Sirens 
By Clam Chowder


"Where am I?"

He'd seen a signal fire along the foggy shore... then water was everywhere...

Jim Bob opened his eyes and immediately shut them. The light was bright.

Had he seen angels too?

He put a hand in front of his face and cracked his eyelids.

"You're on the Island of Sirens."

"Sirens? Like the myth?" He rubbed his eyes and adjusted to the daylight
flooding the palatial room. He drank in the beautiful woman standing over him.
"You don't look half-fish," he joked.

"Oh," she purred. "You'll be tasting my fishy parts soon enough."

"Oh yeah?" A horny sailor needed no further encouragement- Wait. What about
the beacon? "First there's someone around here who needs rescuing. I got a
distress call-"

"That would be us," a tall amazon proclaimed. He sat up as she stepped forward
from a throng of women assembled around his bed. "We are the ones in need of
rescuing. And as your Queen, I claim the right of first night!"

"Aw," the crowd murmured.

"So there's no emergency?" Jimmy asked.

"We are the emergency," she said slipping her pants off. "We haven't had a man
here in five years. The rest of you leave," she barked. The divine ladies
clothed in long flowing robes filed through the various doors of the chamber
in graceful, long lines. A masterpiece of every variation on the feminine form
paraded by- "You will understand if I dispense with the pleasantries." She
straddled his hips and placed his throbbing erection inside her.

"Sure," he smiled. "Anything to help." Was he dreaming? He hoped he'd never
wake up.

"How strong are you?"

"Fairly strong. Why? You need help repairing my yacht?"

"Your yacht is destroyed. Every ship that lands here is destroyed. It is part
of the curse," she said as she bounced up and down on his pole. "I am sorry,
but you won't be leaving. None of us is leaving."

He sighed. This could sure beat counting beans for a living. And he wouldn't
have to worry about jealousy. They sure seemed to be into sharing. "So I'm
stuck here on an island of gorgeous women?" He shrugged it off. "I can think
of worse things."

"You may. Now, how many times can you orgasm in any given night?"

"I don't know. Two, maybe three."

"Three? That's all? We may not have enough time until the next new moon. There
are a hundred of us..." She looked up at the ceiling while her heavy breasts
hopped up and down beneath her plain blouse. Her eyes rolled back as she did a
calculation.

"The new moon's 26 days away. I'd have to sleep with almost four women a
night."

"You are correct."

"Listen, I want to oblige and all... I know you must be pretty horny, but...
uh, I really think I should pace myself. I lose interest after just once- "

"We do not have the time. You must get us pregnant before then. When you find
out why, you will want all the sex you can."

"Pregnant!?" He tried to push her off. "Now listen, I don't want a hundred
kids screaming and calling me daddy-"

She pinned his weak, waterlogged limbs to the bed. "That will not be a
problem," she grinned. "Now cooperate or I will summon the guards."

"Boy, you aren't much for romance."

"I am the Queen. I do what I must. And do not flatter yourself thinking you
will replace my consort. Enough talk." She pulled her top off revealing two
cantaloupes Jimmy was all too happy to run through his fingers. The woman
leaned forward and proceeded to attempt what he could only guess was some
primitive form of tonsillectomy.

The Queen was relentless in her assault of his cock. Her hips wouldn't stop.
She smothered his face with a lust he'd never experienced, sliding her stiff
nipples and soft warm breasts against his chest as she filled his mouth with
her sticky tongue. She flipped every switch in him she could find.

His hands drifted to her rippled posterior in a vain attempt to draw out their
enjoyment. But as he kneaded her muscular, jiggling buns as she pounded away
at him, it only turned him on more.

If he could just get some bit of control... make it last a little longer...

Too late. He could feel his seed spurting into her hot depths.

He shouldn't have spent so much time off fishing by himself. He had no
endurance. It was almost embarrassing.

She broke off the kiss and observed his expression with mild curiosity as her
hips came to a halt.

That one moment, as the last of his essence splashed against her cervix... had
he detected a note of feminine softness in her eyes? Sympathy, perhaps? Her
determination had calmed briefly...

No. There it was again.

He held on to her waist as she tried to climb from bed.

"But you didn't come yet, did you?"

He was never that inconsiderate.

"It is unimportant. You must now service my lover." Geez. That was pressing
even his considerable politeness. "Do not try to tempt her as you have done
with me."

What? She didn't like the way he grabbed her breasts? What was he supposed to
do, tie his hands up?

"You're welcome," he said wryly.

"Next!" she shouted. "After this you may rest a while."

She stood and as she clapped her hands, Jimmy felt the urge to draw a sheet
over his waist.

Two serving girls appeared, pretty in their own right, to wrap their Queen in
a large red sheet. One of the girls couldn't keep her eyes off of him.

"Where are you going? Not gonna stay to keep an eye on us?" he teased.

"I must recline in the royal chambers so I may conserve your seed. Do not make
it necessary to post a guard."

"I'm only kidding."

"The burdens of state have relieved me of my sense of humor in these matters.
Enough. I must hurry. Already I feel you dripping from me. Once was all I
could stand."

Lovely woman, he thought to himself. Must not be fond of men. I hope the
company gets better.

The serving girl winked lewdly at him before leaving to follow her queen.

Hm. Maybe it would get better...

"Hope it's a boy," he said to the amazon's shimmying backside.

"Thank you," she replied as her ass scuttled around the corridor and then
winked out like a candle.

Shortly, another woman appeared in the portal, dressed in a soft pink toga.
Her straight blonde hair was pulled behind her in a decorative ribbon. She had
the loveliest blue eyes. He could tell from here. He loved blue eyes. He could
spot them from any distance.

Uh-oh.

He remembered the warning. This one just might tempt him. He could be in
trouble here.

The vision spoke in such casual tones. "She can be a little bitchy when she
has to do something she doesn't want to. Don't worry."  She walked to his side
of the bed and took a seat, stroking his gravelly whiskers with care and
fascination. "Say... you are kind of cute." Her face lit up. "No wonder she
wouldn't let me in the room while you slept."

"Are you going to flirt with me and get my head chopped off?"

"What?" she giggled.

She couldn't stop cracking up. She almost slid to the floor.

Had he said something funny for this culture?

She smirked. "You personal safety is fine, though she does think my eye
wanders too much." The blonde carefully unwrapped her toga and pulled the
folds over her head, revealing the two wonderfully formed milky teardrops
hanging from her chest. "You can have lunch after we're finished and rest a
few hours before the afternoon."

"Then it's back to work?"

"I'm afraid so."

"You seem to have a much more pleasant disposition than the Queen." Ooops. He
shouldn't have said that to the Queen's girlfriend.

"Thank you." She shrugged. "One of us has to be a- " She stopped herself. "She
really is quite nice in private. I always tell her she should be a little
softer at official events but it hardly matters. There are so few. The rest of
the time she's quite personable."

He chuckled. "So I'm an official event, huh?"

"I'm afraid so," she repeated. "I'm sorry about it. So what's your name?" she
asked, changing the subject and dragging a nail under the sensitive part of
his chin.

He was glad someone finally wanted to know. HeĠd like to be a person and less
of an exhibit in his own dream.

"Jim Bob Baker. My friends call me Jimmy. You didn't save my boots did you?
Those suckers were expensive."

"I'm Dahlia. It is a pleasure to meet you." He shook the gorgeous, half-
dressed woman's delicate hand, then he let it wander back on its way. "I fear
everyone washes up on the island naked, Jimmy." She caressed the sensitive
flesh behind his kidney. "It is part of the curse. I'll have them send you a
robe and some comfortable sandals when we're done. We should have a pair large
enough in storage."

What was this curse thing all about? It wasn't much of a curse if it meant
beautiful women waiting on you hand and foot.

"That's mighty kind of you, little lady." He brushed her hair back and stroked
her cheek.

"It's just sex, now." She took his wrist in her tender grip. "I don't mind
being sweet about it, but just so you know."

"Sure. I'm hardly royalty."

"It's not that..."

"I'm not looking for a harem anyway."

She giggled. "I like you. You're nice... Shhh," she whispered. "Don't tell her
I said that."

"Don't worry." He grinned back at her. "I think you're nice too. And I
understand. I've never much cared for the dykes that hung out at the bars back
home but you ladies seem to me exceptional sweet... in every meaning of the
word. I can imagine what not having a man in five years would be like. You all
got yourselves in quite a predicament here and I can understand what it must
have forced you to do."

She pinched him. "It kind of turns you on, doesn't it? Admit it."

"Yeah. How'd you guess?"

"Oh... I just know how men think is all. And I'm pretty good at spotting an
erection."

He looked down at himself and smiled sheepishly. He was getting hard again and
his absent-mindedness only fed her giggles.

She was certainly quite a change from the Queen. He hoped she'd be a little
more passive. At least enough so she didn't bounce his balls black and blue...

Dahlia stood and lowered the rest of her robe, revealing a wonderfully trim
wedge of carpet to match her golden hair.

She laid down on the bed beside him, flat on her back and spread her legs
slightly, leaving him the chance to savor her form.

"Will the Queen mind if we have a little foreplay? You've got a very pretty
body I'd like to enjoy."

"Sure. Go ahead. I'd like to do what I can to make you happy." She glanced
down at his crotch. "If you... want anything at all from me... just ask."

Her sudden coyness was quite erotic.

Jimmy turned on his side and rose up, pushing her knee back until he was
between her legs. The cushions of her soft bosom greeted his chest.

They kissed, finally quenching his thirst for tenderness. He couldn't wait to
make love to this beauty.

Her hips writhed gently against his, quietly confessing her passion for him.
He moved lower to give some attention to her nipples when she put a soft hand
on his shoulder.

He looked into her wide, affectionate eyes.

"Will you be gentle about it? It's my first time with a man..." she sighed,
"in quite a while."

Her soft voice was so touching. The way she paused before that last part...

He kissed her breast. "I'm sure it's that way for all of you."

She smiled. "Yes. I suppose it is."

---

Jimmy took another bite of the food that had been left at the table. The room
was completely deserted. Were they paying him a courtesy by finally giving him
a little privacy?

Where were the promised clothes? The food had been laying there since he'd
first awaken.

He finished off the apple and left its core on the plate with the other
leftovers before cleaning his fingers in the serving bowl.

He was hoping there was something special in the fruits around here. He was
really tired out. He sipped the cup of nectar. Even without the near drowning
to contend with, he'd still need a little extra something to keep the pace up
they had in mind for him.

Was this some strange Fantasy Island or something? One that gave you more than
you wanted?

He couldn't figure it out.

A month or something? Was that the length of this vacation? Probably some
weird menstrual thing. Then what? They sent him back after that? Were the
little vixens hiding his ship?

But wouldn't it be dark during the new moon? He'd have to steer by the
stars...

He was too worn out to think clearly about it.

He reclined in bed again and stared at the ornate ceiling.

Dahlia had been such fun. She almost broke his heart when he climaxed and she
pushed him from her gentle embrace. Usually it was the man who wanted to be
alone.

She was so demure about it, but still...

He wanted to hold her more.

Had he pleased her? Had she enjoyed it? She seemed to... He hoped so...

She blew him a good-bye kiss and trotted out the same door the Queen had left
by, her ass's pretty W jiggling a dance all its own.

Would that be the departing view of all his lovers?

She was the last person he'd seen.

How long ago was that? An hour?

Ah well... he could always break another heart this afternoon.

Or have his broken. Yet another woman tiptoeing away from his bed after he'd
had his fun with her... but before she'd had hers...

He could almost taste the ocean spray from here.

How close was shore? It was like sunning on the deck of his yacht...

The brine reminded him of how her thatch had tasted... the way she squirmed
under his tongue... biting her finger to keep from crying out...

No air conditioning, he realized lazily. That was the problem...

He fell asleep in the warm air.

---

Jimmy yawned in the summer light now angling through the opposite set of
windows.

Was it afternoon already?

His ordeal had taken more out of him than he'd thought.

He should have trawled the bars a little harder instead of doing something
stupid like going fishing by himself for three days.

Then again, he seemed to have caught all the women he'd ever want...

He chuckled. Teach a man to fish and he eats for a-

He heard a noise in a corner of the room. The serving girl there kept smiling
at him.

So it wasn't all a dream...

She set the promised clothes at the foot of his bed.

"Rested?" she asked.

"Yeah. Where did everyone go?"

"The Queen ordered you be given a chance to sleep."

"I guess I was still a bit tired."

"It's understandable. Getting here always takes its toll."

He looked the somewhat average-sized redhead over. She had a lovely voice.

She did look somewhat unremarkable for around here, which made her stunningly
attractive by every other standard. Curly hair that tripped over her soft
white shoulders, highlighting the narrow, delicate bones in her neck. Well
curved hips. And just a hint of ample cleavage was available through her toga.

Green eyes. He'd missed her lovely green eyes.

How did an Irish girl find her way to an obscure island of Greek amazons in
the Mediterranean? One apparently lost from civilization?

"What's your name?"

"Amber."

"We haven't met yet. I'm Jimmy."

She shook his hand. "Yes I know. Your name has made its way around."

"I hear I'm to make my way around too." He smiled as he looked her up and down
one more time. "I hope you're on my list."

She blushed and then laughed. "Next week, I think. I did fairly well in the
lottery."

"Ha! They're raffling me off!"

She smiled. "That's one way of looking at it," she said as she fluffed his
pillows. "Another would be to say that we're raffling ourselves off." She
smirked and circled the bed to look at him. "You wouldn't be unhappy to win a
few minutes with me, would you?"

"Not at all. More than a few minutes I hope... So they let slaves enter the
raffle too?"

"Slaves? I'm not a slave. I just work here. We're all free individuals on the
island."

"With a Queen?"

"Oh. I know what you're thinking," she said as she went about straightening
his sheets. "We haven't had that sort of a queen in quite a while. There's not
enough to do around here to demand it." She sighed. "Yes. I know how she comes
off. Some women are like that. And it is an official function."

He patted the empty space beside him on the bed, thinking once again of
Dahlia. Amber took the cue to sit. Jimmy cupped her hand in his.

"And I suppose you'll run off to your lover too after you've had your way with
me?"

"No," she sighed wistfully. "I'm single. All of those who volunteered to serve
you are."

