊº¡C ¦o¤F¸Ñ¤F¥¦¬°¤°»ò¤w¸g¤Þ°_¦p¦¹ªºª`·N -- ¥¦ªº¬ü¤H¨Ï²´·ú´r§Ö¤F,ÁܽÐIJı¡C ¨º·Pı¥¦³QÁܽЧó¦h¡C

She worked quickly, but gently. "Are you okay?" she asked. He nodded, "It feels different when you do it," he replied in a whisper. / ¦o¤u§@±o«Ü§Ö, ¦ý¬O³vº¥¦a¡C " §A¬O¦n"? ¦o°Ý¡C ¥LÂIÀY,"·í§A°µ¥¦ªº®É­Ô¡A¥¦Ä±±o¤£¦P",¥L¦b¦Õ»y¤¤µªÂСC
Tears glistened on his lashes. She stroked his hair, admiring the length of it, then buried herself in it, nuzzling the nape of his neck. / ²\ºw¦b¥LªºÃ@¤l¤W°{«G¡C ¦o¦E§À¼Õ¤F¥LªºÀY¾v¡AÆg½àªº¥¦ªø«×, µM«á®IÀY©ó¥¦,±N»ó´¡¤J¥Lªº²ä¤l¶µ¡C
Rooting through it, she found his ear and nibbled lightly, flicking the lobe with her tongue. / ´Ó®Ú¹L¥¦,¦o»´»´ªºµo²{¤F¥Lªº¦Õ¦·¦Ó¥B¤@ÂI¤@ÂI¦a«r,¥Î¦oªº¦Þ»´¼u¶ê§Î¬ð¥X³¡¡C

His face had relaxed, a soft, relieved pleasure putting a slight curve to his lips. She played with it some more, holding up handfuls and letting them fall, watching the way they broke the light. The hair felt almost frictionless, like holding strands of light. Such a gift, to have such hair, and she the only person priviledged to enjoy it. / ¥LªºÁy¤w¸g©ñÃP,¬X³n,´î»´¤F©ñ¹ï¥Lªº®B¤@­Ó·L¤pªº¦±½u§Ö¼Ö¡C ¦o©M¥¦ª±¤F¦A¦h¤@¨Ç,¦b¤Ö¼Æ¤W­±´¤¦í©M¨Ï¥L­Ì¸¨¤U¡A¬Ý¥L­ÌÂ_±¼¤F¥úªº¤è¦¡¡C ÀY¾vı±o´X¥GµL¼¯À¿,³ßÅw´¤¦í¥úªºÀØ¡C ¤@­Ó¦p¦¹Â§ª«, ¦³¦p¦¹ªºÀY¾v, ©M¦o°ß¤@ªº¤H priviledged ¨É¨ü¥¦¡C
Not even Mala could delight in his hair. She stroked the roots, at his scalp, then drew her hands away down the strands. She stopped close to two feet left to go; she had run out of arm. / ¤£¬O¥­©Zªº Mala ¥i¥H¹ï¥LªºÀY¾v«Ü³ßÅw¡C ¦o¦E§À¼Õ¤F®Ú,¦b¥LªºÀY¥Ö, µM«á©Ô¦oªº¤â¤§»·åP¸¨ÀØ¡C ¦o¦b¤G§`ªºªþªñ°±¤îÂ÷¶}¥h; ¦o¤w¸g¥Î¥ú¤âÁu¡C

She knew when to stop, and did. They embraced, kissed, caressed and she peeled off her own clothes. Soon they were both nude, the firelight golden on their skins. / ¦oª¾¹D¦ó®É¸Ó°±¤î, ¦Ó¥B°µ¡C ¥L­Ì¾Ö©ê,§k, ·R¼¾¡A¦Ó¥B¦o«d¨«¶}¦o¦Û¤vªº¦çªA¥Ö¤F¡C «Ü§Ö¥L­Ì¨â­Ó¬O»rªº,ª÷¦b¥L­Ìªº¥Ö½§¤Wªº¤õ¥ú¡C

His body was not pretty. His lines were pleasing enough, slim, slightly bony, the muscles defined; a sleek form, like that of a biathlete, a nordic skier. His was not the form of a body builder. / ¥Lªº¨­Å餣º}«G¡C ¥Lªº¥xµü°÷¥O¤H³ß·Rªº,½G¡M¨Ç·L¦p°©,¦Ù¦×©w¸q; ¤@ºØ¥ú·Æªº§Î¦¡, ¹³ biathlete ªº¡A¤@­Ó nordic ·Æ³·ªº¤H¡C ¥Lªº¤£¬O¨­Åé«Ø¥ßªÌªº§Î¦¡¡C
His hips were high like a man's, his chest defined -- the subtle roundness was easy to miss, easy to confuse with the developed pecs underneath, yet the breasts were there, visible only to the observant. / ¹³¨k¤Hªº¥LÁv³¡¬O°ªªº, ¥Lªº¯Ý©w¸q -- ±Ó·Pªº¶ê¬O®e©ö¿ù¹L, ®e©öªº¦b¤U­±¥H³Qµo®iªº pecs §x´b,µM¦Ó¯Ý³¡¦b¨º¸Ì, ¬Ý±o¨£ªº¥u¦³¹ï²`¤Áª`·NªÌ¡C
His legs were well shaped, more like a woman's than a man's, yet showing a masculine ruggedness. / ¥Lªº»L«Ü¦n¦a³Q¦¨§Î, §ó¦hªº¦PÃþ¤k¤Hªº¶W¹L¨k¤Hªº,¤´µMÅã¥Ü¨k©Êªº°ª§C¤£¥­¡C

The scars marred the beauty of his body. There were puncture wounds, where he had been stabbed; rakes of scar tissue from the spiked straps and canes used as scholastic discipline; blood tatoos, where he had been bruised too many times to heal. There were the white knots on his wrists, from his many attempts at suicide, and his neck showed the fine white line of a slit throat. Over all were the curdled scars left by the energies of the Luminous One. / ¬Í²ª·l·´¤F¥Lªº¨­Åé¬ü¤H¡C ¦³¯}Ãa³Ð¶Ë,¦b¥L¤w¸g³Q¨ëªº¦a¤è; ¨Ó¦Û³Q¥H¤j°v°v¨cªºÃ·¬Í²ªÁ¡ªº¯½Â´«~ªº¯Ò¤l©M¤â§ú¨Ï¥Î¦p¾Ç®Õªº¬ö«ß; ¦å¨ë«C,¦b¥L¤Ó³\¦h¦¸¤w¸g³Q¥´¶Ëªv¡ªº¦a¤è¡C ¦³¦b¥Lªº¤âµÃ¤Wªº¥Õ¦âµ²,±q¦b¦Û±þªº¥L³\¦h¹Á¸Õ¡A¦Ó¥B¥Lªº²ä¤lÅã¥Ü¤FµõÁ_«|³ïªº¦n¥Õ¦â½u¡C ¦b¥þ³¡¤§¤W¬O³Q¨Ï¾®µ²ªº³Qµo¥úªº¯à·½¯d¤U¤@ªº¬Í²ª¡C

