by Caro Soles
The boy shook his head solemnly. “I was sent to make the rounds of the sub-chiefs when they were here. It was the season of tallies. I was…disappointed to miss the visitors, but I hear very few of us met them.”
Beny was puzzled to hear this, but he said nothing and merely returned Luan’s smile. The boy’s dark eyes were shining with curiosity and friendliness.
“Are you lonely so far from your home?”
“I haven’t had time to be lonely yet,” Beny replied.
Luan reached out to touch Beny’s hair. “We have heard strange stories about you people. Are they all small and fair like you?”
“I am quite tall for a Merculian,” said Beny with dignity. “And we are not all fair. Haven’t you seen my staff?”
“There is not one as good-looking as you,” replied the boy, gazing at Beny with frank admiration. “You look very young to be an Ambassador.”
“I’m not as young as I look,” laughed Beny. He considered telling the boy his age but realized this wouldn’t mean anything unless he wanted to divulge a whole lot more about Merculians. He adjusted the lace at his wrists and pushed back a lock of hair with one small hand.
The boy watched him closely. He eyed the velvet clothes, the elegant slippers, the bracelets, the rings. “Have you crossed the hall to the woman’s side?” he asked tentatively.
“I don’t think I follow you.” Beny frowned in concentration, trying to get some sense out of the words.
The boy hesitated. “Could I come and talk to you some time? Not tonight, of course. Tonight I expect to dream of you.”
“You are welcome anytime, Luan.”
The boy brushed Beny’s thigh with his hand and Beny felt a jolt of sexual interest. Before he could react, the boy jumped to his feet and was quickly lost in the smoke. Ah, Beny thought to himself with a smile. Those kind of dreams. He glanced over at the group of women watching them from across the hall. Was growing up more difficult with two sexes? Beny suppressed a sigh as a long procession of sticky, sugar-coated pastries appeared on large wooden trays carried effortlessly by the efficient servers. Then an intricately carved pipe began making the rounds. The bowl was shaped like an animal’s head, the stem long and curved and flexible. As if there isn’t enough smoke here already, thought Beny. Resignedly, he accepted the pipe and put it to his lips. It was a token gesture only. He had never understood the idea of smoking. He gave it to Thar-von who proceeded to draw deeply, much to Beny’s surprise, before passing it on amid grunts of approval. A peculiar smell hung in the air for some time.
“It is late, Lords and Elders.” The Am Quarr was on his feet, now. The others were getting up in one single, fluid motion that Beny found impossible to imitate. Thar-von helped him to his feet. Beny saw the amusement on the dark faces as the men started to drift towards the women who were still chattering together on the other side of the hall. The Great Chief turned his back and began talking to a tall, spare old man who leaned on a carved staff. He had long, thinning white hair and deep-set black eyes.
The First Minister laid a hand on Beny’s arm. “I see you are interested in meat after all,” he murmured. “Although not, perhaps, the four-legged variety.” He smiled with a flash of white teeth.
“I beg your pardon?”
“Never beg, Ambassador.” Tquan raised a long finger in the air and for a moment, was all seriousness. Then he laughed and thumped Beny on the back, making him stumble. “Enjoy your evening.” He stepped into the group of men. They parted before him as he strode off.
Beny glanced at Thar-von, who stood nearby, his face an unreadable mask. Beny turned away uncertainly. Life is so much more difficult when one doesn’t know the rules, he thought. Straightening his narrow shoulders, he started for the door. He knew Thar-von would follow, three paces behind. He walked slowly, taking the time to sense the feelings of those he passed. There was some hostility, some ridicule, a lot of curiosity, even amusement. He quickened his pace. How long could he live in an atmosphere like this?
As he neared the doorway, he passed the Merculian office staff who were grouped near the entrance, waiting for him. As he went by, they smiled and silently clapped their hands in support. Only Talassa-ran was not applauding.