"Serve me? I thought you said you were all free individuals."

"We are. Some of us have volunteered to show you around the island and
introduce you to our customs so you feel at home. You're the closest thing we
have to royalty right now."

"Whatever I want, huh?"

"Within reason." She poked him in the ribs and made a funny face.

He chuckled and rubbed his stubble.

They must have bathed him while he was unconscious. He didn't feel the day old
salt caking his pores. His face did itch, though.

"You didn't happen to-"

She reached under the bed and pulled out an old cargo crate of some kind.

"We managed to salvage a few things from your ship. Not much unfortunately.
You never know what's going to wash up on shore." She set the wooden box on
the bed. "That was what you were about to ask, right?"

"Yeah. Thanks." He rummaged around its contents. A few navigational
instruments. The books were pretty much ruined. His wallet. What a laugh. Did
they have money on the island? He obviously wouldn't have to pay for sex here
so he dropped it back in the box. Wouldn't need the keys either. Some fishing
line. A few hooks. A plastic bottle. Two empty beer cans (the true reason he'd
gotten lost). A can opener? How did that make it? Shouldn't it sink? A rusted
out flashlight battery. Mostly useless junk.

Some of this stuff was his. The rest though... Had this stuff really been on
his boat or had they just rounded up whatever else washed up with him?

He shifted the contents around and scratched his troublesome beard again.

"My razor doesn't happen to be in here, does it?"

He could use some shaving cream too but they obviously had soap. That could do
in a pinch.

"Oh, you won't be needing that while you're here."

"Why? You like men with beards?"

She smiled. "They're fun." She stroked his cheek with him, charmed by its
texture.

"So this is it, huh? You didn't find any wreckage, no hull on the reef or
anything?"

"We can't swim to the reef. A few boards did make it to shore. They always do.
We put them to good use."

"Really? How far is it to land?" He couldn't imagine ever wanting to leave
this place, but just in case- "Maybe I can build another..."

"No one gets off. Didn't they tell you? Besides, you wouldn't have tim- "

He grabbed at her waist and pulled her closer to him.

"Want to jump the line?"

She was so perky and that perfume of hers...

Amber fended him off politely. "I'd really love to but I can't. We can spend
some time together this evening if you'd like. Unless your attraction is just
sexual..."

"No. I'd like some company."

"Good." She brightened even more as she climbed from the bed. "You're awfully
chipper considering. I'll let Andrea know you're ready for her."

"Chipper?"

"Yes. Considering your trapped here with the rest of us."

"Well, little lady. My job back in the states was pretty boring. I can imagine
tougher things in life than being the only man on an island full of sexy
women."

Amber frowned. "No one told you, did they?" Her lips pursed. "She hates
breaking the news. She always leaves that to others. And Dahlia's so damned
nice." She sighed and sat on the bed again. The serious expression on her face
caused him to worry. "I guess that leaves me." She looked to the green hills
in one of the windows and lost her train of thought. "There's no use in
keeping the truth from people. Why do some avoid it like that? Even when it
hurts? Or it's inevitable? It doesn't make matters any better." She turned to
him again. "You should just tell people. Direct isn't always impolite, is it?"
She cupped his hand between hers to reassure him. "Relax. You're perfectly
safe. It's nothing like that." She kissed his knuckles until the concern was
gone from his eyes, though she knew it was a fleeting repose. "Don't... hate
us for what I'm about to tell you. We're just as much victims of the curse. We
never light the signal fire. We never control where the island pops up. We can
never leave and believe me, we all want to. We just make the best of it."

"Spit it out, honey."

"Sorry. I'll stop being mysterious. It's just that.... we never know how to
put it." His hand slipped from her grip. "You're ship wasn't the only thing we
couldn't salvage... In a way, we couldn't salvage you either. In a month
you'll be one of us. It's part of the curse."

"What do you mean I'll be one of you?"

"A woman. In about four weeks time you'll be completely female. When the moon
turns new again. Why do you think we're so, um, 'hot for your body'? There's
precious little time-"

"A woman!" He stop straight up and glowered down at her from the bed's canopy.
"Nobody said anything about that! What the hell are you talking about?
Woman!?" Were they pulling his leg? Were they going to pull on something
worse...!?

"They're such cowards leaving it to me," she whispered under her breath while
he ranted.

Amber pulled him back to earth with a gentle caress. His biceps we so large
and hers so weak by comparison... She was surprised her touch could act so
powerfully on him.

"I'm afraid it's true. We were cursed by Circe three thousand years ago. It's,
um, why we have to make the most of you while we can."

"Nobody said anything about this," he mumbled to himself. Jimmy couldn't take
his eyes off the sheets. "Why aren't there warnings posted on the reef? I mean
this is ridiculous. You people must be insane."

"We can't get to the reef... Here." She rummaged around in his box. "Look at
your compass."

She placed it in his hand and he watched the dial spin uncontrollably. No
matter how much he shook it, it wouldn't settle down. Shit. The sun outside
obviously wasn't going anywhere. How could he have missed this when he was
going through his things before? Maybe it was broken...

No... that night... The gauges on the boat...

In retrospect it explained so much- the flash of light on shore... the loss of
navigation... shifting winds... hitting the reef... too much going wrong for
mere coincidence...

And that beautiful voice, crying for help... Had he just dreamed that?...

The dancing needle gave him vertigo. It slipped from his fingers and landed
with a clatter on the rest of the junk.

"It's a magical island. We disappear and reappear all over the place. And if
we didn't suck in innocents like yourself we'd probably die out." Amber cocked
her head. "Please don't be mad at us. It's your right not to have sex. No one
will force you, but... you have a chance to give life to so many people. We're
all very grateful and we'll do anything we can to help you." She sighed as he
brushed her from his shoulder. "Like I said, we don't light the signal fires.
Circe's spell does that. She hated men so much. Thank Zeus our forefathers
didn't end up farm animals like her other victims." His attention remained
fixed on the upside down compass and the trinkets around it. "I wish there
were some way to get you off in time, but there isn't." Amber sighed again and
put a hand on her hips, but she seemed more understanding than frustrated. "If
you don't believe me, try swimming past the reef. You can't make it. The tide
always washes you back to shore."

He sat in bed for several minutes, not wanting to look at her even though she
refused to leave his side.

If only he could run off somewhere and hide, get away from this woman. But
where? This was the only spot he knew. He'd inevitably run into more women
elsewhere.

And something told him she wasn't crazy. That night of swelling tides had been
unnatural. The way it sucked him in... He probably couldn't escape its grip if
he tried, like she said. And the way the other women behaved. And looked. No
place could produce so many perfect women. It had to be magic.

Didn't it?

He suddenly wanted it to be a dream. He wanted to wake up.

He hated her for telling him and yet trusted her all the more for it. She was
too non-chalant to be lying. And too concerned for him... but why couldn't she
have lied to him like the others? At least he would have had some peace,
however fleeting- if it wasn't in fact just some grand, well-acted joke...

He finally mustered the courage to ask her.

"Ohhh no," she murmured. "You deserve to know. That would be so wrong. I know
it hurts and I'm sorry for that but it's got to be faced. It's better if you
don't deny it and let us help you. I know it's a shock. You won't find life
here so bad. I promise. We are trapped but we do make the best of it. And
we'll treat you wonderfully." A puff of air escaped her ruby lips and she sank
against one of the bedposts by his feet, glad at least he was speaking again.
"We used to not tell the men because it affected their performance..." Her
heavy green eyes looked away shyly. "But after a week or two you'll find out
anyway when your body starts to change." She caressed his prickly cheek,
hoping it was the right part to touch at this moment. "Please don't withdraw.
If you don't want to sleep with any of us, we won't force ourselves on you
but... it would mean so much to us all. We're depending on you. We need you to
be strong for the next several weeks... and given your situation," she let a
small smile peek out, "I think you'll want all the sex you can take. Yes?"
Could she get him to smile back? Her grin broadened. "Andrea's very pretty.
And she's single too. I'm sure she'd take your mind off things." Still no
response. "No? I tell you what. Why don't I just leave you here to digest it?
You've got a lot to think about and you probably need your privacy. I'll be in
the next room. Call if you need anything."

Amber rose from his side and smoothed the fabric of her toga. Hair swung about
her neck like vines on a willow. She took a long last look at him and turned
to leave.

A hand fell about her arm.

"No... please. Stay and talk to me a while. I can't... I can't have sex just
yet... but I don't want to be alone."

She faced him again and smiled tenderly.

"You don't have to do anything until this evening... And please understand. I
know I've said it before. It's something that must be done. We're all victims
here and we desperately need your help." Her nail grazed his chin again. "But
it can wait a few more hours. Why don't you let me take you around the village
while there's still light? The sunset over the harbor is quite beautiful...
and you did say before you liked my company." She extended an arm. "Come. I'll
help you up. Sitting in bed all day isn't good for you."

He chuckled lightly. "Like that matters."

"Now, now. You'll always have your health... wow."

"What?"

"I think you're the tallest person on the island."

"On an island of women? What a prize," he retorted. "Sorry. I don't mean to
say you're short."

"Oh, my height doesn't bother me. I'm about average for a woman."

"Well you are a very pretty average." He gave her a kiss on the forehead.

"Why thank you." Amber carefully wrapped the robes around his shoulders and
arms. Jimmy knew he should pay closer attention to how it worked so he could
do it for himself, but his mind was too scattered. Oddly enough, it wasn't her
recent confession that preoccupied his thoughts. Something in her lovely face
called to him. "Like I said, we're an old Greek colony. No one will mind if
you walk around nude. In fact... it would make everyone's day." She giggled as
he slipped into the sandals. "You may run across a few naked women too.
Personally, I'm a bit modest and my skin's too fair for the sun... You don't
need a cane, do you?... No. Then here. Walk close to me and lean over if you
need some support... I know I look frail but I'm pretty sturdy..."

---

The smooth stone streets amazed him. Some of the carts even had white-wall
radials.

"You did all this? This is far from a primitive village."

"We do our best. Thank Zeus for pollution," she sighed. "I don't know what we
would do without trash on the beach. If only people threw more stainless steel
into the sea..." Amber perked up as he looked with interest at everything. She
knew they couldn't match his old lifestyle, but she wanted him to know it
wasn't as bad here as he might think. "You'd be surprised what washes in. They
found a can of tennis balls this morning. Rachel says we need wrackets to use
them, though... We get bottles, crates, fishing rods, ice-chests- though I'm
still not sure what ice is- logs of all sorts, tires, of course..." Her wrist
flopped on her bosom as she chattered away. "Why just last year a box of...
what did one of the elders call them? Tampons? washed on shore and the
fighting over it was terrible. It was the bloodiest incident in recent
memory." No sooner had it slipped out than she covered her face and grimaced.
He chuckled at her unintended irony. "Sorry. I didn't want to scare you off
about women." She shrugged. "It can be inconvenient at times."

Now Jimmy cringed as her meaning sank in.

Next month, if she was right...

"So what do you do without tampons?"

She watched the fisherwomen in the distance preparing their day's haul for its
trip from the wharf.

"What?... You'll know when you need to," she said softly. Then her step picked
up again and the lovely bones in her feet seemed to shine under the leather
sandal straps. "Down this way," she pointed. "It'll take us through the heart
of town and down to the beach where we found you. Come on. We'll be back in
time for sunset."

As he passed the spread out wood and stone homes, he couldn't help but notice
the size of the place.

"This has got to be more than a hundred people."

"A hundred? There are many times that on the island." She followed his eyes
over the various dwellings. "Oh." That's what he was talking about. "A hundred
fertile women. The rest have had their child. Or children as luck may have it.
The others are old and infirm... or as yet too young. Of course you're free to
take on extras if you can manage. Any woman is yours."

"Four a day is pushing it."

"I know. I'm sorry for that."

"You surely don't expect me to give every one of them a child, do you? I mean
every guy wants to be stud but there's timing to consider and so many other-"

"You may bring twenty, maybe thirty new faces into the world."

"That's extraordinary."

"Yes. Close to forty if we're lucky. We think it may be one of the other parts
of the curse... You'll make enough stuff. Don't worry. Most men do."

The beautiful women of the village all greeted him with smiles and warm
hellos. They couldn't have been nicer. The old ladies were even pleasant and
attractive in their own right. None of them seem hunched over or bedeviled by
age. They had few wrinkles and some gray hair but nothing more.

She introduced him to several individuals but he was hopeless with names.
Always had been, and there had already been so many new ones today.

They bumped into another 'volunteer.' It seemed he had three or four. She said
she'd stop by in the morning to check in on him. Monica? Mariella? He couldn't
remember. Long black hair that came down to her bare midriff. That he
remembered. A lithe figure with tiny breasts but very tall, with thin wide
hips. Quite tan. She was on the list too, thankfully.

He watched the odd pairs of women pass by them holding hands. The social
structure of the island sank in when one couple faced each other, kissed and
parted company not twenty feet in front of him.

"We're coming up on some of the family dwellings. I know what you're going to
be wondering, just don't say anything about the little boys. I'll explain
later... Why hello Julius. How are you today? Did you learn a lot in school?"

The boy nodded. He couldn't be more than eight or nine. But he was definitely
male.

"Who's that?"

"This is Jimmy."

"Is he the man everyone's talking about?"

"He certainly is."

"He's going to look like you tomorrow?"

"No. Next month, sweety."

He tugged on Jimmy's robe. "Can we play some before then? They aren't much
fun."

"Sure." Jimmy bent down to tweak the boy's nose. "Do you want to throw ball or
go catch some lizards?"

"Both!"

He giggled and ran off to his mother's arms. She smiled at Jimmy and invited
him to "Stop by any time. I'm sure the teacher wouldn't mind letting the boys
out of class for a day."

The lady winked playfully as Julius laughed under her gorgeous bosom.

Amber pulled him along.

Jimmy turned, curious to see if she approved, and caught a glimpse of the same
warm, broad smile that was on the mother's face. Amber's cheek tilted when she
noticed him quietly observing her. Red hair spilled into the wind and two
green eyes sparkled back at him. They were so expressive and penetrating,
especially as she looked away and tossed her head back to laugh along with the
other children.