Her body was little better. Her legs were thin-boned, heavily muscled, showing the bone stress suffered by child athletes. Her waist was long, her breasts high on her slim torso. She too wore the strong, sleek muscles of a trained athlete. Her body was marked by fewer scars, but those that were present took as much from the esthetics of her lines. / ¦oªº¨­Åé¤Ö§ó¡C ¦oªº»L¬O½Gªº-°©Àfªº,«Ü­«¦a¦Ù¦×,Åã¥Ü³Q«Ä¤l¹B°Ê­û¾D¨üªº°©ÀYÀ£¤O¡C ¦oªº¸y³¡«Üªø,°ªªº¦b¦o½GÂß·F¤Wªº¦o¯Ý³¡¡C ¦o¤]¬ïµÛ¤F³Q°V½mªº¹B°Ê­ûªº±j¤S¥ú·Æ¦Ù¦×¡C ¦oªº¨­Åé³Q¸û¤Öªº¬Í²ª¼Ð¥Ü¤F¡A¦ý¬O¦b³õªº¨º¨Ç®³¦p¨Ó¦Û¦oªº¥xµü¬ü¾Çªº«Ü¦h¡C

He reached out, his fingers caressing her shoulder, slipping down, tracing the thick scar of a stab wound near her heart. He bent to kiss it, then nuzzled and kissed her throat. He bit, lightly but firmly, sending a shiver of sensation down her nerves. She ran her fingers down his back, tracing over the slugs of scar tissue, other stab wounds. They had tested the sensitivities of the scars, along with birthmarks, freckles and various stretches of skin -- a game of 'what feels good', in which they came to learn about each other, and themselves. / ¥L¨ì¹F¥X,¥Lªº·R¼¾¦oªºªÓ¡A·Æ­Ë¤U¨Ó¡A°lÂܦb¦oªº¤ßªþªñªº¨ë«p¬Í²ª³Ð¶Ëªº¤â«ü¡C ¥LÅs¦±§k¥¦,µM«á±N»ó´¡¤J¦Ó¥B§k¤F¦oªº«|³ï¡C ¥L«r,»´»´ªº¦ý¬O°í©T, °e¤@·Pı¥´Å¸¤U¨Ó¦oªº¯«¸g¡C ¦o§â¦oªº¤â«ü¶]¤U¨Ó¥Lªº­I³¡,¦b¬Í²ªÁ¡ªº¯½Â´«~ªºªä¶ô¤§¤W°lÂÜ,¨ä¥Lªº¨ë¨ü¶Ë¡C ¥L­Ì³s¦P­L°O¤@°_¤w¸g´ú¸Õ¬Í²ªªº±Ó·P¥Ö½§ªº³¶´³©M¦UºØ¤£¦P¦ù®i -- ¤@³õ¤ñÁÉ ' ¤°»òı±oµÎªA', ¥L­Ì¨Ó¾Ç²ßÃö©ó©¼¦¹ªº¨Æ, ©M¥L­Ì¦Û¤v¡C

Then, too, she had discovered the reason for the Spectrans' fascination with long hair. A sensual people, the Spectrans -- much given to appreciating the gifts of their five (though some would say six) senses. Seldom had she met people who just ate to live, didn't put great enthusiasm into the cooking and the eating. Houses, businesses, the military installations -- wherever art could be hung, music played, scents diffused, they were. Nor was it ever too much; there were prohibitions regarding the drowning of the self in perfume -- anything which overwhelmed the senses was discouraged. The senses were to be enjoyed, not abused. Another of Zoltar's enlightened enactments, bringing back the culture destroyed by the Luminous One. / µM«á¡A¤]¡A¦o¤w¸g¥ÎªøªºÀY¾vµo²{ Spectrans' Å]¤Oªº²z¥Ñ¡C ¤@­Ó©x¯àªº¤H, Spectrans-- ¦hµ¹·P¿E¥L­Ìªº¤­ ( ÁöµM¤@¨Ç±N·|»¡¤»)­Ó·PıªºÂ§ª«¡C ¦o¦³«Ü¤Ö¹J¨£¤F­è­è¦Y©~¦íªº¤H,¨S¦³§â´Îªº¨g¼ö©ñ¤J²i¶¹©M¦Y¡C ²³Ä³°|¡A¥Í·N, ­x¨Æ¦w¸Ë -- ÃÀ³N¥i¯àµL½×¨º¸Ì³Q¦Q,­µ¼Öª±,®ð¨ý´²¼½,¥L­Ì¬O¡C ´¿¸g¤Ó¦h¥¦¤]¤£¬O; Ãö©ó·Ä¦º¦³¸T¥O¨º¦Û¤vªº¦b­»¤ô¤¤ -- ²T¨S·Pıªº¥ô¦ó¨Æ¬O®ð¾kªº¡C ·Pı¬O³Q¨É¨ü,¤£ÀݥΡC ¥t¥~¤@ Zoltar's ªº³Q±Òµoªº§êºt,¨Ï³Qµo¥ú¯}Ãa¤@ªº¤å¤Æ¦^´_¡C

Long hair, she had discovered, was an exquisite sensation, when run over bare skin. With Zoltar's hair, it was like being caressed by fog, misty and ticklish. She picked up handfuls to wrap around her face, her eyes sparkling with mischief. He smiled back at her, then bent to caress her nipple with his tongue. / ´÷±æÀY¾v,¦o¤w¸gµo²{,¬Oºë½oªº·Pı, ·íÁÓ¹L¨ª»rªº¥Ö½§¡C ÂÇ¥Ñ Zoltar's ªºÀY¾v¡A¥¦¹³³QÃú·R¼¾,¦³Ãúªº©M©ö­Ëªº¡C ¦o¬B°_¤Ö¼Æ¦b¦oªºÁy©P³ò¥]¸Ë,¦oªº¥H¶Ë®`°{Ã{ªº²´·ú¡C ¥L¦V«á¦a¦b¦o·L¯º, µM«áÅs¦±¥Î¥Lªº¦Þ·R¼¾¦oªº¨ÅÀY¡C

She sighed with pleasure. It was speculated among the gossipers that / ¦oÅw³ß¦a¼Û®§¡C ¥¦¦b gossipers ¤§¤¤³Q²`«ä¨º
Zoltar's tongue was talented in many ways. She smiled smugly, reveling in the thought that no one but her knew just how talented. He covered her torso with kisses, each one sending a ribbon of fire down her nerves. His hands stroked her skin, gently kneading her muscles. She ran her fingers up and down his spine, knotting in his hair, gently raking his shoulders with her fingernails. Then he lay down full length beside her. / Zoltar's ªº¦Þ¥H³\¦h¤è¦¡³Q¤~¯à¡C ¦o¦Û¥H¬°¬O¦a·L¯º, ¦b·Qªk¤¤¨gÅw§@¼Ö¨S¦³¤H¦ý¬O¦o¨s³ºª¾¹D¦p¦ó¤~¯à¡C ¥L³Q¥H§k²[»\¦oªºÂß·F,°e¤@±ø¤õªº½v±a¨C¤@­ÓåP¸¨¦oªº¯«¸g¡C ¥Lªº¤â¦E§À¼Õ¤F¦oªº¥Ö½§,³vº¥¦a´|¦oªº¦Ù¦×¡C ¦o¤W¤U¦a¶]¦oªº¤â«ü¥Lªº¯á´Õ,¦b¥LªºÀY¾v¤¤¥´µ²¡A³vº¥¦a¥Î¦oªº¤â«ü¥Ò¦V²î§À¥LªºªÓ¡C µM«á¥L©ñ¸m¦b¦o®ÇÃ䪺¤U¨Ó¥R¨¬ªºªø«×¡C

