Part 9 (1/2)

”Uh ... hi. My name's ... Abi ... Abigail.” I flushed at the sudden attention. Even the singers had stopped and were looking at me.

”Well, Abi ... Abigail, come on in!” She waved a strong yet feminine hand around at the others, all in various states of undress. ”We're kinda informal here.”

I couldn't help but laugh, caught myself, raising a hand to my mouth, then slowly relaxed. Sarah grinned from ear to ear, icebreaker extraordinaire.

And after that, it was wonderfully, joyfully, fantastically easy. I disappeared in the group and was accepted. They all got back to their conversations and laughter and noise. Several walked up to introduce themselves and get my name, which, it dawned on me, they obviously couldn't have known before now.

”Just dump your stuff on the counter and grab a shower before the Birthday Suit Trio use up all the hot water.” Sarah's open, blunt friendliness was refres.h.i.+ng and just what I needed. Between their openness, the promise of a hot shower, and the racy song revving up in the background, this didn't just break the ice, it shattered and melted it as though in a blast furnace.

I took Sarah's advice and dumped my stuff on a not-soaking part of the counter. I undressed and walked into the showers. The girls singing the song were obviously building up to a climax, for their voices were reaching shouts. It was a bawdy, lewd, and flat out earthy song that left absolutely nothing to the imagination. As a kid years-centuries-ago, I had always wondered what went on inside girls' locker rooms. If this were a sampling, it wasn't much different than boys' locker rooms. As I rubbed the shampoo into my hair, working it through the tresses, I felt even more at ease. Sarah had taken the showerhead beside me and was singing the final refrain. At the last line, the whole place chimed in, and what they lacked in talent they covered with enthusiasm. They finished, laughing loudly. Sarah grinned at me, looking a little surprised at my surprise.

”Not what you'd expect, huh?”

”Uh ... no. Maybe a little more, um, reserved.”

”Yeah, that's right, you're used to guys' rooms, aren't you?” She eyed me quickly and brazenly, ”Doesn't look like you'll be wandering in there anymore though, huh?” She laughed loudly, and several others gave a laugh as well.

I started stammering, and she guffawed. So help me, she guffawed. She slapped a soapy hand on my back, shattering three or four vertebrae.

”Well, maybe the research crowd's more your group. Company A's not too up on their manners. Right, ladies?” They proudly shouted their agreement. ”But we're a lot more refined than the guys.”

I finished coughing and started rinsing out my hair. She was probably using the word refined in the petroleum sense. The Birthday Suit Trio started another song. If it wasn't clear that this simply was the way they were, I'd be suspicious they were trying to embarra.s.s me. I shut off the water regretfully and padded to the counter.

On the other hand, maybe they were trying to embarra.s.s me. As I toweled off, the Birthday Suit Trio sang their next song, one that gave a vivid account of a young girl's first ... um ... tryst. By the time they had finished this one, everyone was singing the song at me. I can take a joke, and I enjoyed this one, though it didn't keep my face from turning red at the colorful description of her exploits. But I preferred to dish it out. I searched back through my head looking for just the right response. They finished and laughed, seeing what I'd do.

I took a seat on the counter, my towel wrapped tight, and sang them the song of the Scotsman, and what he wore under his kilt. My heart was racing again, and my voice had nowhere near the depth or volume I was used to. But I gave it a pretty credible effort nonetheless.

By the time I reached the third verse, where the two girls were sneaking up on the drunk, sleeping Scotsman to peek under his kilt, they were enjoying themselves immensely, and joining in on the rumtum-tiddle-iddle-ah-de-o refrain. By the fourth verse, where they leave a pretty blue ribbon tied around their discovery before leaving, my audience was howling, waiting for the ending. And the fifth verse, which ends with the Scotsman answering nature's call and finding the neatly tied ribbon, had them hooting when I reached the last line: ”Ah, lad, I don't know where ye been, but I see ye won first prize!”

I had to sing the ditty twice more before they'd let me finish dressing. By that time, they had memorized it and the group had started breaking up. Sarah lingered a bit, combing out my hair for me.

”You're all right, Abby! I figured you'd go nuts, getting messed up like this.” She tugged my hair to show what she meant.

”I wondered, too, Sarah. At first. But it's growing on me.”

”And you're growing on us, girl. Real quick. I missed the cafeteria stunt, but they told me all about it. And when you showed up here, I couldn't resist giving you the treatment. Hope you don't mind.”

”Mind?” I said incredulously, ”Sarah, it was great! So many people were treating me like I was made of porcelain, I was about ready to scream. I liked it, but I needed something I could sink my teeth into. I guess it's the man in me.”

”Nah. It ain't the man, Abby. You're all woman. It's you, man or woman, that's doing this. I've seen a buncha Cues, an' I'll kill for any of them, but so far, you're the most fun. We like that.”

”We?”