"I think we can find time in your schedule for that," she assured him.

Other children?

Their trip down the cobblestones was accumulating an entourage.

Every once in a while he stopped dead in his tracks, turned and chased a boy
off to the sound of high pitched screams.

Amber couldn't stop squealing herself. Each time he returned to her side, she
worked a hand around his shoulder, her grip growing a little firmer. He loved
the way her fingers shook on his shoulder as she giggled.

One mother spotted them coming around a corner and yanked her son inside
before he could see them. She smiled apologetically as they passed by.

Jimmy could only guess.

He looked around and even saw little girls joining the chirping chorus.

He'd always liked playing with kids, perhaps because he had so much in common
with them. They obviously returned the affection.

Did their mothers? Most of them seemed overjoyed. One or two expressions gave
way to guilt and they quickly turned away. But most were pleased, though they
hung back and gave their sons and daughters room to play. Who couldn't be
happy around such giggling?

Unfortunately, the town wasn't very big. Before long they reached the
outskirts and the cottages gave way to tall grass. Mothers appeared behind
them, alone or in pairs, to snatch back their curious children. By the time he
felt the first sand in his toes, their followers had disappeared altogether,
banished to the watchful safety of their homes for the remainder of the
afternoon.

Unkempt trees soon lined the sides of the cobblestone path and then, it too
vanished into sand.

He could hear the crash of the surf now. Brine filled his nostrils. Just as he
wondered where their fresh water came from, he set foot in a small creek. The
sun was low in the sky now and it was hard to see in the shade.

Amber pulled at his tentative arm and dragged him across the cool waters.

"I didn't want you to say anything that might make the boys feel self-
conscious," she explained. "We let them know what's going to happen; it just
can't be avoided. We bend over backwards not to tease them about it." She
sounded like she was apologizing to him for it. Couldn't she see he'd enjoyed
the company? "They don't start to change until puberty and... well, then we
run the poor fellows ragged. It's a terrible way to get introduced to sex, I
know, but they turn around and do it themselves later when they're the women.
For some reason it's not as easy getting pregnant from the young men, but we
try anyway." The redhead sighed as her face vanished momentarily in the shadow
of a tree limb. "We've got to start sexing them up as soon as they get peach
fuzz. You never know when the next lunar cycle will roll around and poof." She
glanced up at the canopy of trees that covered them. "You're something of a
prize, being fully developed and all. And not related to anyone. The
bloodlines are a problem too."

She sounded more than sympathetic.

"Did you have a brother?" he asked. She was quiet. She picked up his hand and
they walked toward the beach. "Were you a boy? I mean... you're very much a
woman to me- " Was that considered some sort of insult?... Would *he* feel
insulted as a woman at being reminded of having been a man? He shivered. "Is
it not polite to ask? I'm sorry if- "

"No. Don't be." She squeezed his palm.

The beach came into view and, faced with the beauty of the afternoon sun low
in the sky, he let the subject drop.

"This is where we found you."

She unwound her robe and let it fall to the sands.

"What are you doing?"

"We're going to swim out to the reef. See it there? With your hull perched on
it?"

He squinted. That pill of sticks was it?

"Don't worry," she assured him. "You won't drown. It's very hard to die here.
We have the odd accident but disease is rare. And you certainly can't die in
the surf."

He'd been curious to see how much of what she said was right. Was it all a
lie? Could you really not get past the breakers?

Had she read his mind and all his doubts? Was that why she'd brought him
straight here?

"You know a woman once washed ashore."

"Oh yeah? What happened?"

Amber kicked off her sandals and stood before him in all her natural glory.

He was wrong about her being average.

She had lovely wide hips that rode up high on her waist, peeking out almost
like bicycle handles from the way their fair skin gleamed in the light. Lower
down they tapered off into a perfect set of juicy thighs that seemed to almost
push her rounded bottom back at its nice angle. Her breasts were full and
creamy, topped with strawberry pink nipples that crinkled in the wind.

"Well when we found her, it was a bit of a- " Her lips pursed and she knitted
her brow. Even in frustration her face could never approach the grotesque.
"What did that one surfer from California say?"

"Bummer?"

Amber chuckled, causing her breasts to quiver in the cool breeze. "That was it
exactly. A 'bummer.' She did get much prettier after the new moon, though."

"Good for her."

"She's a hermit. Lives up in the caves. It's a shame the change didn't make
others of her own sex more palatable to her in that way."

Were the other woman that way because of the way they were raised?

His sons would turn into girls and hitch up with other girls?

This was too absurd. He stripped off his clothes, tossed away his sandals and
chucked himself into the crashing waves.

---

"Come on. Let's get cleaned off." Amber grabbed collected their clothes and
led him back into the woods. He watched her cute white rump bobbing in front
of him, fascinated by the glimmer of red hair between her legs.

He'd wasted an hour trying to get to that reef. He could throw stones at it. A
piece of driftwood even floated past him and out to sea, going so far it
merged with the horizon.

But every time he got near it himself, whosh...

He tried every corner of the beach in sight. He would have ventured around the
entire island had it not started to get dark.

And somewhere in his heart he knew it wouldn't do any good.

Amber treaded water patiently beside him the entire time, her face
expressionless as she struggled to keep her nose above the waves. She swam
past him once, just to show that it applied to her too.

The tides washed her straight back into his arms.

Like a clumsy oaf he'd grabbed her breasts by accident. But she brushed a
strand of wet hair from her eye and didn't even blink. She smiled and they
came in to shore.

Somehow that settled matter for him.

"So it's really true."

"Yes," Amber sighed. She looked at his genitals with him. "It even confuses
the animals."

"They'll treat me differently?"

"What? No." She would have laughed but it was her fault for putting it that
way. They reached the creek and she guided him up its middle until they came
to a small freshwater pool. "The curse affects the animals too," she said as
she sank into the clear liquid. "Fortunately it's not as hard to breed goats
and cattle as it is people. Their sexual cycle is much longer than a month
which gives the adult male more of a reprieve, so to speak... Rachel says the
fertility rates are higher on the island too. I guess they have to be."

Her torso bobbed back up. Sheets of cool water hugged her body and puckered
the pink caps on her firm breasts. Her curves were so well proportioned and
feminine. Something about the play of the shadows made her even more
attractive.

Her lips danced around as if they couldn't decide whether to smirk or grin.

"You certainly are eager," she tittered.

He followed her eyes down to his erection.

"Yeah. First you've seen?"

"No," she said. She spread her fingers out across his chest and washed the
salty water away. "Try not to ask too many question like that about people's
lives. Particularly the ones you have sex with. I'm afraid you might find some
of your... what should I call them?"

"Lovers?"

"No. That's exactly the problem. Clients, perhaps? You'll find some of them a
bit aloof. Almost pointedly so. Like the Queen. If they already have lovers it
can be something of an embarrassment, depending on the relationship, of
course." She shrugged. "Everyone's different so... try not to fondle them,
turn them on or be affectionate unless they initiate it. And if they do...
goodness, never bring it up with their partner. It's just sex."

He encircled her smaller fingers around his erection. Amber became so
engrossed in the sensations she didn't protest.

"How about single girls? Can I ask you questions?"

She smiled. "Yes. But please not hard ones... not right away."

"I think I might be able to work five in tonight."

She returned his kiss, but pushed him away. His engorged member bounced free
of her grip.

"I don't want to take a chance away from others. You can be spread too thin,
you know."

"Then why don't we just stay here and kiss?"

"I'd like to... but it will be dark soon. It's harder to find your way back.
We could get lost."

"So?"

"But... It would be wrong to think of myself first. I'm flattered you like me.
I'm sure you'll like Andrea and Helen tonight too."

"That doesn't bother you?"

She turned and splashed water over her shoulder, letting it trickle down to
the small of her back.

"There are others to think of right now. You, for one. I have to see that
you're pleased with... everything." She gave him a coy, sideways glance. "I'd
be happy to share your bed, though... afterwards... if that's what you want...
but nothing more until next week."

She scooped up more water for her hair.

"What if I prove to have plenty of stamina?"

She grinned at him. "That's another matter." He splashed her. "Ah!" she
yelled. "That's one way to get clean."

The redhead folded her arms across her chest and faced him, breasts shivering
through their makeshift supports.

"Cold is it?" he teased.

"My nipples feel like they'll pop off."

She didn't quite understand why he laughed at her comment. She was just making
small talk.

"Oh," he explained. "It's wonderful women get cold so easily."

"Really? That's not what happens when you get cold?" She eyed his erection
again. "You don't get stiff too?"

"No. My nipples do. Unless I'm... attracted to someone, this thing- "he
pointed to his dick- "just shrivels up in cold water."

"Oh." Her innocent playfulness evaporated. "We don't want that happening
sooner than need be."

There was silence in the sandy forest, save for the bubbling of the brook.

Her words were prophetic. He did rapidly lose his erection.

She looked a little sad that she'd turned his confession of affection around
on him in the dimming light. She hadn't meant to. It had touched her.

"Is that how it happens?" he whispered as he watched his penis retreat.

"Not really." She sighed and took his clothes from the bank. "You'll notice a
few changes over the next weeks. Your face softens. You grow small breasts.
Your body hair falls out. Bones change... I think that's why the Queen wanted
you first.  Some former men like to wait until you're much more feminine. But
not all. Don't make any assumptions because of where someone comes up on the
list. Some of it's random or biological. In fact... it's best you not think
about it at all. We're all women in every sense of the word." Was he paying
attention? He kept looking at his... "Don't fret. You'll keep your, uh,
equipment until the first new moon."

"After that?"

"Things go downhill fast."

"Should I just put it out of my mind?"

"If it affects how you enjoy your time left, yes."

"How do I know you still aren't lying to me about this part? Sure, you were
right about the tides..."

She led him back to water shallow enough for them to don their robes.

Instead of defending herself as some women might or asking what motive he
thought she had to lie, Amber simply shrugged.

"I don't know," she offered. "Maybe you will be the first man unaffected.
Maybe the curse has been lifted." She gave him half a frown and cocked her
eyebrows. "We can all hope."

---

Jimmy stood in front of the bright red spectacle that hung out over the ocean
and set even the waters aflame. He and Amber held each other around the waist
as they waited on the tip of the wharf in silence.

While he admired the way the dusk darkened even Amber's fiery curls, another
woman pulled up on his opposite side and added her arm above Amber's. Amber
leaned forward, looked past his shoulders and smiled at their new companion.

"Hello Andrea."

"Nice to finally meet you, Jimmy. We thought Amber might have hidden you in
the hills."

Both women giggled.

Jimmy muttered a "hello" but couldn't take his eyes off the setting sun. It
was too beautiful for words.

As the red gave way to light blue and finally turned darker, he glanced around
the wharf and they left.  He noticed one or two small boats tied to posts.

"How big is the island?" he asked as they followed the fires back to the
palace.

"Four or five miles across? We stopped counting long distances like that."

"Think I could take one of those boats around it?"

"Sure. I'll set something up for tomorrow."

"Thanks."

"We can do a hiking tour later, when time permits."

"Good." He looked at the dimly lit dwellings on either side of the stone path.
"The homes are pretty close to the shore. Do you ever get hit by heavy
storms?"

"Do *we* ever get hit by heavy storms?" Andrea corrected him. She pinched his
firm chest and rested her head back against his arm.

"No. We never have," Amber replied.

Jimmy listened to the cackle of the torches lining the walkway as it wound up
the hill to the royal residence.

How long would they burn? he wondered.  Only a sliver of moon hung in the
black sky. Once the flames died, he'd be trapped for the night.

And yet he was oddly grateful for the darkness. Wasn't moonlight his enemy
now?

---

Andrea had drifted down one of the many corridors, leaving Jimmy and Amber to
dine alone on shellfish.

He savored the oysters with some amusement. Were the women sending him some
subtle message?

Amber told him more about the island, how they lived day to day and what their
customs were. She was apparently a housekeeper but had also learned to paint
and weave. She sometimes also taught math and reading. Before long she was
apologizing to him for having to go do something tomorrow. He wasn't sure
which of her jobs it related to. Apparently everyone did a little of
everything. Even the Queen herself fished.  No one else was quite as handy
with a spear as she was.

He could believe it.

He slid a hand over his abused balls. They felt much better now...
particularly when he heard the Queen had used up all her rights with him this
morning.

He'd definitely be sticking this spear in a different fish.

What was Amber talking about now? They made their own paper on the island? She
offered to show him their archives in the palace library.

From the way she described it, the palace was more of a state house and
community resource.

They didn't have time to take a tour of it after dinner but she said they
could arrange for it tomorrow, when he returned from sailing.

It wasn't but one story tall though it was older than anyone remembered.  Some
said Circe herself had lived in it before anyone else arrived. Amber quickly
read the drift of his thoughts and assured him that things would turn out the
same whatever part of the island he slept on.  They'd tried a hundred
different things and none had ever worked.

He washed down the meal with the last bit of ale they'd let him have. He
wanted more but they were of course right about its affect on male
performance. It was funny how they were so stunned by the sight of him but
then knew the most important things about men as second nature.

Amber didn't seem to have a problem with its affect on her performance, though
she drank only a glass for moderation's sake.

"Perhaps you're right," she said. "I should enjoy it more. After next week I
might not have any for a while."

Why? Oh. Pregnancy...

"Let's hope," Jimmy said as he pushed his chair back from the table.

The conversation had reached a natural lull and there wasn't much to do, but
he didn't want to give her the impression things were over. She'd saunter off
like all the rest and call in his next patient.

He wandered over to one of the windows and looked out at the speckles of
light. The distance hearths were hypnotic in the darkness.

Bugs, he realized. There should be bugs.

And screens on the windows.

He wondered why there weren't insects in the air. The climate here was
surprisingly mild. The soft breeze had turned almost chilly.

Amber joined his side and massaged the goose bumps from his arm.

"Singing."

"What?"

"The island of sirens should have singing."

"Yes," she agreed softly. "I suppose it should."

He turned to find her smirking while she caressed him.

"What?" he prodded.

"Nothing." She looked shyly at the floor and wrestled her lips into a less
devilish expression. "I can arrange for some dancing and music if you like."

"Sure. Is there time?"

"Of course."