For a long time they lay like that, running their hands along each other. The sensations gave new meaning to "pleasures of the flesh" -she had seldom thought of the phrase as anything more than a metaphor, had never really considered that the whole of the body could give such diffuse, vivacious, intense and differing sensations. They paid a great deal of attention to the marks of their abuse. It sang strongly to Princess of respect, of appreciation for her survival, her strength and will -- she knew she herself stood in awe of what he had survived, and viewed his scarred body as a living trophy, a testemony to the human drive for survival. / ¦³«Üªøªº¤@¬q®É¶¡¥L­Ì¹³¨º¤@¼Ë©ñ¸m, ªuµÛ©¼¦¹¶]¥L­Ìªº¤â¡C ·Pı§â·sªº·N¸qµ¹ "¦×ªº§Ö¼Ö"-¦o«Ü¤Ö¤w¸g¨S¦³§â¤ù»y·í°µ¶W¹LªF¦è¤@­ÓÁô³ë,¤w¸g³Q±q¤£¯uªº¦Ò¼{¨­Å骺¥þ³¡¥i¥H´£¨Ñ¦p¦¹ªºº©®g¡A¬¡¼â¤S±j¯Pªº¦Ó¥B¤£¤@­P·Pı¡C ¥L­Ì¹ï¥L­ÌªºÀݥμлxµ¹¤©«Ü¦hªºª`·N¡C ¥¦±j¯P¦a¹ï·q·Nªº¤½¥D°Û, ½àÃѹï©ó¦oªº¥Í¦s, ¦oªº¤O¶q©M·N§Ó -- ¦o»{ÃÑ¡A¦o¦Û¤v¦b¥L¤w¸gÄ~Äò¥Í¦s, ¦Ó¥Bµø¥Lªºµ²¬Í¨­Å鬰¤@­Ó¥Í¬¡¼ú®yªº¾_Äत¯¸¥ß,¬°¥Í¦sªº¨ì¤HÃþªº¾r¨® testemony¡C

She stroked and nuzzled his chest. His body was firm and strong, yet the small breasts gave a plush feel, firm beneath, pleasant to burrow into. His nipples were as sensitive as hers; it had pleased her to discover that, and she liked the way his skin tasted. She trailed her tongue down his flank, around the impression of his hip, down his thigh, her fingers following. Then she worked her way back. / ¦o¦E§À¼Õ¨Ã¥B±N»ó´¡¤J¥Lªº¯Ý¡C ¥Lªº¨­Åé¬O°í©wªº©M±j, µM¦Ó¤pªº¯Ý³¡µ¹¤©¤@­Óªø¤òµ³·Pı, ¤½¥q¦b,¤§¤U´r§Öªº±¸¬}¥Þ¶i¤J¤§¤º¡C ¥Lªº¨ÅÀY¬O¦P¼Ë¦a±Ó·Pªº·í°µ¦oªº; ¥¦¤w¸g¨ú®®¦oµo²{¨º¡A¦Ó¥B¦o³ßÅw¥Lªº¥Ö½§À|ªº¤è¦¡¡C ¦o§â¦oªº¦Þ°lÂܤU¨Ó¥Lªº°¼­±¡A¦b¹ï¥LªºÁv³¡¦L¶Hªº©P³ò¡AåP¸¨¥Lªº¤j»L, ¦oªº¤â«ü¦b¤§«á¡C µM«á¦o¤u§@¦oªº¤èªk­I­±¡C

More kisses, more cuddles.. Love with Zoltar was sensual, tactile, leisurely.. Romantic? Yes, in a way, but there was an intensity of emotion that romance seldom attained. Passion, desire, love, apprehension -- no fear. It surprised both of them, that that emotion should be lacking. / §ó¦hªº§k,§ó¦hªººO©ê¡C¡C ©M Zoltar ªº·R¬O©x¯àªº¡MIJıªº¡M©M±y¶¢ªº¡C¡C ®öº©ªº? ¬Oªº,¦b¤@©wµ{«×¤W , ¦ý¬O¦³¤@ºØ«Ü¤Ö³Q¹F¨ìªº±¡ºü¨º¤@­Ó®öº©¥vªº±j¯P¡C ¼ö±¡¡A±ý±æ¡A·R, ²z¸Ñ -- ¨S¦³®£Äß¡C ¥¦¨Ï¥L­Ì¨â­Ó¦YÅå¤F, ¨º¨º±¡ºüÀ³¸Ó¬O¯Ê¥Fªº¡C

His fingers stroked her inner thigh, slowly working higher. She closed her eyes, a soft sigh escaping her lips, when he slipped one through the moist folds. / ¥Lªº¤â«ü¦E§À¼Õ¤F¦oªº¤º³¡¤j»L,ºCºC¦a§ó°ª¦a¤u§@¡C ¦oÃö³¬¤F¦oªº²´·ú¡A¤@Án°k²æ¦oªº®B³n¼Û®§, ·í¥L·Æ­Ëªº®É­Ô¤@¸g¹L¼é·ÃªººP¼h¡C

It was completely different from any manual penetration she had experience previous to him. It has surprised her, at first, when they first attempted it. Now, knowing the difference, she relaxed into it, allowing the feelings to wash over her; his fingers tickling, his lips on her throat, her hands knotted in the roots of his hair. / ¥¦§¹¥þ¦a¤£¦P©ó¦o¹ï¥L¦³¸gÅç¥ý«eªº¥ô¦ó¤H¤uªºº¯³z¡C ·í¥L­Ì³Ìªì¹Á¸Õ¤F¥¦ªº®É­Ô°_¥ý¥¦¤w¸g¨Ï¦o¦YÅå¡C ²{¦b,ª¾¹D¤£¦P,¦o¶i¤J¥¦¤§¤º©ñÃP, ¤¹³\·Pı¦b¦o¤§¤W¬~; ¥Lªº¤â«ü¯ÞªÏ¡A¦b¦oªº«|³ï¤Wªº¥L®B,¦oªº¤â¦b¥LªºÀY¾v®Ú¤¤¥´µ²¡C

Two can play at this game, she thought, and reached for him. He lay with his head against her shoulder, eyes closed, focussed on her touch. / ¤G¯à¦b³o¤@³õ¤ñÁɪ±,¦o·Q, ¦Ó¥B¤Î©ó¥L¡C ¥L¥H¹ï§Ü¦oªºªÓ¥LÀY©ñ¸m,²´·úÃö³¬,¦b¦oªºÄ²Ä±¤Wªº focussed¡C