THREE
Morning sunlight poured into the room, breaking into miniature rainbows as it shone through the cut glass edges of the round windows. There were five of them, placed high up in the wall, so that all that could be glimpsed of the outside world was the cloudless, lavender sky of Abulon. This color was repeated in the glinting stones that studded the ceiling and adorned the base of the bed that dominated the room. On a raised platform of greenish marble opposite the bed was an oval pool, its shimmering surface in continual movement. A living curtain of blue-green leaves trailed down the wall behind it. To one side of the bed was a group of carved, uncomfortable wooden armchairs with cushions that matched the leaves. Beny was asleep. He looked very small in the huge bed, his red-gold curls bright against the pale green of the pillows. He stirred, uncurling into a languid stretch as he turned onto his back. He opened his eyes. As he raised his head, he found himself face to face with a large, dog-like creature who stared at him expectantly with three clear, green eyes. Its coat was mottled grey and brown, its hide smooth and shiny like patent leather. Two ears stood up straight on top of its head like twin flags and a long thin tail undulated, snakelike, from side to side. It was enormous!
Beny sat up slowly, clutching the covers against him as if for protection. “Nice dog?” he said questioningly.
It moved closer.
Beny shrank back against the wall in terror. Cautiously he reached for the small communication device lying on a recessed shelf beside the bed, his eyes fastened on the creature.
“Von? Are you there? Quick! I need you!” Thar-von had grown up surrounded by all sorts of strange creatures. His mother was the Serpian authority on animal behavior.
“I’m on my way!”
Beny wilted with relief. The dog hadn’t moved. Neither had Beny. They stared at each other unblinkingly. The dog sat down.
A moment later the door flew open and Thar-von strode in, a Serpian blaster in one hand.
“I don’t think it’s quite that drastic,” said Beny in a small voice. “I panicked. It’s awfully big.” Thar-von suppressed his amusement into a sort of coughing snort. He sat down on the bed and held out a hand for the animal to sniff. “Look, Ben, it’s just a dog. A little unusual and large, but basically just a dog. Didn’t you see them last night at the banquet?”
“No, I did not.” Beny was hurt by the lack of sympathy. “I’m sorry if you think I overreacted but I’m not more than six feet tall and I’m not used to animals and…he terrifies me.”
Thar-von patted the animal’s smooth, broad head. “I wasn’t laughing at you. I was relieved that nothing really serious had happened.”
“It must be difficult for you, having a friend like me,” said Beny thoughtfully. Thar-von began to look uncomfortable as he always did when things threatened to get personal and Beny didn’t pursue the subject. He suspected his Serpian friend might not understand his fear.
“Would you give me that robe, Von?”
Thar-von handed it to him and carefully turned his back as Beny slid out of bed. Even though he had been Beny’s roommate at the I.P.A. Academy for a year, he found even the thought of Merculian nakedness very disturbing.
Beny shrugged into the robe and fastened it around his trim waist with the wide sash. The deep pleats fell to the floor in graceful folds, accentuating the swell of his hips. He touched his hair uncertainly.
“What are we going to do with the brute, Von?”
“I’ve got one, too. It arrived while I was out on my early morning run. Met me at the door wagging its scrawny tail. I gather from the servants they’re some sort of watch dogs, meant to keep us safe. They’re called a ‘friendship gift’ and every one of us has one. I suspect they would not be pleased if we gave them back.”
&
nbsp; “Marvelous,” said Beny, eying the beast uneasily. “Bloody marvelous!” He edged cautiously past it and hitched himself up onto a chair. The creature padded over at once and laid its huge head on his lap.
“I think you’ve made a conquest,” said Thar-von with a smile. “And speaking of conquests, the Chief’s son is waiting in the other room to have breakfast with you.”
Beny burst out laughing. “Oh, Von! Do you suppose he thinks it’s an ancient Merculian custom for the Ambassador to be awakened by a man with a drawn gun?”
“Possibly,” said Thar-von. “I didn’t stop to explain.” Beny gingerly dislodged the dog’s head, climbed down from the chair and went to the door. Young Luan was standing at the window, one shoulder leaning against the wall, one hand on his hip. The sad, dark eyes were dreaming. Although not tall for an Abulonian, he was nearly six feet. He wore a loose-fitting white shirt, embroidered with multicolored flowers. The gold amulet on a thong around his neck matched his earring. The dark blue pants were tucked into very shiny boots.