Like that the redhead vanished into the empty corridors.

Within minutes a train of scantily clad women snaked through the room and
encircled him. A tall, lithe brunette unfurled her top and drew it around his
neck like a leash. The circle parted and she lead him gently back to the
table, where the Queen now sat.

She pushed him into one of the simple wooden chairs beside her.

Two women cleaned the plates away while the brunette held his attention with
her hypnotic eyes, tugging the silky smooth fabric back and forth over his
neck.

Suddenly she let one end of the large scarf go and pulled it back to her,
fluttering and curving in the wind.

His mind snapped back, momentarily. He searched for Dahlia and finally found
her in the back of the troop.

"I must apologize for my earlier rudeness." The Queen was whispering in his
ear over the music.

"What?" Music? Amber strummed a lyre under her arm in one corner of the room.
Andrea stood next to her, partially covered in shadow playing a flute. Both
women smiled when they saw they had his eye. "Ah," he grunted. "Your
girlfriend's very pretty. I can see why you didn't want to upset her." He
turned to the Queen. "Aren't you supposed to be in bed with your legs in the
air?"

"It dries quickly enough," she winked, "though it does begin to smell."

He sniffed the air.

"You smell lovely as always."

"That is the perfume, my dear, not your doing." Her nose twitched as she
remembered her manners. "Nevertheless, I apologize. It is always hard to tell
what some men will be like."

With a body like hers, they'll always be hard, he thought to himself.

He bit his tongue.

"I heard you will boat around the island tomorrow."

"I thought I'd like to see what my new home is like."

"Good. I hope you do not waste too much time trying to escape."

He raised an eyebrow. How did she know?

"The archives tell of an engineer once who almost did it."

"Yeah? How?"

"He built a large siege engine, unfortunately not quickly enough. She still
tried to catapult herself out to sea."

"What happened?"

"She flew over the reef as planned.  Then the tides imprisoned her again.
Legend says they made a necklace with the coral they scraped from her bottom.
It is quite beautiful if you would like to see it. And it is the only coral we
have." She paused. "I will give you some rope and a heavy stone if you would
like to try that trick too." She raised a glass to him. "Do not make plans,
though, for the day after."

"Why?"

She said nothing and signaled the throng of dancers to begin.

---

Nice.

But still no singing.

There was more striptease than he thought there would be on an island of
women. Did they appreciate each other that way? Was it just for him?

The Queen was faithful in an odd way. He never caught her eye straying from
Dahlia. And Dahlia's, like all the others, never failed to seduce him.

The dancers collected their multicolored fabrics and quickly departed with
their Queen as Andrea, curiously enough, did the opposite and unraveled her
robe in the far corner.

Oh. Of course. He'd had so much sex on the brain from being caught up in the
primitive rhythms and undulating hips that he'd completely forgotten about sex
in particular.

She hung her red toga neatly on a peg in the wall under her flute.

Amber was the only other woman left. She collected her lyre and stood to join
the rest.

"Would you like to stay?" he asked, before he could think enough to squelch
the question.

"Not particularly," Amber replied. "I know it's just sex for you. Well... it
could be more. If it is, I... you should have your privacy then too."

She started to say something else but he looked away and let her go. She
passed his table and met her counterpart halfway. Andrea stopped and began
whispering in her ear.

Jimmy stood, disrobed, and, while they were engaged in quiet conversation,
went to the bed to give them some distance.

As he reclined, the two women smiled at him and Amber disappeared behind the
curtains.

Amber... no, Andrea walked over to him.

She had a huge pair of tits. How could he have missed that? They hung easily a
foot from her body, so large and heavy they pressed out to the side of each
arm, bouncing and swaying in peculiar rhythm with her step. They hung mere
inches shy of her bellybutton and the torch light played wonderfully across
her wide, reddish areolas.

She stopped at the foot of the bed and pivoted to let him admire her.

"I'll be helping you two days from now," she informed him.

"Why do you switch like that?"

"Well, there's a lot to do on the island. We all do different jobs so we're
busy at different times. Besides that, as many of us as possible would like to
meet you and show you around."

"Before I'm gone?"

"Before you're different. We'll want to spend time with you then too."

"Not with the same enthusiasm."

She shrugged. "Sex isn't everything. You'll find that out." She grinned. "Not
until the new moon, I hope... maybe not after..." she hinted.

He smiled back. Andrea sat on the bed and he brushed his knuckles against her
massive tits.

"I bet you make the other women jealous."

Her smile broadened. "Why do you say that?"

"You're so well endowed."

"These? They droop too much." She cupped each and hefted them up. They melted
between her fingers and spilled over her small hands, revealing narrow white
semicircles hiding like shadows on the skin beneath.

A strange place for tan lines...

"I like them."

"Thank you. I suppose I'll make a good wet nurse someday like my mother. If I
can only get pregnant first..." She sighed and pinched his cheek. "You talk
too much. I bet you hit it off with Amber."

"What makes you say that?"

"She likes to talk too."

"What do you like?"

She kissed him on the lips, teasing him with her tongue. "More than talk."

Her warm breasts fell all over him in their eagerness. She pulled the stick
from her bun and showered him with fine black hair.

"Go on. Squeeze all you want," she purred.

They were softer than the pillows. And quite cozy in their own right.

"They're very warm."

She kissed him. "I know."

Her lips moved over his in waves as he kneaded the mounds of flesh. She had no
end. Where were the nipples run off to on these things?

Finally. A small point of hardness rose in the center of his palm. He probed
the surrounding bumps for the edge of her broad disk. He found the other and
plucked at them both.

She broke off the kiss and giggled.

"Like it?" he asked.

"Yes."

Her expression suddenly changed. She frowned and surveyed his body.

"What's wrong?"

"I'd like to make it fun but I don't have much experience when it comes to
doing the things men like. Is it the same things women do together?" She
blushed. "I mean, without that important difference..."

"I suppose." He kissed her neck. "Why don't you teach me what you like? I'm
gonna have to practice, aren't I sweetheart?"

Her blush deepened. "It's up to you. Your pleasure is paramount."

"Naaaahhh," he drawled. "I'm gonna take my time. You can't leave until I'm
finished and you gotta do what makes me happy, right?"

"Yeah," she hummed. "I like your attitude."

"I like yours. You're the first woman who hasn't..."

"Who's treated you well?"

"No. They've all been very nice..."

"Who's been enthusiastic?"

"Yeah."

"I think you'll find the single women more that way... though if a married
woman gets carried away..."

"Don't make anything of it. Yeah, I know the rules."

"Rules?" she giggled. "Is it a rule you talk me to death?"

He feigned a look of hurt. "You asked- "

She silenced him with a long kiss. "I know... Ah!" She giggled again. "Slowly
darling, slowly... we have plenty of time to warm each other up..."

She relaxed her grip on his hand.

"Ah!" She yelled again. "Can't wait to get in, can you?" she smirked.

"I like more than your breasts."

"That part of me is harder to get to." She pulled her other foot on the bed
and reclined on the pillows. "Is this better?"

She was a big boned woman, not close to fat but much plumper in her curves
than the other women he'd seen. It matched her heavy breasts. She was thick
too but somehow even her stomach was fairly flat and nicely sloped. Nowhere on
her was there a dimple of cellulite.

Voluptuous. That's what she was. She was built for screwing and not much else.

What a waste on an island of women...

But not tonight.

She sighed pleasantly as he stroked her thigh. His finger ran through the fine
black curls covering her crotch and its dark dividing line. Jimmy wet his
lips.

"Can I?" he asked. It'd made Dahlia anxious. A few moments of it and she
worked her hand into his hair, pulling at him suggestively. She was so sweet,
he didn't press the matter.

"Absolutely," Andrea replied.

His face hovered over her thick, round vulva and the curved crevice formed
between them. He parted her hair aside and pinched her open. A thick musky
odor greeted him, rising out of the gray-brown wrinkles of her glistening
inner labia.

He licked his lips again.

Was this something particularly intimate? Hm... But everyone had kissed. Even
the Queen. How was this different?

"What?" she asked flatly.

"You're the first to let me really... Is this intimate or something? Kissing
doesn't seem to be- "

She sighed. "All the women like it. Trust me." She smirked. "It's your right
to inspect us if you want..." He chuckled. "Go on," she prodded. "See if I'm
hiding anything." Her voice shuddered and cracked as he began lapping at her
spread open folds. "We'll do anything... you want in bed," she purred.
"Provided... ah... of course you... you do that one thing... you do so
well..." She smacked her lips and made a futile stab at massaging her nipples
with her outmatched hands. They sagged almost to the mattress on each side of
her. "Don't worry... some women might be reluctant... sigh... but if they
know... you want to," she moaned, "it's fine..."

He rolled her thick, knobby clit around his tongue, tickling it out of its
home until she was wild with lust. The rhythmic flexing in her fingers pulled
the edges of the sheets up from the mattress. He slurped away as her plush
buns wriggled under him and she sang into the night.

In a minute or two he had her yelling at the top of her lungs.

Then suddenly, like a fever, the high-pitched screeches broke. She caressed
his hair as he lay between her bent knees. He could hear the crickets chirping
once more in the night air.

But not another human sound drifted up from the path. Had everyone turned in?
The surrounding silence made him nervous. Were they disturbing anyone?

"You do that well," she sighed.

"Really?"

"You have a real enthusiasm for it. I guess all men must."

He shrugged. Did some women not like to do it? What had she mentioned earlier
from her lust-fill haze?

"Why would they be reluctant?"

"Who? About what?"

"Women, when I want to kiss them there." He pointed to her crotch for
emphasis.

"Oh." She thought a moment. "I guess your suspicions were right. It's very
intimate for some women. Sometimes only after spending several evenings
together will they trust you enough to let more than your fingers down there."
She shrugged. "Some people are just shy I suppose. But once a woman remembers
you're her partner it shouldn't matter. Why? Has it?"

"You were the first, actually."

"Really? The others said no?"

"Not so much said it. The hints were very subtle but I could tell- "

"Oh. Well, none of us are embarrassed by that part of the body. I hear nudity
is frowned on elsewhere. Is that true where you come from?"

"Some. Yes."

"Really?" Her mind turned back to his question. "I suppose they might already
be ready and might get enough stimulation in other ways. They might simply
prefer kissing or just be in a hurry. Who knows? Though if you need to take
your time..." She smiled and gave him a kiss. "Just ignore them. They'll be
happy enough you did... " She caressed his armpit. "Like I said. It's your
pleasure that's paramount." She kissed him again. "If you like it then they'll
like it. And I mean *like it*... whatever gives you pleasure they'll like...
they'll be enthusiastic. Does that answer your question? I hate the talking
part of the job." She grinned as she cupped his erection. "Now. Can I return
the favor? Is there something like that I can do for you?"

"Sure." It was Jimmy's turn to lean back on the bed.

She smiled like a fox as she bit his thigh. He loved the way her breasts
sandwiched his shin. They were almost hot to the touch now.

"Don't let this go too far," she stressed. "I want a kid out of all this." Her
index finger pressed into his gut.

"Nag, nag. Now whose talking too much?"

She eyed his erection for a moment as she took a guess at the mechanics. She
licked up and down his shaft and within seconds engulfed him in his entirety.
Her breasts tickled his balls as her slick throat pounced up and down on him.
Only when she came all the way up did her mammaries even begin to dangle. Then
their lushness pooled around him again, melting like spilled pudding on his
leg. A stiff nipple occasionally slipped down his skin. It was one of the most
erotic things he'd ever felt.

He rested a hand on her shoulder.

She looked up at him and let his organ flop from her mouth with a soft, wet
plop.

Andrea smiled and crawled to eye level.

"Can we do it several different ways? I don't mean to put off your pleasure
but this might be my only chance- "

"Sure," he grinned. "Men like that."

"They do?"

She moved over to the side and wagged her rear end at him, causing her
drooping mounds to sway in harmony. They reached the mattress, stretched thin
by gravity until they thickened by her elbows, nipples merrily scraping the
rumpled sheets.

He grew stiffer just watching her. In a second he was inside her moist tunnel,
pumping away harder than he had all day.

That he couldn't find any pattern to the way her tits flew out from side to
side only made him more aroused. He leaned over for a better view and savored
the shudders whipping through her fleshy cylinders.

She rose up on one arm and made a vain effort with the other to calm her soft,
pendulous udders, but they were helpless willows in his wind.

He fingered her clit until she lost all concentration and fell back to earth.
With his other hand, he probed her silky undulating flesh, stroking each of
the massive columns like a giant penis.

He found her nipple creating delicious friction on the bed and folded her in
two, pulling the cone around her back to lick and nip at it. He yanked at its
twin like milking a cow.

She convulsed around his throbbing cock, arms shaking uncontrollably as she
tried not to fall over.

He stalled as soon as she paused for breath then withdrew and sat up on the
corner of bed, patting his lap.

"Over here. You mind doing a little of the work?"

"Sure. I can figure it out."

The more she revealed her inexperience the more she charmed him. She must have
been in her mid-twenties at least and yet she was younger than most teenagers.

Andrea stood in front of him, feet planted squarely on the floor, facing away.
She twisted around to take a look, slowly stepping up to his hips. Jimmy put
his hands about her waist as his cock slipped between the crack in her ass and
pressed to his abdomen.

"Grab me," he suggested. "No... not my thigh..."

"Oh," she whispered.

Her fingers wrapped around his prick and then it disappeared as she steered
him in and her soft round derriere descended on him.

He cupped her mons and lightly flicked at her tender pea nestled in the dark
forest rising above their joined crotches. Her warm, wet folds returned the
touch, brushing his finger as they curled up and down.

Her breasts flopped over his other arm like the faces eager children peeking
over a fence. She drew his hands to each of her nipples, encouraging him to
twist them while her own fingers plunged between her thighs. He pulled and
played with her gelatinous mounds like putty.

He nibbled the side of her neck, running his tongue up to her succulent
earlobe. Her head lolled to the side, sweeping its long black mane away.
Andrea swiveled toward him again, struggling to return his affections.

She let out a small sigh of frustration.

"No. Hop off first," he suggested.