She remembered when she first got up the nerve to touch him. His erection had brought horrible memories to her, thoughts only of its potential as a weapon, a bringer of pain. His size was not the source of her fear -- Zoltar had been blessed well, with a good size and shape, neither overly large, nor underwhelming. No, merely its existance was enough to bring her anxiety. / ·í¦o³ÌªìÄw³Æ¯«¸g¸I¥Lªº®É­Ô¡A¦o°O±o¡C ¥Lªºª½¥ß¤w¸g±a¥i©Èªº°O¾Ðµ¹¦o,¥u§â¥¦ªº¼ç¯à·í°µ¤@­ÓªZ¾¹, ¤@µh­W±a¡C ¥Lªº¤j¤p¤£¬O¦oªº®£Äߨӷ½ -- Zoltar ¬O¨ü¯¬ºÖªº«Ü¦n¦a,ÂǥѦn¤j¤p©M§Îª¬, ¬J«D¹L«×¤j, ¤]¤£¥¼¯à§l¤Þ¡C ¤£¡A¥u¥¦ªº existance ¬O¥R¨¬±a¦oªºµJ¼{¡C

He had understood, and phrased his words carefully. If she wanted to, when she wanted to, she could. She had known what he had meant -- she was not the only one with a fear of being touched. / ¥L¤w¸g¤p¤ß¦a¤F¸Ñ, ¦Ó¥B¤ù»y¥L©Ò»¡ªº¸Ü¡C ¦pªG¦o·Q­n¨ì, ·í¦o·Q­nªº®É­Ô¨ì, ¦o¥i¥H¡C ¦o¤w¸gª¾¹D¥L¤w¸g·N¿×ªº -- ¦o¤£¬O©M³Q±µÄ²ªº®£Ä߰ߤ@ªº¤@­Ó¡C

Then, a stir of air had caused his scrotum to contract. She watched the writhing flesh with interest, noting the speed of the contraction, how it relaxed again almost immediately, only to curl up once more. / µM«á¡AªÅ®ðªºÅͰʤw¸g¾É­P¥Lªº³±ÅnÁYµu¡C ¦o¥Î¿³½ì¬Ý writhing ¦×,ª`·N¦¬ÁYªº³t«×, ¦p¦ó¦b¦A¤@¦¸³Q´X¥G¥ß¨è©ñÃPªº¥¦, ¤£®Æ³º·|¦A¤@¦¸»lÁY¦Óª×¡C
Not quite aware of it, she stroked the skin, wondering what the texture was like. / ¤£¬O¬Û·íª¾¹D¥¦¡A¦o¦E§À¼Õ¤F¥Ö½§, ı±o©_©Ç½è¦a¹³¬Æ»ò¡C

Now, she had no such fear, but retained the curiosity and fascination. / ²{¦b¡A¦o¨S¦³¦p¦¹ªº®£Äß, ¦ý¬O«O¦³¤F¦n©_¤ß©MÅ]¤O¡C
Each feather caress brought a rush of blood, briefly swelling the organ even more. She twitched it lightly with her fingernails, watching the instant reactions, listening to the changes in his breathing. This wasn't an ordeal; this was fun. / ¨C¦Ð¤ò·R¼¾±a¤F¦åªº¥^«P,²µu¶©°_¾¹©x¬Ûµ¥§ó¦h¡C ¦o»´»´ªº¥H¦o¤â«ü¥Ò²r©Ô¤F¥¦,¬Ý¥ß§Yªº¤ÏÀ³¡A¹ï¦b¥Lªº©I§l¤è­±ªº§ïÅÜÅ¥¡C ³o¤£¬O¤@­ÓÄY»Åªº¦ÒÅç; ³o¬O¼Ö½ì¡C

Fixing her eyes with his, he withdrew his fingers from her nest, lasciviously drawing each one over his tongue, a wicked smile curving his lips. A small moan escaped her. Then he dove, and a shock of pleasure exploded in her brain, a firework of sensations screaming down her nerves. Oh you bastard, she thought. I'll get you for this... / ¥Î¥Lªº©T©w¦oªº²´·ú,¥LºM¦^¤F¨Ó¦Û¦oªº±_¥L¤â«ü,²]¿º¦aµe¦b¥Lªº¦Þ¤W¨C¤@­Ó,¤@­ÓÅs¦±¥Lªº®BÃa·L¯º¡C ¤@Án¤pªº©D§u°k²æ¤F¦o¡C µM«á¥LÂF¤l,¦Ó¥B¤@­Ó§Ö¼ÖªºÅåÀ~¦b¦oªº¸£¤¤Ãz¬µ,¤@­Ó·Pıªº·Ï¤õ¦y¥s¤U¨Ó¦oªº¯«¸g¡C ®@§A¨p¥Í¤l,¦o·Q¡C §Ú±N¬°³o±o¨ì§A¡C¡C¡C

Oral sex had been the worst obstacle, second only to actual intercourse. Both of them had been forced to perform, had been forced to endure. The human body in terror can respond by flooding the erectile tissues with blood, under stimulation can produce spasms similar to orgasm. But they are painful and humiliating, more because of what they mimic. She remembered the shame she had felt at those times, as her tormentors laughed, saying she enjoyed it rough. As for him... / ¤f¥æ¤w¸g¬O³ÌÃaªº»Ùê,¥u¦³¹ï¯u¹êªº¥æ©¹¬í¡C ¥L­Ì¨â­Ó³£¤w¸g¤£±o¤£ªí²{,¤w¸g¤£±o¤£§Ô­@¡C ®£©Æªº¤HÃþ¨­Åé¯àÂǵۥÆÀݦ^À³©M¦åªº¥i¨Ïª½¥ßªºÁ¡¯½Â´«~,¦b¨ë¿E¤§¤U¯à¥Í²£»P¿E¯Pªº¿³¾ÄÃþ¦üªº©âµ¬¡C ¦ý¬O¥L­Ì¬Oµh­Wªº©M¥áÁyªº, §ó¦hªº¦]¬°¤°»ò¥L­Ì¼ÒÀÀªº¡C ¦o°O±o¤F²Û·\¦o³Q¦b¨º¨Ç®É¥N¦³¤òÀÖ, ·í¯ºªº¦o¨Ï­Wµh¤§¤H, »¡¦o¨É¨ü¤F¥¦²ÊÁWªº¡C Ãö©ó¥L¡C¡C¡C

At least she bore no scars there. Decorating his erection were the fine white lines of scars, cuts where his abusers had tested "to see if it was real". There was a long scar, the reminder of an operation done to correct a problem origionating in his faulty separation from his twin. The worst of the lot, were the crescent-shaped marks of a human bite. She kissed them gently, wondering how anyone could bite a child so cruelly. He had refused to talk about it, past acknowledging its presence. Not even Mala knew its origion. / ¦Ü¤Ö¦o¦b¨º¸Ì¨S·ÐÂZ¬Í²ª¡C ¸Ë¹¢¥Lªºª½¥ß¬O¬Í²ªªº¦n¥Õ¦â½u, ¥Lªº abusers ¤w¸g´ú¸Õªº¤Á " ¬Ý¬Ý¬O§_¥¦¬O¯u¥¿ªº ". ¦³¤@¹Dªøªº¬Í²ª¡A³Q°µ§ï¥¿¥Lªº¥LÂù­M­Lªº¿ù»~¤ÀÂ÷ªº°ÝÃD origionating ªº¤â³N´£¿ôªº¤H¡C ¹B®ðªº³ÌÃa,¬O¤HÃþªº«r·s¤ë§Î¼Ð»x¡C ¦o³vº¥¦a§k¤F¥L­Ì, ı±o©_©Ç¥ô¦ó¤H¥i¥H¦p¦ó«r¤@­Ó«Ä¤l¦p¦¹ªº´Ý§Ô¡C ¥L¤w¸g©Úµ´½Í½×¥¦,¶V¹L©Ó»{¥¦ªº¥X²{¡C ¤£¬O¥­©Zªº Mala ª¾¹D¤F¥¦ªº origion ¡C