Thar-von leaned over Beny discreetly. “Please keep in mind that he’s the Chief’s son,” he whispered warningly.
“Don’t be a mother hen, Von.”
The dog followed them into the room and lay down with its head on its paws, watching.
“I hope you haven’t been waiting long,” said Beny, smiling at the boy.
Luan bowed, his long, black hair swinging forward on each side of his face. “It is of no consequence, Excellency.”
“Oh please, Luan! Let’s drop the diplomatic jargon between ourselves. Agreed?”
The boy nodded, seeming to relax. “Sure,” he replied easily.
“If you don’t need me any more, Ben, I’d better go down to the office and see how Zox and the others are getting along.” Thar-von opened the door and hesitated. Standing on the threshold was a stocky bald male with strange, slanted copper eyes.
“This is a personal gift to the Ambassador from my father,” said Luan, stepping forward.
“A servant?” asked Beny uncertainly.
“An android,” replied Luan. He handed Beny a silver cylinder with two buttons on one end. “The red one is to summon him. See? The blue one will send him to the nearest DQ.”
“I beg your pardon?
“Sorry. ‘Droid Quarter’. It’s where we keep them when not in use. The red button will bring him to you from anywhere in the building. He also responds to voice commands.”
“He’s marvelous!” exclaimed Beny in delight, circling the android. “Does he have a name?”
“Dhakan Biandor.”
“He’s perfect! He looks just like a person, doesn’t he, Von? Except for those metallic eyes. He’s much more lifelike than the ones we have at home.”
Thar-von made a noncommittal noise, bowed in the general direction of Beny and Luan and stepped around the android on his way out the door.
Beny was lost in thought. So far, he had seen little evidence of advanced technology, apart from the shuttle port facilities, which, after all, had been prepared for them. It had been his impression that the main reason Abulon wanted to join the Inter-Planetary Alliance was to update its hardware. He had noticed a peculiar emphasis on the crude and simple aspects of life here. And now this…. It was puzzling.
“My father will be pleased that you like the gift,” Luan said. “I hope it’s all right for me to come to see you like this?” He looked at Beny anxiously and fingered the amulet. “I was just going to have breakfast. Will you join me? I hate to eat alone.” Beny knelt in front of a large, blue chest set against one wall. He opened the double doors to reveal row after row of small drawers.
Luan knelt beside him and examined the cabinet curiously, running his hand over the utterly smooth surface. “This feels very…strange. What is it?”
“A portable FoodArt synthesizer,” Beny explained, and pointed out the small console built into the back of the door. He punched in the code for biscuits, honey and pamayo juice. “I hope you’re not too hungry,” he went on apologetically. “Judging by last night, you’re used to much more substantial fare. I have a weak stomach, I’m afraid, and I find it safer when I’m traveling to stick to a few familiar things as much as possible.”
Lights flashed on in front of three of the drawers. Beny stood up and as he did so, his hand brushed the cold, wet leathery nose of the dog which had moved up noiselessly behind him. Without thinking, Beny flung himself at Luan who instantly put his arms around him protectively.
“It’s all right,” the boy said softly. “The dog would never attack you. He’s trained to guard and he’s very gentle with his owner.”
“Are you sure he knows I’m his owner?” asked Beny nervously.
“He knows. He will protect you, now.” Beny was beginning to feel a little foolish, kneeling on the floor pressed against the boy. A strong sexual current radiated from the boy but what surprised Beny was the warm tenderness he sensed so strongly. Luan’s hand caressed his back gently, as if almost afraid of hurting him. Beny looked up at his face, the flushed cheeks, the soft, dark eyes….
“Luan—”
“Please don’t say you’re sorry,” breathed the boy. His hand moved up into Beny’s hair.