She dismounted and Jimmy nudged himself back until his thighs no longer
dangled over the floor. His knees hooked with the edge and he held his arms
out for her as he reclined. Andrea figured the mechanics out quickly enough
and once more took her place in his lap, kneeling over him and grabbing his
cock.

They finally embraced and fed their hunger for one another.

Jimmy spread his legs apart and took hold of her plump behind. She moved so
much more delicately than the queen had those long hours ago, back when the
dream was real. He could feel her stiff kernel grinding slowly into the bone
over his penis, as hard and determined as he was.

He loved the fluid weight bouncing against him. It reminded him of the sea,
the way its rocking motions sang him to sleep at night. Her soft mounds
pressed to the side, spilling over and tickling the spaces under their arms.

She was so big.

Their necks had such a gulf to overcome.

He wrapped his fingers along the back of her head and pulled her tighter. He
felt her doing the same, sending her chest slipping around him.

She'd had oysters too. He could taste the fresh shellfish still haunting the
corners of her mouth.

What did she taste in him?

Suddenly her lips grew calm over his. Her eyes burned. Her crotch slowed to a
snail's pace, tenderly arching against him. Her breasts shook deliciously
beside him. Soon her walls trembled around his erection.

She blinked and broke the kiss off, smiling at him.

An impish expression crossed her face as she worked a palm between them and
pressed back on his chest. He leaned back on the pillows and watched as Andrea
ran fingers through her silky hair, pushing upward against the sky in her
grinning ecstasy.

She grabbed one of the banners draping the bed posts and began prancing
merrily on his pole with newfound vigor and confidence.

He reached up for her jiggling mammaries, wrapping his spider-like fingers
around their liquid playfulness. He reveled in the show for as long as she
would allow. All too soon she fell forward, until her hardened points danced
again across his chest.

She cupped one and offered it to his waiting mouth.

---

"Sorry. I wish I could stay but it's Helen's turn."

Andrea kissed him on the forehead.

"So I just lay here and let love come in and out like a revolving door?"

"What?" Her laughter died out when she discovered his comment was more a mark
of irritation than a joke. "Sorry," she whispered. "I've never heard of a door
that revolves." She kissed him again. "I'm flattered you like me enough to be
upset. Perhaps we can work something out later." She scooted to the edge of
the bed and stood. The movement of her heavy breasts still fascinated him. She
bent over to collect her robe and he watched her pendulous mounds shift and
shudder against one another until they disappeared from view. "I'll see you in
two days time." Then Andrea paused before leaving, as if she couldn't remember
the right door. "By the way... you don't have to spend all your time in this
bed. The entire island is open for you pleasure- someone's home, the beach,
another room here, perhaps? It's up to you. I'm sure none of the other ladies
would mind if you asked to share their bed with them. I'm sorry I didn't think
of it myself before we made love."

Made love.

He stared blankly at her as the torches continued to burn.

"Well?" she asked politely. "Would you like to meet Helen somewhere else or
should I send her in."

He smiled. "I'm fine here I suppose." They'd just get lost trying to get out
to the beach this time of night, even though the yellow glow of the village
was still visible.

"Oh, I forgot. She's married but she's very sweet. She might not tell unless
you ask and I thought you should know."

"Thanks. Is every woman who leaves supposed to tell me about the next
arrival?"

"No. Just us five."

"Five?"

"Your five volunteers. You can have more, of course. It's not that others
didn't want to help. It's simply the traditional number. You can have
different ones too if someone else catches your eye."

"No. You two have been lovely so far."

She smiled at the compliment and fumbled with the rest of her toga.

---

Helen had left like all the rest. She offered to stay when he asked, but then
he remembered she had a loved one to get back to. She kissed him gratefully
and he let her slip off quietly into the night.

The hallway torches were no more than glowing embers now. The fires outside
had died too. Stars twinkled clearly through the windows.

He turned on his side to watch them, drawing the bedspread to his chest and
wondering to himself if he should close the curtains to keep the chilly
nocturnal winds out.

What had Amber told him? The island moved but the stars never did.

What a spell...

A blue shadow appeared in the doorway.

He blinked several times. How long had she been there watching him? Yes... It
was definitely a woman standing there.

He chuckled out loud. What else could it be on this island?

"What?"

"Amber?"

"Yes. I came back to check on you. Are you fine?"

He rolled the sheets back in reply and made space for her on the bed.

Could she tell in the darkness?

She drifted over from the dark portal, floating with the grace of an
apparition.

The bed shifted as she joined him for a kiss.

Hs limp head fell away from her mouth and Jimmy and stared at her naked form
from the pillows. His palm lingered on her warm, soft back as she sat beside
him.

"Can you stay the night?"

"Sure," she murmured.

She reached for something on the floor and he felt a damp cloth wiping the
dried sweat from his brow. She dragged it slowly down his chest, working her
way...

"No." He put his hand over hers. "Don't worry with cleaning me up. I'm tired
enough to sleep as is. Come to bed... unless it bothers you."

"Of course it doesn't bother me."

He pushed one of his pillows to her side.

Amber rubbed her warm feet with his under the sheets and then laid down.

Though they could barely make out one another's form in the darkness, she
staid on her back, looking up at him as he rested on his elbow. They caressed
each other for several minutes in the sleepy quiet.

Jimmy ventured a kiss or two.

She felt him grow hard again against her leg.

"Can you turn on your side?" he asked. "No. The other way."

She pressed her back to him and he wrapped a strong arm under her breasts,
letting her stroke its curly hairs.

He found her a little dry, but Helen had left him lubricated enough for the
both of them.

"Don't." Her eyes shot wide open. She tried to turn over but she was pinned in
more than one sense. "I said I- "

"Relax, will you?" He kissed her shoulder. "I just want to be inside you for a
while. I won't come. I promise. I'm too sore to anyway."

"Oh." Her spine relaxed against his stomach. "So you're not trying to- ?"

"No. But if you mind I'll- "

"No. Please don't. I didn't mean to- "

"I know what you meant." He kissed her again.

"Good. It feels nice."

"And who knows?" He raised an eyebrow to the black void. "There's still a
little left on me. Maybe..." he trailed off suggestively.

"I'd like that," she said softly. It was a fairly good time in her period. But
one could never tell with such things.

He swept her hair away and let his lips dally on the nape of her neck. She
tried to return his attention but she obviously hadn't had much experience
with this position. He stroked her cheek and asked her not to worry about him.

She kissed the back of his palm and let him roam freely while she watched the
silver pinpricks shimmer in the window.

Had she observed him from the doorway with the same wonder he had beheld the
stars? Their reflection in her black eyes were the only part of her he could
make out for sure in the darkness.

His hand drifted to her lower nipple and she intertwined herself with it.

As he nibbled on her ear, she opened further to him. He wished he could slide
against her increasingly warm and inviting walls, but he was far too sore.
She'd been right about a fifth time.

But just to feel himself in her grip was sweet enough.

Her own smell began to rise up in the night air. Sweat trickled from her
intimate recesses.

Was some of it still Helen's, he wondered, just warmed over? Could Amber tell?
Of course... every woman could.

He'd forgotten about the hints of femininity still lingering in the
background. It took her own strengthening odor to remind him.

He kissed the side of her cheek.

"You're not bothered by the smell of another woman on me?"

"Not at all."

"You don't mind some of Helen being in you too?"

She smirked and chuckled.

She patted his arm and drew it closer to her, sighing and then becoming silent
for a while.

"How long will I feel you?" she asked while she stared at the night sky with
him.

"If you massage me just right, maybe all night."

Her vagina constricted about him, giving new life to his flagging member.

She laughed out loud. "I wondered what else that muscle was good for."

He kissed her again. "No more than a month though, even with your skill." He
laughed himself.

"I know," she whispered. "I know." She played with the hairs covering his arm
while he nuzzled her honey scented Irish curls. "Thank you," she said, before
they both wandered off into their own dreams.

---

"Melissa is here."

"Melissa?" He opened his eyes.

"Remember? I introduced her to you yesterday."

Oh. Her name wasn't Miranda?

"But I like you. Won't you stay?"

"After a while I might." Amber shrugged. "You never know. You might like
Melissa better."

He pinched her bare bottom before she trotted out of reach.

Melissa came in dressed like another servant. The two women smiled and
exchanged greetings with each other.

Then Amber vanished behind a curtain. He could still smell her scent in his
hair and on his arms.

Melissa knelt at the foot of his bed.

"Would you like a bath first or would you like to meet Julia? It's not too
early is it? It's just that I heard men like sex..." The covers slipped away
as he sat up, revealing his morning woody- "... when they wake up... for some
reason..." She finally blinked. "Sorry to stare. I've never seen one before-
not one pointing up like that... or quite so large."

He smiled. "You'll have to wait your turn."

"Oh I know. It's not..." She rested her chin in her palm and continued to
study him. "What's it like... I mean do you know it's that way when you're
asleep? You don't roll over and- ?"

"How old are you?"

"Eighteen."

"Eighteen and you already want a child?"

"I have to take the opportunity when it presents itself."

"Do you have a girlfriend yet?"

She blushed. "Nothing serious. It's why I'm here with you." She frowned.
"You're not going to answer my question?"

He shrugged. "It points up when I'm asleep so I don't mash it. Yeah, I know
when it's there. So does my girlfriend." He winked at her. "You'll certainly
know."

She giggled. "So would you like a bath first?"

He glanced down at his erection. The normal strands of stickiness were gone.
Had Amber already taken care of that? Had she done something during the night?

"A bath would be fine, Michelle. Thank you." She squeezed a sponge out in the
bowl by the bed. "Would you like to touch it?"

---

Julia was perhaps the shortest women he'd seen on the island. She wasn't
anywhere close to five feet tall, with a thin face like a young girl's.

Melissa led her in by the hand and then left them alone. Julia drew her down
for a peck on the cheek first to thank her.

Damn. He'd been calling Melissa by another name all morning. The sweet
creature hadn't said a thing. She must have thought he was too tired.

He'd have to find some way to make it up to her.

He offered Julia what was left of his breakfast, but she declined, shaking her
head demurely. With a single flick of her wrist, her robe dropped to the floor
and revealed a body far from girlish... though her pussy was shaved bare. He
hadn't seen that yet on the island.

She sat opposite him on the bed and folded her legs, placing her arms modestly
in her lap.

What had Melissa said? She was married and already thirty? She hardly looked
it.

"Your wife doesn't mind, does she?" he asked.

"No." Julia smiled at him and he relaxed. "She's very pleased. We want very
much to have another child. We're very grateful for the chance."

"Good. I'm... still not sure how to approach it. It's a bit awkward for some
and they don't seem to have their hearts quite in it."

She patted his arm and shifted a leg onto the bed.

"But I want to make you feel good. You need to, don't you? Or else it doesn't
work? There's nothing for us to be embarrassed about is there?"

"So you won't mind if you come too?"

She pinched his cheek affectionately under her thumb.

"If you want. It doesn't matter to me... But if you try to make love instead
of just have sex with everybody, you could get tired."

He shrugged. "Sex is always hard work. Maybe you could help?"

"Anything I can do. Please tell me."

"I couldn't coax you into a show, could I?" He smiled. "Just to help start my
day?"

"A show? Like what? A dance?"

"Well... is there something you do with your lover?" He traced the outline of
her hip. "Maybe play with yourself? Show off? Show her what makes you feel
good?"

"Oh. I heard you might like something like that. Sure. I guess. We don't do
that together but if you like it's no trouble."

"You've never played with yourself in front of her?"

"No. Should I?"

He chuckled. "She's more the one to ask, don't you think?"

"Oh." Julia blushed.

He gave her a kiss. "You're very pretty when you get red."

"Thank you."

He pushed her back on the bed and sat up at her feet. Julia bent her knees and
spread her short legs apart. She placed a thin finger on her pink lips and
gently rocked it to and fro.

"Is this what you want?"

"I don't know. Can you come from this position?"

"Sure. Why are you worried about me, though?"

"Because... I've had so much sex already, it's taking a little longer each
time to warm up."

"Oh. I understand. Sometimes it takes me a while too... Sure you wouldn't
rather kiss? That wouldn't do it?" She'd heard men might be odd.

"We'll kiss during sex if you like." He pecked her ankle. "I just want to see
my partner having fun too..."

She sighed. "I haven't done this in ages..."

He winked. "I make you feel like a girl again?"

She giggled.

"Besides." What the hell did he know? He waved his hands in the air like a
magician. "Your womb will open up wide when you cum and my little suckers can
swim right in."

"Oh." That made her enthusiastic. Her pinky glided faster over the top of her
slit, causing it to wag back and forth like the tail on a well-fed collie.

"Does your wife shave you?"

"Yes. Sometimes." She added another finger and made small circles over the
apex. "Am I supposed to talk during this too?"

"If you want."

She sighed. "It's up to you... Can I lean back?" Her breathing quickened. An
oily gleam appeared inside her.

"Sure. Do what you need to do."

She closed her eyes and her legs. There went the view.

"Am I doing it right?"

"Of course."

She pulled at a nipple with her free hand. The red blush spread over her chest
like coffee soaking up in a towel.

"What are you thinking about?"

"My wife," she smiled.

---

Julia screamed.

It was the kind a woman could only make when her modesty had been violated.

She struggled to draw the sheets up high over the both of them as she angled
Jimmy for more cover. She was just too small to move him much.

Her nails dug into his back like a herd of mice ran by. The nervous jelly of
her frightened breasts trembled against him as her thighs squeezed ever
tighter.

He'd tried all he could not to smother the little lady and now she was sucking
him under like quicksand.

Jimmy followed her eye to the window, where a little girl peeked in on them
with all the fascination of a child who'd just seen two dogs in the street
doing it.

"You!" Melissa burst out of the curtains, panting and red-faced from running.
She headed straight for the window and the ponytails dropped out of sight.
"You two run along!" Melissa yelled while she leaned out, shaking a stern
finger at the now-invisible pair.  She reeled herself back in and drew the
shades. "That should do it. I don't know why those two weren't in school.
Sorry for the interruption... oh," she gasped. She saw them lying together,
still coupled in the kind of embrace neither could easily break. She put her
hand up as a blinder and awkwardly fumbled with the other curtains, her eyes
darting around nervously.