”Yeah, enforcement. Each regiment, we're the Third, is divided into two main groups: Research and Enforcement. Research does the head work of finding Cues worth bringing back. By worth I mean, probably able to survive. They also do all the personal stuff with the Cues. Enforcement puts the bite into the outfit. We make the bio and punitive raids. And we work together, too. You're with Susie, ain't you?” I nodded. ”Man, that gal is smart. But she can be wicked cold, too. A top notch dog.” At my look, she broke off. ”Yeah, well, let her tell you. But let me tell you, Abby, you're safe as can be when you're with Susie.”

I stayed silent, thinking that over, while she finished my hair. By this time we were the only ones left of the original group, though several others had come in and out. I picked up my robe and other things and turned to Sarah.

”Thanks so much for the 'treatment', Sarah. I loved it.”

”Hey, thanks to you, Abby! We learned a brand new song today. Just wait 'til the boys hear it.” She laughed at my blush. ”I'll tell the girls to keep it quiet about whose it is, if they can. Catch ya later, Abby.” She pushed my shoulder affectionately, knocking me back a half step, and left, singing the last verse.

Now that was an experience I thought to myself as I strolled back to my room. It had an immediate and terrific effect, however. This time I smiled cheerfully at everyone walking by, saying hi and introducing myself. One of the soldiers, a young man with a smooth face, even looked after me as we pa.s.sed. And while I wasn't even remotely tempted to swish my skirt, I wasn't put off by him either.

I reached my door and it was still solid, meaning Susie was still asleep or wanted privacy. I was sure I could enter, though. I cleared my throat and asked for entrance. It remained solid, so I raised my voice a bit and repeated my request. It still remained solid. I was about to really put some volume into it when it came to me. Anyone could exit a room, but only specific voices could enter a room. And since we hadn't had much time since the IHAD ... I ... HAD ... A surge of humiliation and ... I clenched my teeth and made it pa.s.s. Susie had not yet had the opportunity to code my voice. So here I stood, locked outside of my own room.

I had a choice. Pound on the door or go to breakfast. A very unladylike and insistently growling gut voted for breakfast. Figuring only laundry personnel or perverts would pick up dirty underwear, I left my things by the door and strolled down the corridor to the mess. Loud and boisterous noises poured from the opening.

It was comfortably full, but still had some seating. First things first, my vocal stomach reminded me. I got in line and, as always, was quickly whisked to the front. Two of the men even bowed slightly, smiling. I smiled back and did a little curtsy. I then put the tray on the counter and made a very big mental note to myself that I was going to have to watch myself. I didn't want to give the wrong ideas, but judging from the dazed smiles on their faces, I was in danger of doing just that.

Cookie, as I had mentally dubbed Hill the chef, was serving up chow and tried to coax me into taking a mountain of eggs and potatoes. I'd learned my lesson, though, and, smiling sweetly at him, took a modest amount of each. I filled a cup with coffee, then put it back, remembering my last taste. I considered the hot chocolate, but settled with just juice.

I looked around for a place to sit and heard a shout. Turning, I saw Dr. Barrett waving at me, pointing to an empty seat opposite him. I walked over, and he stood while I seated myself. After I said my prayers, he nodded approvingly at my breakfast.

”Good. It's nice to see you eating. Though I'm a little surprised to see you up so early. Just a little.” He looked around. ”Where's Corporal Lendler?”

”Sleeping. She was exhausted. I gave her quite a time last night, and I have a feeling she had stayed up the whole time, waiting for me to wake up from ... from...” I stared off, feeling the ... feeling the...

”Snap out of it, girl!”

I shook my head, and smiled weakly, wiping my sweaty palms against my skirt. ”Sorry, Doctor. It's just that every time ... every time...”

”Young lady!” He snapped, his voice barely raised. He waited until I met his gaze. ”Don't worry. The aftereffects are unpleasant, and they do linger for several days, but they will pa.s.s. Just try to avoid thinking too much of ... it.”

I nodded. ”I had noticed that, too. That's why it was so wonderful taking a shower with Company A. I didn't think I'd live at first, but ... what's wrong, Doctor?”

He had set his coffee cup down sharply, clattering it on the table. ”You showered with the Company A ladies?” he demanded. I nodded again. ”So you were treated to the Birthday Suit Trio?” I smiled. ”I've never heard them, no man has to my knowledge, unless we count you. But I've heard of them.” He peered at me. ”Are they as wicked as rumors say?”

I giggled and shoved some eggs into my mouth. ”I've never heard the rumors. And since this seems to be a girl thing, I'll keep the rest to myself. Oh, and Doctor?” he looked up at my pointed tone. ”Never count me as a man again.”

He looked at me thoughtfully. ”You'll do, girl. You'll do. I have never seen your like, and part of me

never hopes to again. You're blowing all our past experiences with Cues right out of the system.”

I shrugged. ”I don't know about that, either. But I'm determined to make the best of this.” I stopped.

”That's not right. I'm not making the best of this. I'm enjoying who and what I am.” I smiled at him. ”I have you to thank, Doctor. Again.”