She stroked her tongue along the underside, tasting a pearl of sweetish fluid at the tip. Testing lightly with her teeth, she took him in, bracing her tongue against him. He moaned and she glanced at him -his eyes were closed, erotic tension suffusing his face. Watching, she flicked her tongue; he flinched, flinched again, his breath coming short and fast. Another thing Mala was right about...It was a good feeling to bring a man such pleasure, willingly. She tongued him a bit longer, nuzzling him, lightly stretching the skin of his sac between her lips, enjoying the animal sounds from his throat. / ¦oªuµÛ¤U­±¦E§À¼Õ¤F¦oªº¦Þ,¦b³»ºÝÀ|¤@Áû²¤²¢²GÅ骺¬Ã¯]¡C »´»´ªº¥H¦o¤ú¾¦¹Á¸Õ, ¦o±a¤F¥L¦b,¤ä¼µ¹ï§Ü¥Lªº¦o¦Þ¡C ¥L©D§u¡A¦Ó¥B¦oª`µø¥L -¥Lªº²´·ú³QÃö³¬,¹M§G¥LªºÁy©Ê·Rªººò±i¡C ¬Ý,¦o»´¼u¤F¦oªº¦Þ; ¥L¬ÈÁY,¦A¤@¦¸¬ÈÁY, ¥Lªº©I§l¨ÓÁ{µu©M§Ö³t¦a¡C ¥t¥~¨Æª« Mala ¬O¥¿½T¦a¤j¬ù¡C¡C¡C¥¦¬O¦n·Pı±aµ¹¤@­Ó¨k¤H¦p¦¹ªº§Ö¼Ö,¦Û°Ê¦a¡C ¦o§ó¤[¥H¦ÞIJ¤F¥L¤@ÂIÂI,±N»ó´¡¤J¥L¡A»´»´ªº¦ù®i¦b¦oªº®B¤§¶¡ªº¥L sac ªº¥Ö½§¡A¨É¨ü¨Ó¦Û¥Lªº«|³ï°Êª«Án­µ¡C

He pushed her away, his chest heaving. She sat up, concern on her face. / ¥L±À°Ê¦oÂ÷¶},¥Lªº¯Ý¥Î¤OÁ|°_¡C ¦o¼õ©],¦b¦oªºÁy¤W±¾¼{¡C

"Not yet," he whispered hoarsely. She smiled then. "You?" She nodded. He lay her down on the fur rug in front of the fireplace, then bent between her thighs. He nuzzled her gently, his tongue touching so lightly she barely felt it. Waves of pleasure washed over her as his lithe tongue darted through her folds. His fingers stroked, slipped inside, producing a deep sensation that brought a groan of ecstacy from her. He glanced at her, grinning wickedly, his tongue performing a quick dance over her pearl. The firelight glistened off the persperation gathering on her skin. Soon.. / " ¤£¬O¤´µM",¥L¨F°×¦a¦Õ»y¡C ¦o·í®É·L¯º¡C "§A"? ¦oÂIÀY¡C ¥L¦b¾ÀÄl¤§«e¦b¤ò¥Ö´à¤l¤W»P¦o©Ê¥æ¤U¨Ó,µM«á¦b¦oªº¤j»L¤§¶¡Ås¦±¡C ¥L³vº¥¦a±N»ó´¡¤J¤F¦o,¥Lªº´X¥G¸IIJ¦p¦¹ªº»´»´¦o¦Þ·Pı¤F¥¦¡C ·í¥Lªº¬X³n¦Þ¦R¹L¦oªººP¼h®É­Ô¡A§Ö¼Öªº°ª¼é¦b¦o¤§¤W¬~¡C ¥Lªº¤â«ü¦E§À¼Õ,·Æ­Ë¤F¤º³¡,²£¥Í±a¤F¨Ó¦Û¦oªº¤@Án ecstacy ªº©D§u²`·Pı¡C ¥Lª`µø¦o,Ãa¦aÅS¾¦¦Ó¯º,¥Lªºªíºt¦b¦oªº¬Ã¯]¤Wªº§Ö¸õ»Rªº¦Þ¡C ¤õ¥úÂ÷¶}¦b¦oªº¥Ö½§¤Wªº persperation ¶°·|°{«G¡C «Ü§Ö¡C¡C

"AOW!!!" she screamed as a spark popped from the fire, cleared the glass fireshield and landed on her belly. / "AOW!!!"·í¤õªá±q¤õ¨ú¥Xªº®É­Ô¡A¦o¦y¥s, ²M°£ªº¬Á¼þ fireshield ¦Ó¥B¦b¦oªº¸¡¤Wµn³°¡C

"Aishe! are you okay?? What happened?" / "Aishe! §A¬O¦n¶Ü?? µo¥Í¤°»ò¨Æ?"

She was laughing almost too hard to speak, but managed to explain. "It had lousy timing too!" / ¦o¥¿¦b´X¥G¯º¤Ó§V¤O¦a»¡, ¦ý¬O³]ªk¸ÑÄÀ¡C "¥¦¤]¦³¤F¦Ã©ªº®É¶¡ÂI"!

They laughed, and he kissed the small red spot, then they laughed again, embracing, tickling, rolling about on the fur rug. They rolled to a halt, she on top of him, his hair spread out and in disarray. She gazed at him -- He was beautiful, and the thought brought tears to her eyes. / ¥L­Ì¯º¡A¦Ó¥B¥L§k¤F¤pªº¬õ¦â¦aÂI,µM«á¥L­Ì¦A¤@¦¸¯º,¾Ö©ê¡A¯ÞªÏ, ºu°ÊÃö©ó¦b¤ò¥Ö´à¤l¤W¡C ¥L­Ì±²¨ì°±¤î, ¦o¦b¥Lªº³»ºÝ¤W¡A¥LªºÀY¾v¶Ç¶}©M¦bµL¯´§Ç¤¤¡C ¦oª`µø¥L -- ¥L«Ü¬üÄR¡A¦Ó¥B·Qªk±a²\ºw¥h¦oªº²´·ú¡C

"I love you," she said to his concerned look. The worry evaporated and he embraced her, nuzzling her hair, "I love you too. Don't ever forget that." / " §Ú·R§A",¦o¹ï¥LªºÃö¤ß¯«±¡»¡¡C ·Ð´o»]µo¡A¦Ó¥B¥L¾Ö©ê¤F¦o,±N»ó´¡¤J¦oªºÀY¾v,"§Ú¤]·R§A¡C ¤£­n´¿¸g§Ñ°O¨º¡C"