"Don't mind me," she kept repeating until she'd finished darkening the room.
After much trial and error, and at least one broken vase, she managed to back
blindly into the corridor she'd entered from.

She'd be wonderful in bed, Jimmy thought to himself. She was so shy. Where was
she on the list?

He almost couldn't help himself from laughing at both women's sense of
modesty.

It was more understandable in the teenager... even if it was getting him
harder in the older woman... that poor woman beneath him whose heart wouldn't
stop pounding... who clutched at him like a comforter in winter.

The veins in her neck throbbed against his arm. She wasn't this flushed even a
few seconds ago when he had her screeching passionately. He didn't think she
could get redder.

"It's OK." He stroked her cheek. "They're only kids."

"You don't understand," she gasped. "That was my wife's daughter. She saw
me... I was doing..."

"So you'll explain it when you get home. Or your wife will. She'll
understand."

"Oh Zeus! My wife!... she's going to think... oh just hurry up and get it over
with," Julia said rapidly.

"You're hardly inspiring me here," he teased. She was still terror-stricken.
If he didn't get her mind back to business, she'd dry out and they'd both be
in trouble. "I got it," he whispered. "Start yelling again."

"What!?"

"Shh! Keep it down. What's your wife's name?"

"Cornelia."

Why'd it have to be so long?

"You don't have a pet- " No, that might really get her in deeper trouble.
"Start moaning again like you were before and pretend it's Cornelia. Call out
her name. Do you ever do that with her when you're alone together?"

"Yes," she said with some embarrassment. "But why- "

"Because Melissa's obviously listening out there and can at least hear
shouting. She'll hear you, I'll tell her how irritated I was at you for
calling out someone else's name and she'll report back to Cornelia. That
should square it."

"You know it might?" Julia got the expression women sometimes have when they
gossip together about grooming advice. "That's so smart. I never thought of
that. Thanks."

But Jimmy wasn't her best girlfriend. "You just gotta do one thing for me."

"What's that?"

"You gotta get me hard again..." he pleaded.

Her mouth dropped open. "Sorry. I'm not being sexy." She frowned. "That's my
fault. You are being really nice to me and it was fun earlier." She smiled.
"Well as long as she won't know... I mean... it's not like I'm cheating on
her..."

That was the wicked grin he wanted to see again.

---

"A what?" he asked Melissa.

"A boat trip. Amber made the arrangements. She said you wanted to see the
island."

"That's right. I thought she'd be going with me was all."

"No. I'm with you today... Unless you'd like me to fetch her for you."

"No. You're doing a great job. You scared the hell out of that poor little
girl. I can't think of anyone to better defend me."

Melissa smiled wanly. The woman who met them at the docks put a hand to her
mouth and chuckled under her breath.

"I just wish Julia would have kept her mind on things. Sorry. I shouldn't say
that in the presence of others. And who is this lovely woman?"

"This is Michelle. The trip will run through lunch and I thought, if you're in
the mood, you and Michelle could get, uh, more familiar, while we were on the
other side of the island. I have some traps to check on over there anyway, so
I thought I'd leave you two alone for a while."

"I take it we'll all fit in the boat?"

"Sure."

Duty calls.

He crawled into the oversized dingy. Had they built it themselves? The design
didn't inspire confidence.

What was the worst that would happen? They'd sink and wash to shore?

Both women piled on top of him.

"Don't do that. We'll row. You should really rest."

"Bullshit. Gimme that." He might not have much time left as a man, but he was
going to make full use of it and stay in shape.

Why? To impress the ladies?

No, just because he could.

He flexed the muscles on his chest.

The ladies dropped everything and stared at his nipples.

He did it again.

A jaw fell open.

He alternated.

Finally one of them giggled.

"Do I have to rig the mast too?"

The spell broke and they set about their work.

Something wasn't right in the way they were...

"Isn't the sail set in the wrong direction?"

Melissa winked. "Remember the tide?"

Sure enough. They hit the reef at an angle and wound up scooting parallel to
the shore.

Ingenuous.

Melissa occupied herself with the rudder, turning her back to him and falling
out of earshot in the roar of the waves.

Michelle grabbed his waist for support as another surge hit, then leaned in
and whispered seductively in his ear. "*I'll* keep my mind on you..."

He grinned.

---

It was a larger island than he thought. Parts of it looked uninhabited, though
the girls assured him you could get most everywhere by footpath in about an
hour or two.

There was a tall peak in the distance, occupying the middle of the island,
where an old woman lived. They said you could see forever up there. Of course
there was nothing really to see, no matter where the island was. No one had
spotted another piece of land or even a boat in three millennia. Wrecks like
were the closest they ever came to the outside world.

The hill was surrounded by several lower prominences, some bare and filled
with low rolling pasture lands far inland where sheep and cattle grazed.
Several distant figures chased the herds. Dogs had died out long ago, so
people had taken the duty.

Would that be his fate? Chasing confused ex-bulls into their pens at night?

But they had plenty of birds. Maybe they could fly in and out at will like the
bugs that never bit. Were the creatures who stayed away from humans immune to
the curse?

He watched Melissa from shore as she dove for her traps.

Or was it Michelle?

No. Michelle was the one next to him.

Right?

Shit he hoped he hadn't called out the wrong woman's name a minute ago.

Well if he did, it didn't matter to her. She was still in her own private
paradise. Did she know what a cigarette was? She had that 'gotta have one'
look... eyes closed, laying back on the sands under the spotty shade of the
palm.

"Letting him take" as she'd said.

What had one of the others called it? 'Letting him stick.' At least she didn't
say 'conserving his seed.' He felt like a bloody gardener when they mentioned
that.

She'd actually let him lick her pussy to warm things up. Only Andrea had let
him enjoy that and even she moved quickly to the main course.

Michelle must have figured she was trapped with him and the picnic basket for
the duration and to make the most of it. Melissa deliberately took her time
out on the reef, playing in the surf.

Where had she found that old snorkling mask? Had it washed up in one of the
shipwrecks?

He scratched himself in one of the places only men are prone to.

"I have got to shave. This thing itches like crazy."

"I can do that for you," Michelle said, eyes still closed. "I shave legs on
occasion. That doesn't look much different."

"Have a razor on you?"

"What's a razor?"

"What do you shave with?"

"A knife."

Maybe he should let Amber do it...

What a funny thought.

Why did he turn to her of all the women he'd met? Was he developing deeper
feelings for her?

It could just be the trust of a friend?

He should spend a few more nights with her to find out.

Would she come back this evening?

"I assume you're talking about your face, though your legs could use it too."

"What? Men don't shave their legs."

"Oh."

"Don't you like my hairy legs?"

"Sure."

They were always saying 'sure.' Women.

Well, maybe the same stuff just didn't matter to them.

He chuckled. None of them had yet asked what he did for a living either. Or
how much money he made.  Or how big his boat was. They weren't like any women
he knew.

Then again, they already knew his future prospects.

He sighed and ran the sand through his toes.

"I heard you were a baker."

"Yeah.... Guess... uh, guess it's up to my brother now to keep the family line
going." The kids wouldn't be taking his last name, would they? He'd be a woman
by the time they were born. Yugh. He didn't want to think about it.

It was too incredible. Why didn't he doubt what they told him more? How did he
know it was true?

"We grow wheat. I'm sure your skills will be useful."

"Which skills?"

"Baking."

"No. My name is Baker." He tossed a shell into the sea. "I'm just a number
cruncher."

"A what?" Michelle laughed. The hand slipped from her eyes and her head lolled
to the side as she peeked at him.

"I help businesses add up their money."

"Money? Oh. Your skills might not be very handy, then. We don't have money...
though of course we've all heard about it." She looked up at the leaves once
more. "We've got some gold coins in the archive if you'd like to see them.
They're from the original shipwreck. But their number doesn't change." She
frowned under the black bars of the palm's shadow. "Sorry."

"Suppose I'll be pretty useless then."

"Not at all." A lazy hand patted his shoulder. "So your father was a baker?"

"No. It's just our family name, passed down over the years. You have that
here, don't you? Last names? I haven't heard anyone's yet."

"Clan names? Oh. We don't use them much. Only a handful of us have the same
first name."

"No other Jimmy's?"

She chuckled. The back of her hand fell over her eyes again. "No. You're it."

---

"Hey... I'm sorry I called you Michelle this morning, honey. Why didn't you
say anything?"

"You were so sweet. It's understandable you were tired out from your ordeal.
It's hard to pay attention to all the new things happening, I imagine."

He pinched her cheek. "I bet you were too caught up watching my sausage bob
around." She blushed. "You were! That's why you didn't notice..." He tickled
Melissa until she started to pull away. "Hey. I'm not being mean. Look." He
put his hands on top of hers. "I want to make it up to you."

"Really?"

"Yes. It was rude of me."

"Noooo.... You were just- "

"Now don't argue, honey. Just tell me what I can do for you." He thought a
moment while she was silent. "Would you like to share my bed for the night?"

Her face brightened some, but there was hesitation still in her eye. Was she
afraid of her inexperience?

"Is it OK with Amber?" she asked timidly.

"Do I have to ask her? Why are you worried?"

"No. I just thought that... You seem closer to her than to me. I wouldn't want
to- "

"She's not free tonight anyway. Now would you like to keep me warm or not?"

She smiled. "I would."

"Good. I'd rather not be left all alone again."

Jimmy swept the sheets aside while she kicked her sandals off. Melissa swung
her legs next to his and laid down beside him.

Fully clothed.

She was as shy as he thought.

"You know you'll have to take that off when we make love?"

"I know," she said meekly. "Can I wear it for now? Maybe if I'm close to you
I'll get used to it."

"Sure. Haven't you ever been naked with another person? You didn't have
trouble diving in the nude when I was around."

"I know... it's just... you're so different. In private... you know? Publicly
it's not a problem, or with another girl after I'm comfortable with her... I
just... you do such strange things."

"Me or my body?"

"Oh no. You're very sweet. It's just... your body changes so much when you're
aroused. And you're so much larger. I'm not sure what to do- "

"- with me?"

"Yes."

He kissed her on the lips. "You don't have to do anything at all... I'll take
care of it when the time comes." She relaxed a little as he stroked her cheek.
"All you have to do is lie there like this. I'll do the work and make you feel
good." Her lip twitched. "But we're not doing anything tonight anyway. Not
unless you want to kiss a little. Did you want to do that?"

She hummed. "Do you want to?"

"You're the one I'm apologizing to. What do you want?"

She turned away from him and draped his arm over her shoulder. "Just hold me.
It's been a long day."

"Sure." He kissed the nape of her neck. "You've been very sweet to me." Damn.
He was getting another erection. A tooth dug into her lower lip. "Don't worry.
It happens when I'm with someone I like. Even when I'm asleep." She sighed and
stroked his arm. "I hope it doesn't bother you. I'm not going to roll over in
the middle of the night and- "

"I know you won't," she whispered. "I trust you. And if you did, it's not for
me to say no. It would..." She patted his elbow. "It's an honor."

"Only when you say." He kissed her shoulder again. "You should enjoy it, not
want to forget it." He worked his other arm underneath her and held her tight.
"Now is being big so bad?"

She watched the clouds drifting across the ivory sliver of the moon's shadow.

"No... no, it really isn't." She moved his hands up to her small bosom and
kissed his knuckles. "You're very cozy."

"I liked watching you dive today... The way your feet fluttered in the air
before you went back down. It was cute."

"Thanks."

"Have you been doing that long?"

"Since I was fourteen."

"Four years. You like it? Is that what you're going to do with your life?"

"Some of it. It's fun."

"The crabs were nice."

"They were... Can we talk in the morning? My skin's still a bit burned and I'm
sleepy."

---

Jimmy awoke to the sounds of songbirds again.

The island had some lovely ones in his dreams.

But they never left him alone. They were little electric alarm clocks. Always
bugging him about work.

No...

It wasn't birds like yesterday. It was... singing? He cracked an eye at the
nearest window. Nothing but empty blue sky.

Where...?

He yawned and crawled up to the sill.

There was Amber, standing alone, backed by a semicircular sea of femininity.

Was it every woman on the island?

There must be at least forty he could see. More in the bushes. Some even
holding their daughters by their sides or perched on low hanging tree limbs.

What time was it? He rubbed his eyes. The red was just fading from the sky.

The birds chirped along too. Did they understand it? He couldn't make out the
lyrics. Was it ancient Greek? Whatever it was it was enchanting. That he
couldn't understand only made it moreso.

He sank on his elbow and smiled down at them.

And yawned uncontrollably. Amber grinned and almost fell from the surrounding
chorus of notes.

Her arms rose up from her sides. She clasped them to her breast and then broke
out in solo as she reached out to him with open palms outstretched.

She cocked her head. Her lips trembled sweetly from the rush of air. The
forceful melodies seemed almost to bubble out of her throbbing throat like a
spring.

A little line of fat formed where she tucked her chin in.

She broke into a smile and every odd performer took a step closer and rejoined
her in song.

They stopped and their counterparts in the rear picked the harmony.

They cycled back and forth in pretty geometric patterns, as if they were
telling him a story full of distinct characters, woven with different voices.

Amber stepped forward again.

Perhaps they were wooing him.

How cute. Was it just a simple love song?

The steps and harmonies grew more complex than that.

It was hard to follow. He was still groggy. And the notes floated on the
air... they seemed to call for his consciousness to come with them... it truly
was the isle of sirens...

He blinked hard. They were putting on such an effort, he couldn't let himself
nod off under their spell.

The other women stopped and Amber once again took the ball, uttering what
sounded like a powerful final note and calling seductively to him with her
arms and eyes.

Then there was silence.

Even the early morning birds, normally so noisy, stopped to admire the fading
echoes, unsure now of their own powers of song and doubting where they could
next take the melody.

The last note died in the hills.

It was over. Every woman smiled at him.

He stood up and clapped very loudly. The birds warbled again.

"Brava. Brava."

The ladies took a bow.

He waved Amber to the window.

She lifted the hem of her skirt and walked forward. "I thought you needed a
little serenading.  Men are always complaining women cheat them on the
romance."

His smile broadened. "I'm touched." He pecked her on the cheek. "You
remembered the other night."

"I won't forget any of it," she whispered back.

