[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]

I'd seen that first I'd probably still be screaming. But I'm not basically cl
austrophobic. I've got a new phobia that may be my very own; fear of being eat
en alive. But tell me-and make it very convincing, please-if this isn't a stom
ach, what is it?"
"There's no parallel on any creature I know." She was down to her last layer
of clothing now, and decided to stop there. "It's a refuge," she went on, try
ing to make herself small as Gaby began to remove her clothes. "It's for prec
isely what we're using it for: a place to get in out of the cold. I'm willing
to bet the angels winter in caves like this. Maybe other animals, too. Possi
bly the creature gets something out of it. Maybe the droppings fertilize
"Speaking of droppings . . .
"Yeah, I've got the same problem. We'll have to use an empty food jar or so
mething."
"My God. I smell like a camel already. This place is going to be lovely if th
e weather doesn't break soon."
Page 122
ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.html
"It's not so bad. I smell worse."
"How diplomatic of you." Gaby was down to her garishly patterned undercloth
es. "My dear, we're going to be living damn close for a while, and there's no
use in modesty. If you're keeping that on because-"
"I wasn't, not really," Cirocco said, too hastily.
"Because you're afraid of arousing me, think again. It's practically not ther
e, anyway. I hope you don't mind if I take this off and give it a chance to d
ry." She did so without waiting for permission, then stretched out beside Cir
occo.
"Maybe that was part of it," Cirocco admitted. "The other reason, the big re
ason, sort of makes me blush. I've started my period."
" I thought you had. I politely didn't say anything."
"How diplomatic of you." They laughed, but Cirocco felt her face flushing.
It was awkward as hell. She was used to a ship- board routine of fastidious
ness. Being messy and unable to do anything about it appalled her. Gaby sug
gested Cirocco use a bandage from the medical kit, if only for her own comf
ort. Cirocco let herself be talked into it, happy that the idea had come fr om
Gaby. She could not have used needed medical supplies for such a purpose
without Gaby's approval.
They were quiet for a time, Cirocco uncomfortably aware of Gaby's nearness, t
elling herself she had to get used to it. They might he in the shelter for da
ys.
Gaby did not seem bothered in the least, and soon enough Cirocco lost her sha
rp awareness of her body. After an hour of trying to sleep, she began to feel
bored by it all.
"You awake?"
"I always snore when I'm awake." Gaby sighed, and sat up. "Hell, I'll have to
be a lot sleepier before I can sack out with you so close. You're so warm, a
nd soft
Cirocco ignored that.
"Do you know any games to pass the time?"
Gaby rolled onto her side, facing Cirocco.
"I could think up some dandies."
"Do you play chess?"
"I was afraid you'd say that. You want black or white? "
The ice formed around the entrance as fast as they could knock it away.
They worried about air at first, but a few experiments proved there would b e
adequate oxygen even with the opening completely closed. The only explana tion
was that the survival capsule functioned like a plant, soaking up carb on
dioxide through its inner walls.
They discovered a nipple set into the back of the cave. When squeezed, it el
uded the same milky substance they had seen earlier. They tasted it, but dec
ided to stick to their supplies until there was nothing left. This was the m
ilk of Gaea Meistersinger had told Cirocco about. Undoubtedly it fed the ang
els.
The hours slowly turned into days, the chess games into tournaments. Gaby won
most of them. They invented new games with words and numbers, and Gaby won
most of those, too. What with all they had been through together, the things
that drew them close and the things that pulled them apart, Cirocc o's
reservations and Gaby's pride, it was not until the third day that the y made
love.
It happened during one of the times they were both just staring at the faint
ly luminescent ceiling, listening to the wind howling outside. They were bor
ed, too energetic, and slightly stir-crazy. Cirocco was spinning an endless
Page 123
ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.html
stream of rationalizations through her head: Reasons Why I Should Not Get Ph
ysically Intimate With Gaby. (A) . . .
She couldn't remember (A). It had made sense not to until a few days ago. W
hy didn't it now?
There was the situation; surely that had colored her judgement. She had ne ver
been so intimate with another human being. For three days they had bee n in
constant physical contact. She would wake up in Gaby's arms, wet and excited.
What was worse, Gaby could not help knowing it. They could smell changes in
each other's mood.
. But Gaby had said she didn't want her unless Cirocco could return her lov e.
Hadn't she? No. She thought back over it and realized all Gaby had said she
required was a sincere enthusiasm on Cirocco's part; she would not acce pt
lovemaking as therapy to ease her own pain.
All right. Cirocco had the enthusiasm. She had never felt it so strongly. Sh e
was holding back essentially because she was not homosexual, she was bisex ual
with a strong preference for the male sex, and felt she should not get i
nvolved with a woman who loved her unless she felt she could carry through b
eyond the first act of love.
Which had to qualify as the silliest thing she had ever heard.
Words, words, just stupid words. Listen to your body, and listen to your hear
t.
Her body had no reservations left, and her heart had only one. She turned o
ver and straddled Gaby. They kissed, and Cirocco began to stroke her.
"I can't say I love you and be honest about it, because I'm not sure I'd know
what it felt like with a woman. I'd die defending you, and your welfare is m
ore important to me than any other human being. I've never had a friend as go
od as you. If that isn't enough, I'll stop."
"Don't stop."
"When I loved a man, once, I wanted to have his children. What I feel for you
is very close to what I felt then, but it doesn't have that. I desire you . . [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]