"I won't" Not for as long as she lived, she would not forget. Then he fuzzed her face with the ends of his hair, lauging insanely, and the moment was over. / " §Ú¤£±N"¤£¦]¬°¥u­n¦o©~¦í,¦o±N¤£§Ñ°O¡C µM«á¥L¥Î¥LªºÀY¾vµ²§ô§@µ³¤òª¬­¸´²¦oªºÁy, lauging ±wºë¯«¯f¦a¡A¦Ó¥B¤ù¨èµ²§ô¡C

She settled herself so that his erection slid easily through her wet folds, in a game they had invented to accustom both of them to the idea. She liked the feelings it produced, sliding back and forth along him, made slick with her juices. She got into the rhythm of it, lost herself in the sensations. Then she came down wrong and he screeched, his fingers gouging into her thighs, his back arching spasmodically. / ¦o¦w¹y¤F¦o¦Û¤v¥H«K¥Lªºª½¥ß slid ¦b¤@³õ¥L­Ì¤w¸gµo©ú¨Ï¹ï·Qªkªº¥L­Ì¨â­Ó²ßºDªº¤ñÁɤ¤®e©ö¦a¬ï¶V¦oªºÀã®ðºPÅ|¡C ¦o³ßÅw¥¦¥Í²£ªº·Pı,¨Ó¦^¦aªuµÛ¥L·Æ,¥Ñ©ó¦oªº¥Ä»s³y¥ú·Æ¡C ¦o¶i¤J¥¦ªº±Û«ß,¦b·Pı¤è­±¥¢¥h¦o¦Û¤v¡C µM«á¦o¿ù»~¸¨¤U¨Ó¡A¦Ó¥B¥L¦yµÛÁn­µÁ¿, ¥Lªº¤â«üº²¨í¶i¤J¦oªº¤j»L¤§¤º,¥LªºÂ_Äò©Ê¦a¦¨¤}§ÎÅs¦±ªº­I³¡¡C

He was inside. That simple. She slid down a little further, bringing another spasm from him. No pain. None. She marvelled at the absense. / ¥L¦b¸Ì­±¡C ²³æªº¨º¡C ¦o slid ¤U¨Óµy·L«P¶i,±a¨Ó¦Û¥Lªº¥t¤@­Ó©âµ¬¡C ¨S¦³µh­W¡C ¨S¦³¤H¡C ¦o¹ï absense ¹É¹ÉºÙ©_¡C
Her muscles contracted on their own -- yes, she could feel him, thick and warm, solid, easy to grasp.. and utterly painless. There was something else, a feeling... she stretched out a little more, raising herself off him a bit. More.. yes, she could feel that. Down again.. / ¦oªº¦Ù¦×¾a¥L­Ì¦Û¤v·P¬V -- ¬Oªº¡A¦o¥i¥H·Pı¥L, «pªº©M·Å·xªº¡M°íµwªº¡M©M®e©öªº§ì¦í¡C¡C ¦Ó¥B§¹¥þµLµh¡C ¦³§OªºªF¦è¡A·Pı¡C¡C¡C ¦o¦ù®i¥X¤p¤pªº§ó¦h,Â÷¶}¥L¤É°_¦o¦Û¤v¤@ÂIÂI¡C §ó¦h¡C¡C ¬Oªº¡A¦o¥i¥H·Pı¨º¡C ¦A¤@¦¸åP¸¨¡C¡C
oh yes.. yes.. Her muscles contracted again, and the dam broke. Her orgasm burst upon her, driving her into a bucking frenzy, completely lost in sound and sensation. His voice joined hers, his hips meeting her thrusts as the fury of climax overcame them both. / ªí¥ÜÅå³Y¬Oªº¡C¡C ¬Oªº¡C¡C ¦oªº¦Ù¦×¦A¤@¦¸·P¬V¡A¦Ó¥B¤ôÅòÂ_±¼¡C ¦oªº¿E¯P¿³¾Ä¦b¦o¤§¤WÃzµõ,¾r¾p¦o¶i¹x±j¤Ï§Ü¨g¼É¤§¤º,§¹¥þ¦a¦bÁn­µ©M·Pı¤è­±¥¢¥h¡C ¥Lªº³Q°Ñ¥[¦oªºÁn­µ,¥Lªº¹J¨£¦oªº±À¶i¦p°ª¼éªº¼««ãÁv³¡§JªA¤F¥L­Ì¨â­Ó¡C

Finally they slowed, stilled, and she collapsed into his arms. His eyes were closed, strands of hair sticking to his forehead and cheek. / ³Ì«á¥L­Ì´îºC,¦wÀR¡A¦Ó¥B¦o¶i¤J¥Lªº¤âÁu¤§¤º­Ë¶ò¡C ¥Lªº²´·ú³QÃö³¬,ÂH¦í¥Lªº«eÃB©MÀUªºÀY¾vÀØ¡C
His lips were relaxed, looking crimson in the firelight. Her head swam, dizzy from the power of her climax. She had never experienced one like that before, but it whetted her appetite for more. She lay in his arms, feeling the muscles twitch in her thighs, listening to his heart beat. She felt safe. / ¥Lªº®B³Q©ñÃP,¦b¤õ¥ú¤¤¬Ý°_¨Ó²`¬õ¦â¡C ¦oªºÀY´åªa,±q¦oªº°ª¼é¤O¶q·w¯t¡C ¦o±q¥¼¸g¾ú¤@­Ó¦PÃþ¥H«e¡A¦ý¬O¥¦¬°§ó¦h¼W±j¤F¦oªº­¹¼¤¡C ¦o¦b©ó¥Lªº¤âÁu,·Pı¦Ù¦×¦b¦oªº¤j»L¤¤²r©Ô,¹ï¥Lªº¤ß¥´Å¥¡C ¦oı±o¦w¥þ¡C

She felt a light touch on her chin and opened her eyes. / ¦o·Pı¤F¦b¦oªº¤U¤Ú¤Wªº»´Ä²Ä±¦Ó¥B¥´¶}¤F¦oªº²´·ú¡C

"Are you okay?" he asked softly. She nodded, smiling, "Couldn't possibly be better. You?" / " §A¬O¦n"? ¥L¬X©M¦a°Ý¡C ¦oÂIÀY,·L¯ºªº," µLªk¥i¯à¦a¬O¤ñ¸û¦nªº¡C §A?"

There were tears in his eyes. "Thank you," he whispered. She shook her head, tears coming to her eyes, "I should be thanking you." They kissed, then cuddled some more. Finally, she looked up at him. / ¦³¥Lªº²´·ú²\ºw¡C "ÁÂÁ§A",¥L¦Õ»y¡C ¦o·nÀY,¬y²\¹ï¦oªº²´·ú¨ÓÁ{,"§ÚÀ³¸ÓÁÂÁ§A" ¡C ¥L­Ì§k,µM«á¼¾©ê¦A¦h¤@¨Ç¡C ³Ì«á¡A¦o¬Ý¦b¥L¤W­±¡C

"That was fun, can we do that again?" / "¨º¬O¼Ö½ì,§Ú­Ì¯à¦A¤@¦¸°µ¨º¶Ü"?

