A zero-g world, 'habitable' by men.A zero-g world, 'habitable' by men. And even larger then Pendor, by a longshot. We'd (well, actually, Kurt's team had) found a stand of 'trees,' if you will, huge things anchored to the delibrately roughened outer shell that grew towards the sun, compost circulating inside the stand gently moved by wind, their tops huge leafy things, the kind of trees children love to climb in, and, as I soon discovered, so did adults. For one thing, if you went just a little ways, you could soon be out of sight of the rest of your team. Which is what leads me to this introspection. Passing hand-over- hand along the branches, the only conviction of direction the sunlight, I heard... laughter and pleasure below me. The voices were familiar, and, considering where I was, I thought Richard and Sue had probably broken off from the singing crowd above me and had taken this opportunity. Someone tapped my shoulder. I whirled, zero-g combat kicking in, since I hadn't heard anybody coming up on me. It was only... Susan? Then that meant... Richard... And P'nyssa? What? A million emotions shot through me in mere seconds. Typically human, the anger, but I ignored it, a long time ago convinced that of all things, jealousy was something we the living can do without. Then it clicked. Susan? No way. She and Richard had been together, truly monogamous for... two hundred odd years. Inseperable. I'd been their friend for almost as long, but... No way. "Susan?" "Ken?" She smiled. "Make love to me." Soft, but sure, her voice, and as sexy today as it was way back then. I nodded, completely mute with confusion, but watching her peel off that tunic made sure at least that the male in me awoke. Gods, Susan, you are still one of the most beautiful creatures on God's Earth, even if you left that accursed little ball in 0106. |