The chorus took his show of affection as a cue to collect their reward. They
formed a long line behind Amber, politely out of earshot.

"You didn't stop by again..."

Amber blushed. "You would have woken up when I left to sing. Then it wouldn't
have been a surprise." She looked behind her. "We'll talk later.  You have
many other admirers to greet."

"And they all deserve it," he said proudly, waving them on before he bent down
for a good-bye kiss. "You're always welcome," he whispered.

Amber turned, throwing a swish in her hair, and walked off cheerfully, letting
her hand linger with his until her arm could bend no higher.

Her fingers slipped from his grip.

He dutifully kissed each of the singers in turn, all the while keeping track
of Amber's retreating form from the corner of his eye.

There were too many waiting to permit much conversation.  They exchanged pecks
on the cheek and then thanked them and sent them on their way. He recognized a
few faces from the bedroom. Almost all of them in fact.

Even the Queen popped out of the shrubs and fell in line with the other
angels, though she obviously felt out of place.  He couldn't exactly see her
as the kind who sang and danced for Dahlia in the bedroom. But she was doing
her best to smile at him, however awkwardly.

Just as his back started to hurt, someone slipped a pedestal under the window.

It was harder to watch Amber now, though the gaiety in her step was
unmistakable.

She stopped and turned. Was she...?

A dozen little boys filed out from behind a tree and drowned her in a sea of
hands.

"Sorry, sweety... Only the girls... when you're older..." She pinched a ruddy
cheek. "Because he's... play just with the boys... of these days... Don't
want... him... kiss, do you?"

A dozens little "ughs" went up to the skies.

"Let's..." She was out of range now. Little arms fell on her like rigging to a
sail as she led them off to school. The wind caught her skirts and just then,
just for a moment she turned the rest of the way and he caught a glimmer in
her eye.

He grinned.

"Why sure..."

Jimmy bent down and kissed the young mother then plucked the little girl from
her arms and gave her a peck on the cheek too. He scratched her belly with his
scraggly whiskers for good measure until she squealed in delight. The few
remaining ladies laughed and two or three other girls ran from their mothers
to line up under the sill.

It was amusing to watch the queen hoist each of them on her broad shoulders.

"Thank you, your majesty..." He took the child with ponytails in his arm. "Why
aren't you a big girl..." He pinched her cheek. "And so cute." He scratched
her too.

Soon the queen was out of children and had to stand herself before him. She
glanced around nervously, searching vainly for one last child, before stepping
up.

"We're having an outdoor luncheon in your honor this afternoon," she informed
him. "I hope you can attend."

He smiled. "Well if it's in my honor, I guess I've got no choice." Dahlia
giggled behind her. "It wouldn't be much of a celebration without me." He
leaned forward and gave the Queen another kiss on the cheek. "It's very
thoughtful of you."

She stepped to the side and helped her lover up.

"Thanks Dahlia. It was sweet of you to come."

"I enjoyed it."

Dahlia held back and offered her hand. He eyed the queen warily and kissed her
knuckles like a knight of old.

"Perhaps this afternoon you won't hide her beautiful voice in the bushes?"

The queen smirked.

Dahlia shrugged and gave him a 'Lovers. What can you do with them?' sort of
face. "I don't know why she hides behind others in chorus. She's just as
good."

The blonde stepped down and wrapped her arm around the queen. The pair walked
off, whispering to each other.

Dahlia laughed.

Jimmy polished off the remaining stragglers quickly enough.

Still, it hadn't been all the women he'd met so far. He didn't expect to see
all of them either but... something nagged him. It was the sort of thing some
of them would want to be at.

Who was that?

Oh well.

He was still groggy.

Why wouldn't that woman take her eye off his waist?

He looked down and finally noticed he was naked. A very sticky, smelly, messy
kind of naked from last night. He'd kissed little girls with that stuff
matting his- ?

He backed sheepishly from the window, triggering frowns all around.

"Sorry," said the woman, gazing eagerly into his eyes.

Her few remaining compatriots whispered disapprovingly and batted scarves at
her.

He waved good-bye and drew the curtains.

He turned to find Melissa already gone from the bed. Full-bodied Andrea was
waiting patiently with the wash basin.

One of the other M's was standing next to her. Michelle, if he remembered
right. She held a bone knife in her hand.

"Did you want a shave?"

He wished Amber hadn't left.
 

Without a doubt every woman they passed on the streets looked with
disappointment at his smooth face.

He hoped Michelle wouldn't catch any trouble over it. She'd felt bad enough
when she sliced open his chin. "Sorry. And I thought knees were hard." He
couldn't stop laughing at that line.

And he had to before she moved to the other cheek.

At least she hadn't hit a vein.

He should have asked for her resume beforehand. It hadn't occurred to him his
would be the first face she'd ever done.

"Does it still hurt?"

"What? Hm. No, Andrea. The salve feels quite nice. I, um... I shouldn't have
moved like that. It's my fault."

She smirked. "No it's not. It's Michelle's fault... Well, I guess it's partly
yours. None of us has ever shaved a man's beard before. What did you expect?
It was an unusual request."

"I know. I should have done it myself. At least then she wouldn't get blamed
for it."

"We'll all get over it. It's your choice."

"It'll grow back," he shrugged.

"No it won't."

"Huh?"

"Not enough. But never mind. Better sooner than later... I'd wait to shave
anything else, though. It's still too thick."

---

"Let the Games begin," proclaimed the Queen.

Amber turned and whispered subversively in his ear. "You know she hated having
her ass in the air all day."

He laughed.

"You're a good judge of character." He turned to her and squeezed her
shoulder. "Sure you won't join us?"

"I need to watch my class. You'd be surprised how hard it is to get them to
run in a straight line."

"Probably not." He watched one of them spiraling into the woods.

"Oh! Come back here, you!"

She was cute when she hoisted her skirts up like that to run.

He clutched the decaying nerf ball and cocked his arm back. "Come on, Marcus.
Go deep... farther back... that's it. It's a long one..." He tossed it. "And
it's good. Somebody tackle him... on second thought... oh." He turned around.
"Your majesty."

"The Games await," the Queen reminded him. "There will be time to spend with
the children. Now is your chance to impress the rest of us."

"Impress?"

"Yes. Demonstrate your powers. It has been so long since any of us has seen a
man in his natural element."

Natural element? A cubicle? "I'm supposed to put on a show?"

"Not at all. We wish there were other men here, but we will have to suffice as
your competition. Do you not enjoy sports? I know some men- "

"No. I like them fine. Do you?"

"Certainly. All of us do... But we cannot always do the proper things for some
activities or do them as well. Perhaps you can help?"

"OK. What's up first?"

"Nothing too strenuous. It is all in the spirit of fun. To offer you a chance
to enjoy yourself."

"While you watch, huh?"

She grinned. "It is a side benefit."

He looked at the woman's sinewy arms. "You're not going to be one of the ones
beating up on me, are you?"

She laughed. "No. You outclass me in too many areas. My function here today is
strictly ceremonial... Now. The soccer ball has finally been reinflated- Zeus
knows that took long enough, poor Linda is still dizzy- there is also the
javelin, the discus, a foot race and any number of other games.  We have a few
hours before we eat. The choices are yours."

---

Andrea frowned. "But we'll lose if I have to take my top off. They'll really
get in the way," she sighed. "You don't understand. It's hard enough to run
like *this*."

"We won't lose. Trust me."

"Are you sure? I don't think you can give me a lead that big."

"I won't have to... Just trust me." He pinched her pouting chin. "Wasn't the
night before reason enough?" She cracked a smile. "We'll win the race," he
stressed. "I just need you to stay focused and run straight for the finish
line. Can you do that? Not get distracted?"

"Of course, but- "

"No buts. Just do your job." He slapped her fanny. "Trust me."

---

He passed her the wooden rod.

Andrea lurched away, breasts flying everywhere.

Damn she was sexy like that.

Sure enough, up went the flag pole.

He turned to face the rest of the field as they caught up with him.

He'd never thought he'd be able to stand alone in a crowd of women with a huge
boner and not be embarrassed. But here he was in all his natural, turned-on
glory. All eyes were on him, wide open like children at a candy factory. He
never felt more like a work of art.

He twisted his neck to keep his own eye on Andrea's magnificent bouncing form.
She really was really giving it her all.

Jimmy chuckled as one runner collided with her equally distracted anchor. The
baton went flying into the woods and both ladies ended up in an awkward
embrace on the grass, staring at him with big doe eyes from positions that
would tax even mating contortionists.

Andrea took a quick peek behind her, curious about why the rest of the world
had come to a halt. He gave her the thumbs up and she smiled back. The harder
she ran the further her tits flew and the higher his pecker strained against
the empty air.

Damn she was sexy.

"Don't look back! Go for it! You're clobbering them!"

Two competitors saw his signal and the spell over them broke.  The pair peeled
the batons from their stunned partners and stumbled after poor Andrea but it
was too late. They'd never catch her. Her little arms and legs were pumping up
and down furiously in the distance. Her whole body was bright red. Even she
could win it from here.

One of the runners was obviously still preoccupied. She turned to snatch a
final glance and fell all over the grass like a newborn foal on a frozen lake.

The other woman didn't have a chance, but try she did, straining valiantly
until Andrea crossed the giggling finish line. She came up to him later as he
put a soothing arm around Andrea's back. The dejected woman accused him of not
being fair.

Jimmy just shrugged. "I guess you should have taken your top off," he replied.

Blushing Andrea, doubled over and still short of breath, managed a smile.

The woman glared at Andrea's dangling bosom. "That's what I meant. It's not
fair." Her face wrenched up and she walked off.

He hoped she wasn't on the list.

Then again, maybe it would be fun. She had some spirit....

"Thanks," Andrea panted. Sweat dripped from the matted black hair that
shrouded her face like a veil. She swept it off the grass, over her back
again. "Who'd figure... what else these things... were good for." She coughed.
"I never thought I'd win one of those..." she chuckled. "Classic... I almost
tripped myself... when I saw..." She clutched her dangling udders and rescued
them from the vegetation. "Oh but they hurt though..." she gasped. "It was
worth the trouble... What a great way to win...  Partnership, huh?" She took
another gulp. "That's what it's all about. Claudia will immortalize us for
sure."

He placed a hand on her shoulder. "I'm sorry if they hurt. I didn't mean- "

The knobs in her spine moved like a snake. She finally caught her breath and
lurched up, brushing her slick black mane from her cheeks. "Don't worry about
it... They're always sore. Sometimes more than once a month." She sighed. "I
really wish they were smaller... I've never liked them this size." She smiled
devilishly. "We're lucky you do." She patted him back.

He suddenly thought of her in the sack the other day, how much he'd enjoyed
seeing her red and sweaty just like this.

"They have a certain grace to them."

She smirked. "What's the English word? Spastic?"

"That too."

"Well... they know if you pay them attention again in private you'll be
gentler."

The Queen walked over, Dahlia at her side. He'd never seen her more jovial.
She couldn't stop laughing.

Andrea slung her robe over her shoulders and wrapped her breasts tightly as
the Queen congratulated each of them.

"It is a wise man who gets his competitors to defeat themselves."

"Indeed. I thought you might get mad that we'd cheated."

"Cheated? Mad? Hardly. The rest of the women cheated themselves of victory.
You were clever and honest when they weren't... when you knew they wouldn't
be. I like that. You took advantage of their one weakness and used the curse
to your benefit." She wagged a finger at him. "You understand life. You
understand the wisdom of the myths." Dahlia whispered in her ear. "Excellent.
Yes. The island will commission Claudia to immortalize the day in song."

Andrea blushed. "Thank you my Queen."

"And you too did well Andrea. You could have tripped with the others but you
kept your eye on victory."

"I wanted so badly to win. Just once."

"Sometimes once is enough to make you the best when it is the right race."

"Again. Thank you, my Queen."

"Ah. Do not be so formal. The festivities are over. Call me Lucia."

So she did have a name, Jimmy thought.

Lucia squeezed his bicep and seemed pleased with what she found.

"You have a strong arm.  Perhaps there are more songs to write..." she said
loosely. Then the cloud disappeared from her eye and she straightened up. "We
will go hunting tomorrow, before you become too flabby and I shall instruct
you on the finer points of throwing... Yes. Would you enjoy that?"

Flabby? He flexed his arm. He looked fine.

They were feeding him too much. He did need to work some of it off. He was
getting soft. The three days sitting on the boat getting heat stroke hadn't
helped.

Soft.

Shoot. He would get soft and there was nothing he could do about it.

Was he really eating too much? There was hardly any fat in their diet.

Andrea poked him gently in the ribs.

Huh?

Oh.

"Yeah. I would. It's just that I've never thrown before. I'm better at casting
a line."

"We can do that too. It's up to you. If you'd rather spend time with the other
ladies, nothing will be said of it. I merely make the offer."

"I don't mind a day of hard work."

"Good." Lucia brightened and put an arm around his shoulder. "Some women think
I was once a man because of my decisiveness, because I take action and revel
in physical pursuits. What do you think?"

"I think... I think without men around, you have to be strong for yourself and
for your loved ones."

Dahlia smiled at him.

But Lucia hit him on the back. "Uhf."

"I like you. You understand things. I hope you make a strong woman too. Or
does it not matter to you?"

"I'd like to stay as much me as I can."

"We all hope that."

Lucia sighed and contemplated the woods in silence. Jimmy scratched his ear as
the Queen's eyes clouded over again.

He was at a loss as to what to do. Had he reminded her of the inevitably
unpleasant? Or was she about to pinch him on the ass and give him a beer?

"I tell you what. After you've had lunch and a chance to rest, I'll take you
on a walking tour of some of the trails." Andrea frowned at the offer but he
failed to notice. "Would that be fine with you?"

Jimmy nodded. "Some parts of me haven't been getting as much exercise as the
others."

The women laughed.

"Good. See you- " she pointed at an angle to the sun- "at two."

She and Dahlia intertwined arms about each other's waists and walked off. She
turned to Dahlia, whispered something and planted a kiss on her forehead.

"It's hard to believe Dahlia was once the boy," Andrea whispered.

"Really? I think she's the more sexy of the two."

"Everybody does."

"Really? You don't like bold and determined lovers?"