He threw back his head and roared with laughter. / ¥L¥H¯ºÂY¦^¥LªºÀY¦Ó¥B§q¡C

* * * / ***

A light scratching sound woke Princess. She looked around, seeking its source, then glimpsed Mala's face peeking in at the kitchen window. / ¤@­ÓÀ¿Án­µªº¥ú³ê¿ô¤F¤½¥D¡C ¦o¥|³B¬Ý¬Ý,´M¨D¥¦ªº¨Ó·½, µM«á§ë¥H¤@¿h¤F Mala's ªºÁy°½¬Ý¦b¼p©Ðµ¡¤á¡C
Morning already? she thought, and the dawn-streaked sky confirmed it. / ¦­±á¤w¸g? ¦o·Q¡A¦Ó¥B¯}¾å¥[±ø¯¾ªº¤ÑªÅ½T»{¤F¥¦¡C
She signed to Mala, then got up and went to find some clothes. As quietly as possible she stoked up the fire in the stove, but her sleeping lover never moved. She smiled, then slipped out the balcony door to the porch that overlooked the sea. / ¦oñ¸p¨ì Mala,µM«á°_§É¦Ó¥B¥hµo²{¤@¨Ç¦çªA¡C ¾¨¥i¯à¦wÀR¦a¦o stoked ¦b¤õÄlªº¤õ¤W­±¡A¦ý¬O¦oªººÎµÛ·R¤H±q¤£²¾°Ê¡C ¦o·L¯º, µM«á·Æ­Ë¥X¹ï©¿²¤¤F®ü¬vªºªù´Y¶§¥xªù¡C

"Go okay?" Mala asked. Princess nodded, unable to stop smiling. / "¦n¥h"? Mala °Ý¡C ¤½¥DÂIÀY, ¤£¯à°±¤î·L¯º¡C
"See, I told you it would." / " ¬Ý¨£, §Ú§i¶D¤F§A¥¦±N·|".

"You were right, again. Thank you." / "¦A¤@¦¸§A¬O¥¿½Tªº¡C ÁÂÁ§A¡C"

Mala made a scoffing noise, "Why are you thanking me, you two did all the work." but she smiled and seemed very pleased. / Mala »s³y¤F¼J¯º¾¸­µ,"§A¬°¤°»òÁÂÁ§Ú, §A¤G°µ¤F©Ò¦³ªº¤u§@". ¦ý¬O¦o·L¯º¦Ó¥B¦ü¥G«D±`°ª¿³¡C

"He's good," Princess pronounced, "At least I think so, and I've been raped by guys who thought they were the best." / " ¥L¦nªº", ÅãµÛªº¤½¥D ",¦Ü¤Ö§Ú³o»ò»{¬°¡A¦Ó¥B§Ú¤w¸g³Q·Q¤F¥L­Ì¬O³Ì¦nªº³Ã¥ë±°¹Ü".

"Best at rape perhaps," Mala snorted. They chuckled. / " ¦b·m¹Üªº³Ì¦n¤]³\",Mala ¼QµÛ®ð§ËÅT»ó¤l¡C ¥L­Ì¦Y¦Yªº¯º¡C

"I was completely amazed, it didn't hurt at all." / " §Ú§¹¥þ¦a³Q¦YÅå, ¥¦¤@ÂI¤]¤£¶Ë®`" ¡C

"Thought maybe. Much memory interferance?" / "¤]³\·Q¡C «Ü¦hªº°O¾Ð interferance?"

"Some, but no where near what I had feared. It didn't happen quite the way I expected it to, though," and she explained how it had happened. / "¤@¨Ç, ¦ý¬O¨S¦³¦b­þ¸Ìªñªº§Ú©Ò¤w¸g®`©Èªº¡C ¥¦¨S¦³¬Û·íµo¥Í¤è¦¡§Ú´Á±æ¤F¥¦¨ì,ÁöµM,"¦Ó¥B¦o¸ÑÄÀ¤F¥¦¦p¦ó¤w¸gµo¥Í¡C
Mala laughed, saying that it was probably for the best. Princess was in full agreement. / Mala ¯º, »¡¥¦¥i¯à¬Oµ¹³Ì¦n¡C ¤½¥D¬O¦b§¹¥þªº¨óij¤¤¡C

They turned as the door opened, revealing a very scruffy-looking Zoltar in a snuggle-coat. / ·íªù¥´¶}ªº®É­Ô¡A¥L­ÌÂà¦V, Åã¥Ü«D±`¬Ý¦ü¤£¾ã»ôªº Zoltar ¦b¤@®Áªñ-¥~®M¡C

"Good morning, Sleeping Beauty," Mala greeted her brother. He grunted, commenting that two hours of sleep rather made him SleepLESS Beauty. / "¦­¦w¡AºÎµÛªº¬ü¤H",Mala Åwªï¤F¦oªº¥S§Ì¡C ¥L­ó, §åµû¤G¤p®ÉªººÎ¯v¹ç¥i¨Ï¥L¦¨¬°¤£ºÎ¯vªº¬ü¤H¡C
Mala laughed, then came inside and began unpacking the food she had brought. The northern hemisphere was about to go through the coldest part of winter, and the people were eating huge amounts, packing on fat in preparation for their month-long sleep. Zoltar and Mala, their frames naturally spare, had to be even more conscienscious about their appetites, lest they wake partially starved. / ³Q¯ºªº Mala,µM«á¶i¨Ó¦Ó¥B¶}©l¨ø¤U¦o¤w¸g±aªº­¹ª«¡C ¥_¤èªº¥b²y¥¿­n¸g¹L³Ì´H§N³¡¥÷¥V¤Ñ¥h¡A¦Ó¥B¤H¥¿¦b¦Y·¥¤jªº¼Æ¶q,¦b¬°¥L­Ìªº¤ë·Ç³Æªº¯×ªÕ¤Wªº¥]¸Ë-ªøªººÎ¯v¡C Zoltar ©M Mala ¡A¦ÛµM¦h¾lªº¥L­ÌÅé®æ,¥²¶·¬OÃö©ó¥L­Ìªº­¹¼¤¬Æ¦Ü§ó¦hªº conscienscious,¥H§K¥L­Ì³¡¥÷¦a¥s¿ô¾j±o­n¦º¡C

As Princess filled the kettle and put it on the burner, Mala fixed her brother with a glare, "I'll have you know I got no sleep last night at all!" / ·í¤½¥D¸Ëº¡¤F¯ù³ý¦Ó¥B§â¥¦©ñ¦b¤õÄlªº®É­Ô,Mala ¥Î°{Ä£¥ú­×²z¦oªº¥S§Ì," §Ú±NÅý§Aª¾¹D§Ú¬Q±ß¥þµM¨S¦³¤FºÎ¯v"!

