14 Lawrence - You Act Like a Fool (2/2)
”No, should it?”
”It shouldn't, that is the point. That special something, let's call it an 'intelligence' for lack of a better symbol, is what is important. I feel that wherever we were before we were born to this life, we all had a common origin as intelligence's, in some other form. So now that we are here, in this life, it should make no difference what a person is; male or female, clothed or unclothed, light or dark, E.T. or Terran. Where do you come from?”
”I was born on Serengeti, but my parents were both E.T.s' from Norse. I think that I know what you mean, a little anyway. Norse is quite cold, and my parents grew up always wearing clothing except while taking steam baths and the like. Serengeti was hot. My parents were always trying to get me to wear something unless I was swimming or doing something similar. But on Serengeti, no one wore any more than they had to, excepting decoration or for practicality.”
”See that is what I'm talking about. How about Jack? Where does he come from?”
”Why I don't know.”
”Does it make any difference to you?”
”No. Not a bit,” and Michelle flushed slightly, turning her breasts a heavenly hue, thinking of her new husband.
”See, it doesn't matter at all. It just so happens that where I grew up, on Terra, we all wore clothing, all the time, even swimming. We were taught that our bodies were something special. Because we could, god-like, reproduce a small replica of ourselves, to clothe that intelligence, that soul or spirit, if you prefer that symbol, in a body. Because of that capability, I was taught that the ability and those parts of my body, used in reproduction, are special. They applied the symbol 'sacred' to it. Even now I feel that way. I've learned the ways of the empire, and I respect your decision to be and do things the way you want. In return, I expect you to respect my choices.
”Now that's a long answer, to a short question!” Michelle looked down her torso past her jutting breasts to her loins, and said, ”That is a sobering thought, 'Joining to cloth intelligence in a body.' I like it. I hadn't even planned on getting married for at least another ten or twenty years,” she blushed, ”but I'm glad I did. I think we will still keep to the overall plan, and not have kids till we are about sixty, like my parents.” Her mood suddenly swinging from the introspective to her normal exuberant self, Michelle suddenly erupted, ”OK, you're done. My turn!” Michelle said as she flopped down on her back.
Taking her foot in my hand, I began my part of ”the rites of the beach.” I had finished her front; I had to admit to myself that Michelle felt ”good”—with firm, well-toned muscles—quite different from most of the girls I knew. She was almost purring with satisfaction as I was finishing her back. I started to look around me, not that I had lost concentration, although her front did have more ”obstacles” to work around and over—but that I felt something had happened that I should be aware of, while I had been rubbing her down with sunscreen.
Just as I finished, my hands still on her neck, I think she was almost asleep; 'She' flowed slowly out of the waves, just as 'She' had so many years ago on Terra. It was . . . it had to be. She was wearing, if not the same, a similar white Bikini, as she had then. That may have been what attracted me to her in the first place. She was clothed, which lent an air of mystery that otherwise would not be present. She was fuller of limb now than as a teen, slightly taller and more mature. I had given up any pretense at politeness, and was frankly staring—trying to memorize every curve; her hair still had that subtle red tint. Her face, her eyes . . . my heart fell. She was Serina T'gerr, 'The Enemy.'
How could someone look so good on the outside, and be such slime on the inside? Serina must have noticed my staring—for she walked over and stood square in front of me—arching an eyebrow in question.
”Pardon me,” I said, tearing my eyes from hers, ”I had thought you were someone that I once knew.”
”Serina,” The young man with her said, ”let me introduce you to Lawrence Young, the embassy's new Senior Secretary,” startled I looked at him, it was Terrance, head of security at the embassy, ”Mr. Young, this is lieutenant T'gerr of the Imperial Marines .”
I was struggling inside myself; I suppose it was that she looked so good outside. However, I knew what she had become inside. I had to force myself not to show what I felt, and smiled at her, ”My friends call me Larry.”
She smiled back, ”Mine call me Serina. I've the strangest feeling that I've met you before. You said that you thought you knew me?”
Suddenly I recalled my memory of the White Bikini, ”Well sort of, several years ago I was on the beach in the southern section of Las Vegas, on Terra, and I saw a young lady who could have been your twin, including your white bikini.”
She paused for an instant, an intent look in her eyes, ”Yes! I do remember you. I remember because I saw you snorkeling the time you lost your snorkel—and surfaced, blowing, like a whale breaching! . . . Oh! By the way, this is the same swimsuit!” She laughed with delight.
It hurt that someone so vivacious and beautiful, could be so ugly on the inside and I tried to hate her. Blushing, I said, ”That was me, all right.”
Serina dropped to the sand, ”Looks like we must have been neighbors,” turning to look at Terrance, she said, ”Terry, I'll see you tonight at class, won't I?”
”Just as always—I need to go back home for a bit, so I'll be leaving now if that's OK with you?”
”No problem,” she said, dismissing him with a wave of her hand.
Michelle, who had been reclining on her arms, her legs twisted into the lotus position, had been watching our faces closely, flushed suddenly. ”I'll join you,” she said, ”I've been away from Jack too long already. We'll both be at class tonight, also, Serina.”
”Good, I'll see you all there. Would you like to come, Larry? We have beginner's classes if you prefer?”
”What kind of classes are they?”
”Exercise classes, but we teach an ancient form of self-defense called 'Judo,' as a way to avoid the boredom of most other exercise forms. It's not hard. Won't you come? I'd very much like to see you again.”
”Who could resist such a beautiful woman?” I said, smiling. ”I'll be there, in fact, I have the whole day off, and it appears that I've lost my guide, she got sick.”
Serina arched her eyebrow in her distinctive question asking expression.
” . . . Lovesick,” I clarified.
”Oh!—how about a swim?” Serina asked, ”I know this grotto that is fantastic.”
”Sure,” I assented.
”Stay here; I'll go get us a couple of gill packs, and tell the boss where I am.”