Beny felt the soft, melting, feminine side of him reach out to the boy, responding to his touch, his dark voice, the musky, male smell that was so alien, yet so attractive. It was exactly the sort of situation Thar-von had been warning him about. It would be so easy to let go, to close his eyes and put his arms around that strong body…. Orosin At’hali Benvolini, you are an idiot! he told himself severely. Out loud he said, “I’m getting hungry. Are you?” He pushed hesitantly against the boy’s chest. Reluctantly, Luan released him. Beny stood up and smiled as he straightened his robe. He was more shaken than he cared to admit. “I shall have to practice giving the dog orders,” he said. “I can’t always count on having a good-natured stranger around to throw myself at for protection.” He turned away and emptied the little drawers, arranging their contents on the round table and pouring the juice into tall, fluted glasses. He curled up in a chair, both feet tucked under him, and proceeded to spread honey on a biscuit.
Luan sat down cross-legged on a stool opposite him. He sipped some pamayo juice cautiously, nodded approval and finished it off. The sun glinted on the gold ring in his ear as he tossed back his long hair with one slim, brown hand.
“Tell me about yourself, Luan. What do you do all day long?”
“Oh, I’m not very interesting.” Luan dropped his eyes and turned the heavy ring around and around on his thumb. “Until a few months ago, I had a tutor following me around, trying to force me to learn all about the country, its geography, administrative set-up, who heads what section, all that stuff. Boring, really. But I like meeting the leaders and sub-chiefs, like what I was doing when the I.P.A. Contact group was here. And, of course, getting to know you.” He gazed at Beny adoringly. “I’ve never met a man like you before.”
Beny busied himself with the biscuits, wondering exactly how much Merculian physiology it was necessary to give this boy. “Strictly speaking, I’m not a man, you know,” he said. “All Merculians are the same sex. We’re hermaphrodites. Do you understand?”
Luan blinked. “It doesn’t matter. You’re very beautiful, like the sun I see so often in my dreams.”
Beny laughed. “Oh, Luan! I’m different, that’s all.”
“All the mothers of Abulon will be lined up three deep to introduce you to their daughters, just the same. No one really explained…about that.”
“At least I don’t have to worry about them introducing me to their sons, then,” answered Beny with a twinkle. “That should save some time. Tell me, Luan, is the position of Chief hereditary?”
The boy nodded, his eyes serious again.
“So, you’re going to be Chief when you’re older.”
“Not if I can help it.” Luan was studying the carved table leg. “Anyway, it’s not that simple. The Council has
to approve and I don’t think I’d ever get enough votes. I’m not the kind of person they admire. I’m not a Hunter. I keep trying to explain this to my father but he won’t listen to me, so I go to the meetings and try to make sense of what’s going on. Half of it I don’t understand and the rest I don’t agree with. Sometimes, when I do say something, the First Minister listens, but my father only laughs. He laughs at my dreams.” He got to his feet. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to ramble on about myself.”
“It’s all very interesting to me. I don’t have much information about Abulon, you know. The Contact Team concentrated mostly on technical things, like setting up the landing facilities.” Luan stood close beside him, now, his long lashes dark against his cheek. One hand dropped onto Beny’s knee. “Are you married?” he asked softly, not looking at him.
“No, Luan. I’m too young, by our standards. But I have given my love-jewel to someone at home. His name’s Eulio and he’s a principal with the dance company that’s coming next week.”
Luan withdrew his hand and turned away. “I see.” He wandered over to the window and looked out. “I should have known,” he murmured sadly.
Beny watched him for a moment, a smile in his sherry-brown eyes. The boy was good to look at, tall and well-made, with the slight awkwardness of limbs not quite grown into.
Beny got to his feet and went over to stand beside him. “Don’t take it so hard, Luan. You’re very attractive, you know. Those Abulonian mothers you mentioned must be lined up for you, too. No?”
The boy put a hand to his hair and tugged at it nervously. “No, thanks be to the gods. Most of them have given up.” He took an unsteady breath. “Look… I couldn’t get any sleep last night for thinking about you. The dreams… They were different this time. I don’t understand.”
Beny laid a hand on the boy’s trembling arm. “Hush, Luan. Don’t say any more. I do find you very attractive, but… It’s not possible. We mustn’t speak about it again.” Beny reached up with his small hand and followed the line of the boy’s cheek with his fingers. The skin was smooth and warm to his touch. Luan turned his head suddenly and kissed Beny’s hand.