Sympathy, concern, support -- these emotions entirely failed to cross / ¦P±¡¡AÃö¤ß, ¤ä«ù -- ³o¨Ç±¡ºü§¹¥þ¦a¨S¦³¥æ¤e
Zoltar's features. "Take your own medicine, bitch, I've put up with you for enough years" They laughed. Princess smiled, marvelling at their psychic link as *Mala* told *Zoltar* how many times he and / Zoltar's ªº¯S¼x¡C "ªA¥Î§A¦Û¤vªºÃÄ¡A¥Àª¯,§Ú¤w¸g§Ô¨ü§A¥R¨¬ªº¼Æ¦~" ¥L­Ì¯º¡C ¤½¥D·L¯º, ·í *Mala* §i¶D¤F *Zoltar* ªº®É­Ô¡A marvelling ¦b¥L­Ìªº§Å¤k³s±µ¦p¦ó³\¦h¦¸¥L©M
Princess had made love last night. / ¤½¥D¬Q±ß¤w¸g§@·R¡C

Seen together, side by side, they were absolutely identical. Only close observation revealed the slightly more bony frame of Zoltar's face -- a real case of "blink and you'll miss it". She had seen them together in his guise as "Zarabeth", and had been none the wiser -she, who had been trained to spot the physical differences that pointed out a gender disguise! / ¤@°_¬Ý¨ì, ¨Ã±Æ¡A¥L­Ì§¹¥þ¦P¤@¡C °ß¤@ªº±µªñÆ[¹îÅã¥Ü¤F Zoltar's ªºÁy¨Ç·L§ó¦p°©Åé®æ -- ¤@­Ó¯u¥¿±¡§Î " ¯w²´¦Ó¥B§A±N¿ù¹L¥¦". ¦o¤w¸g¦b¥Lªº¤è¦¡¤¤¤@°_¬Ý¨ì¥L­Ì¦p "Zarabeth", ¦Ó¥B¤w¸g¬O¨S¦³¤H¤ñ¸ûÁo©ú¤H -¦o,¤w¸g³Q°V½m»{¥X«ü¥X©Ê§O°²­±¥Øªº¹ê»Ú¤£¦P!

They poured ti, and Princess went to get the hairbrush, brushing out the tangles caused by their night's activities. Mala's eyes grew wide, but she said not a word. Then, the twins excused themselves to go out onto the balcony together. / ¥L­Ì­Ë¤F ti ¡A¦Ó¥B¤½¥D¥h¦³¾v¨ê,²¨¨ê¥X¥Ñ¥L­Ìªº©]±ß¬¡°Ê©Ò¤Þ°_ªºÄñµ²¡C Mala's ªº²´·úÅܼe¡A¦ý¬O¦o»¡¤£¤@­Ó¦r¡C µM«á¡AÂù­M­L­ì½Ì¤F¥L­Ì¦Û¤v¤@°_¦b¶§¥x¤§¤W¥X¥h¡C

Keeping an eye on the cooking porridge, she watched them together. He was telling her about their night, she knew. She hoped it had been as wonderful for him as it was for her. She tried to think of the rapes, but found she couldn't -- the images shattered, reforming into a beautiful face, framed by a halo of gold. She smiled: That was what she had hoped for. / ª`·N²i¶¹µ°,¦o¤@°_¬Ý¤F¥L­Ì¡C ¥L¥¿¦b§i¶D¦oÃö©ó¥L­Ìªº©]±ß,¦oª¾¹D¡C ¦o§Æ±æ¥¦¬O·í°µ¥O¤HÅå©_ªº¬°¥L·í¥¦¬Oµ¹¦o¡C ¦o¸ÕµÛ·Q¨ì·m¹Ü, ¦ý¬Oµo²{¦oµLªk -- ¼v¹³¥´¸H,¶i¤J¤@­Ó¬üÄRªºÁy¤§¤º§ï­², ³Q¤@­Ó¶Àª÷ªº·w½üºc¦¨¡C ¦o·L¯º: ¨º¬O¦o©Ò¤w¸g§Æ±æªº¡C

A touch of envy crossed her as she watched the twins, standing hip to hip, their golden hair swaying in the wind. She envied their closeness, their psychic rapport that allowed them to know always what the other was doing, thinking. She envied them that closeness. / ·í¦o¬Ý¤FÂù­M­Lªº®É­Ô¡A¸r¼}ªºÄ²Ä±¥æ¤e¤F¦o,¯¸µÛ¹ïÁv³¡ªºÁv³¡,¥L­Ìªº¦b­·¤¤·n°Êªºª÷ÀY¾v¡C ¦o¸r¼}¤F¥L­Ìªº±µªñ¡A¥L­Ìªº¤¹³\¤F¥L­ÌÁ`¬Oª¾¹D¤°»ò¥t¤@­Ó¥¿¦b°µ¡A·QªºÆF»îÃö«Y¡C ¦o¸r¼}¤F¥L­Ì¨º±µªñ¡C
G-Force claimed to be like a family, but she felt closer to these people than she had ever been to G-Force. Felt, but could not be. She felt terribly alone, an outsider more than ever. / G-³Q«ÅºÙ¹³¤@­Ó®a®xªº¤O¶q,¦ý¬O¦o¹ï³o¨Ç¤Hı±o¾aªñ³Ó©ó¦o´¿¸g´¿¸g¨ì¹L G-¤O¶q¡C ·Pı, ¦ý¬OµLªk¬O¡C ¦oı±o¥i©È©t¿W,´¿¸g¶W¹Lªº¤@­Ó§½¥~¤H¡C

Some inner whisper made her look out the window again. Zoltar was beckoning to her. She stepped out, wondering why Mala had tears in her eyes. / ¤@¨Ç¤º³¡ªº¦Õ»y¦A¤@¦¸¨Ï¦oªº¤p¤ß¦¨¬°µ¡¤á¡C Zoltar ¥¿¦b¹ï¦o©Û¤â¡C ¦o©ñ¤j¨B¥ï¨«, ı±o©_©Ç Mala ¬°¤°»ò¦³¤F¦oªº²´·ú²\ºw¡C

"But you're not alone," she said. Princess' eyes widened in shock. / "¦ý¬O§A¤£©t¿W",¦o»¡¡C Princess' ²´·ú¦bÅåÀ~¤¤ÂX¤j¡C
She turned to Zoltar, who smiled. / ¦oÂà¦V Zoltar,·L¯º¡C

"There are other bonds than that of blood," he explained, "Hadn't you felt the difference?" / "¦å¶W¹L¨º¦³¨ä¥Lªº§ô¿£",¥L¸ÑÄÀ ",§A¤£¦³·Pı¤F¤£¦P¶Ü"?

The whispers in her head, the feelings, as though she were feeling them.. It couldn't be the same strength that the twins' experienced, but allowed to grow, it would be. Somehow, they had included her into their unique communion, made her part of their family. Tears of joy streamed down their three faces, turned to diamonds by the rising sun. / ¦oªºÀY¡A·Pıªº¦Õ»y,¦n¹³¦o¥¿¦b·Pı¥L­Ì¡C¡C ¥¦µLªk¬O¬Û¦Pªº¤O¶q³Q¸g¾ú, ¦ý¬O¤¹³\¥ÍªøªºÂù­M­Lªº,¥¦±N·|¬O¡C ¤£ª¾¦ó¬G¡A¥L­Ì¤w¸g¥]¬A¦o¶i¥L­Ìªº¿W¯SÆF¥æ¤§¤º,°µ¥L­Ìªº®a®x¦o³¡¥÷¡C Åw³ßªº²\ºw¬y¥X¤U¨Ó¥L­Ìªº¤T­ÓÁy, ³Q¤W¤É¤Ó¶§Âà¦VÆp¥Û¡C


by Ennien Ashbrook, ashbrook@spots.ab.ca / ÂÇµÛ Ennien Ashbrook,ashbrook@spots.ab.ca

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