"Not when they're women."

"She was a turn on in her own way... though she did make my balls black and
blue." Andrea giggled hysterically. "Yeah. Hilarious... So. You like men and
you like women but you don't like masculine women?"

"Some of us do. Dahlia obviously does. It's none of my affair. I was just
making a comment, not passing judgment."

"I know." He put and arm around Andrea and they walked to the side where some
of the spectators still congregated. "Why don't you go ahead and get cleaned
up for lunch. I'll be along to the palace shortly."

"OK."

He held her hand firmly before he let her go. "You ran a fantastic race. A lot
harder than you had too. You could have beaten them by a mile anyway." He
kissed her on the cheek. "I'm proud. You did all the hard work."

"The victory is both ours."

"Of course." He pinched her. "I helped too... Even if it wasn't the *hard*
part."

She laughed. "Thanks, nonetheless. I'm so happy..."

She did look pleased. Moreso than the all too brief minutes they'd spent
together in bed. Would he ever know her well enough to figure out why?

Off she shuffled, clearly still short of breath.

His head hurt some too.

Boy, if he had to do that again as a woman he'd be in trouble. He hated
running.

Ouch. Particularly with tits.

What if they ended up like hers? He shuddered to think.

Maybe he could whip a big banana out of his toga and they'd all fall over
laughing.

Yeah... that might work. He'd have to remember that.

Gallows humor...

He came across the other woman who'd tripped, still sitting on the ground
where she'd fallen. She hadn't taken her eyes off him the entire time.

"Are you all right? Nothing broken I hope."

"No. Just a few scratches." She rubbed her shins. "I hope they'll heal in
time."

"Time for what?"

"Next week. You don't like scabs, do you?"

He pinched her cheek. They made her look like a tomboy, but she probably would
think her femininity was slighted if he said that.

"You're very cute, regardless. Your eyes just got the better of you."

She blushed. "I know. I should just wait my turn like everybody else but... I
never thought I'd feel the things I did, looking at you."

"I hope you feel them again."

"I will," she smirked. "I will."

He leaned in and whispered in her ear. "You don't have a girlfriend I'll make
jealous, do you?"

She giggled. "No. Do you?"

Jimmy looked up at the sky.

He wanted to answer, but for once he thought better of it and stopped his
mouth from running off without him.

"Oh I'm... No. Please don't answer. It wasn't right of me."

"Don't worry about it." He patted her on the back. "I seem to have a hundred
girlfriends and I can't remember all of their names at the moment."

She laughed. "I hear it's a nice problem to have." She intertwined her arm
with his and pulled herself up. "I'm Clarissa. There. Now you only have
ninety-nine to worry about."

He snorted. "So tell me, why didn't the Queen run?"

"Oh. We don't let her. She beats everybody. Even with that fairly large bosom
of hers."

"But I got to run. Surely I can beat her?"

"Oh. No one has any doubt that you could beat us all. But it was in your
honor. For you to show off. Didn't you enjoy it?"

"Yeah. You didn't let me win, did you?"

"Of course not. That's why we gave you Andrea. So the rest of us could have a
little hope. I can see we were pleasantly wrong."

"Andrea? You weren't picking on her were you?"

"No. It was her idea in fact. She's always last. We all thought it was the
fairest thing to do. Why? Do you disagree?"

"Not at all. She really liked it... well, look. Good luck with your next race.
I'll see you around."

"Five days," she piped up to his departing back.

There was Amber again, surrounded in the same swarm of young ones. Put a ball
of yarn in any two pairs of hands and in a minute they'd have her wrapped from
head to toe like a mummy.

She spied him out of the corner of her eye as she rounded them up.

"Come on. Back to class." She hustled them down the trail under the guard of
another young woman. "Everybody hold hands... I'm watching you Clara... Oh."
She turned to find him standing right behind her.

"You enjoy teaching?"

"Yes. Very much. Many of us do."

"Did they run straight?"

She put a hand over her mouth but she couldn't stop the laughter from bubbling
over. "As straight as Andrea," she snickered, "when you 'pointed' her in the
right direction." She stuck a finger out from her crotch. "Gooo! Doooon't
loooook baaaaack!"

He pinched her side. "I'm glad you enjoyed the spectacle."

"It was quite original... though it was hard explaining to the students."

"Oops. Didn't think about that. Sorry."

She shrugged. "They learn about sex eventually. Though I have a feeling
they're going to try the strangest things when we race at lunch tomorrow."
Amber smirked. "Oh well. A small price to pay..." She gripped his side. "Say.
I bet the queen was impressed. She's always saying brains are more important
than brawn."

"She did like it. She invited me hiking later."

"Oh dear. Don't let her tire you out."

"I won't. So... provided I keep my clothes on... when did you want me to come
down and play with the little boys?"

"Anytime you'd like, of course."

"Sometime when you'll be there. Um... unless you don't want your class
disturbed."

Her hand moved to his chest. "No. I'd like that very much. Why not- is the
Queen doing something with you tomorrow?"

"Yeah."

"I thought Andrea said so. Well it might be stressful too. How about the day
after?"

"Sure."

"And I'll see you tomorrow morning, anyway," she said. "I've got you for half
the day."

"Good..." He tugged at her belt until she put her palm over his. "Now are you
guys going to give me some sort of schedule I can look at or just keep me
guessing?"

"Mmm. Just keep you guessing."

"OK. Well why don't you drop by again tonight? It'll save you the trip up in
the morning."

"I'd like that."

"I hope you're not jealous because you didn't get to run with me today."

"It's not the race I run." She kissed him on the cheek. "Besides, it was more
enjoyable to watch, as all the other competitors found out."

Amber turned and hurried after the last of her charges still lingering in the
woods.

---

Andrea had stayed by his side faithfully all day. She even dragged herself
along the hilly trails in pursuit of their exceptionally fit Queen in her
thinly disguised competition with Jimmy.

He might beat her in a foot race but she made it clear the long haul was
another matter.

Still, she was far from a poor guide. He'd seen a lot today. Everything major
on the island, in fact. She wanted to take him to one of the lookouts, but
poor Andrea looked too tired for the climb.

He made up an excuse about his clothing being too loose and his balls hurting. 
He'd thought of saying his foot was sore, but feet were something they all
had. He wanted something they couldn't question, something that wouldn't
arouse suspicion but would be final.

Though it produced a bit too much concern on their faces. He hoped he wouldn't
wind up with his crotch wrapped up with the island's only roll of duct tape.

He was glad he'd fit the second and third woman in around lunch. The fourth
was difficult enough that night, even after the long nap.

He'd had to force her to be on top, even though she didn't have much
experience with it.

That look in her eye...

When things started taking too long and he coaxed her down for a blow job to
help him along. He'd seen women disgusted at giving them before, but she was
positively terrified it might accidentally go in the wrong end.

"Are you sure?... Are you sure?..." like some echo in the bed chamber. Would
he ever get it out of his ears?

Still... she'd been so pleasant. He shouldn't have teased her with it. If he
were in her position, he was sure he wouldn't want to see his chance at a
child flushed down the drain. Or elsewhere.

Her position...

It didn't take long before he shared her apprehension.

"Huh?"

Andrea frowned. "I was hoping I could stay."

Amber said nothing, didn't even look upset.

She'd done so much for him today. "Would you both like to?" he asked, before
he could think clearly about it.

Neither seem affected one way or another by his question. Was it their way of
telling him they weren't thrilled?

Damn these women for hanging around him with those eyes that asked him to make
decisions like this.

"If it makes either of you uncomf- "

"No," they interrupted in unison. "We both want to sleep with you."

"Both? You sure?"

They looked at one another and grinned. "Yes." They started disrobing.

Amber was first to bed, having perhaps less to unwrap. She curled up by his
side next to the edge, facing out like she'd done the first night. Her silky
red curls caressed his chest as she looked up at him for approval.

Jimmy grinned back at her, grabbing her hip and spooning her.

Andrea looked at the pair, clearly feeling left out and expecting some form of
direction from him.

He patted the space behind him.

"Back here where I can feel your wonderful breasts pressing into me." Amber
winked. "Here. Give me your hand."

Andrea smiled now that she understood why he wanted her that way. She was
overjoyed again.

Was today the day she was finally getting on friendly terms with her bosom?
She'd seemed so blase about it when he'd slept with her. Er, had sex. He was
finally getting to the sleep part. How did other women treat breasts, exactly?
He couldn't imagine being attracted to another man that way and yet here they
were, doing what every man fantasized about...

"That really was a wonderful race," Amber said. "I've heard the first verse in
Claudia's song. It's quite lovely."

"Isn't it?" Andrea settled in behind him. He'd have to be careful not to turn
over in the night and hurt her. Those warm cushions of hers were the best.
Especially the big smooth nipples.

Would Amber take offense at a thought like that?

Why was he worried?

"I hope you two aren't going to keep me up all night," Andrea grumbled,
"chattering like girlfriends."

He chuckled.

---

His hip joint popped.

What was that about?

He sat up in bed, massaging the socket.

He yawned.

Were there mirrors in this place? Had they been hiding him from himself? He'd
spent so much time having sex he hadn't noticed.  They didn't leave him alone
a moment.

Who'd he slept with yesterday? They were starting to go by in a blur. He'd
pretty much doubled his personal archive of pussy and yet... he had trouble
remembering each one. They came and went so fast. He'd seen a dozen different
female shapes, all the most beautiful representatives possible...

He barely felt any stubble on his chin this morning. Had Andrea been right?

Where was she? Where was Amber?

"Amber? Andrea?"

"Yes?" Amber's red head poked through the brown curtains. "Andrea's gone for
the day. She'll be back in three days time... unless you want I should fetch
her?"

"No. I guess I can put up with you for half a day," he grinned slyly. "Why do
you guys always run off before I wake up?"

"There is work to be done. We can't all be lazy."

"You mean you can't all lay around having sex all day?"

"Not at the same time," she said blankly. "Just one by one." Her head cocked
and her lip twitched. "Why? Should we try? You want us to?"

"No," He chuckled and her face relaxed. "So who gets to go watch me be manly
with the Queen this afternoon?"

Amber laughed. "That would be Linda."

"Linda?"

"You haven't met her yet."

"Didn't Lucia say something about her being ditsy."
"Ditsy? No," Amber mused. "She had a headache yesterday... but I don't think
she'll be upset you didn't want to play soccer. She's not that kind of person.
But ask first if you want to hear her flute.  She may still be a bit dizzy."

Dizzy. Oh, that's right. That's what the Queen had said. Why was he having
trouble recalling little things like that? Or was he just not paying attention
in the first place?

"Linda's the last?"

"No. After Linda there's Hope."

"And Hope's it?"

"Yes." Her head pulled halfway back into the corridor, then she paused and
looked up again. "I meant to ask you. You're probably getting bored with the
surroundings. Francesca offered to let you visit her home.  She lives on a
nice bluff overlooking the ocean. I'm sure you'd like it. I could take you
there before lunch and let Linda pick you up for your afternoon of adventures
with the queen."

"You'd do that to poor old me? Abandon me with a strange woman for an hour or
two?"

The most perplexed looked crossed her face until he broke out in a smile.

"You." Her lips puckered and twitched. "Just shout. One of us is always around
the corner if things are too unfamiliar."

"If I get a flat I'll let you know."

"A 'flat'...? Oh." She chuckled. "Well you'll have to use Linda, then. I'm
going right to class after I drop you off. Besides," Amber winked. "She has
those heavy breasts you like so much. She'll fix 'a flat'."

"Hey...!"

Too late. Her face had vanished along with the rest of her.

The curtains swayed gently over the dark hole between them.

---

"This is Francesca's. Linda will be along in a moment and then I'll skip off
to school, OK?"

He paused at the bend in the path and gave her a kiss on the cheek.

"I hope you didn't take offense."

"Offense at what?"

"About the way I reacted to Andrea's breasts."

"Oh that." She sighed. "They're just breasts. We've all got them."

"It's just that... you know, some men are really partial to women with big
hooters."

"'Hooters'? Hm," she mused, "'hooters'.... oh. Hooters." Her hands wandered in
front of her chest as she realized how he'd just expanded her vocabulary.
"Hooters." Her head cocked to the side. "Really?" Her lip twitched. "Are you?"

"Sometimes..." She frowned. "Sometimes I like a woman with none at all." She
raised an eyebrow. "Flat-chested, I mean."

"Oh."

"I'm the kind of fellow that likes all sorts of parts of a woman."

"I know. They're just breasts," she said again.

"No. Every pair is special." He kissed her cheek again and caught her in one
of her rare blushes of speechlessness. "I enjoyed Andrea's very much in her
own way. I just didn't want you getting jealous."

"Really?" She smiled broadly, as if every other comment save the last had
flown by. "I know. I don't think about that other stuff. It's not my place."
She tapped his rear end. "You run off now and have your fun. I'm sorry if I
worried you with my little joke."

"You didn't worry me." He pinched her bottom. "Why don't *you* run around
naked? I'm sure you'll like my reaction..."

"You! What's gotten into you this morning?"

"It's what I got into Denise..."

She pinched him back. "Stop teasing me that way!"

His chuckles died down. "Sorry. I've never slept with two women at once. You
made me giddy."

She smiled and gazed into his eyes.

"There's Linda... look, I really must go..."

"Why don't you come along when we go play with the Queen? That won't disturb
your schedule will it? I don't feel comfortable around Lucia all the time."

"Sure. Dahlia will be there, though.  Don't you think she's sweet?"

"Whose sweet?" asked an unseen voice.

Jimmy turned around to see who could only be Linda. She had short, wavy blonde
hair and stood just a few inches shy of his own height.

"Dahlia," Amber replied.

"She certainly is sweet..." Linda purred. "Too bad she went and got married."
She pinched Jimmy's side. "You make me so jealous... you get to sleep with all
the sexy married women."

Amber laughed lightly. "You're in good hands," she smirked. He kissed her one
last time and she walked off to town.

"Come on," Linda tugged. "She's waiting... Or do you need to see my titties to
get warmed up, stud?"

He grinned. He walked with her around the corner and slipped a naughty hand
into her toga.

His jaw dropped open.

"Big, aren't they?"

"Where do they stop?"

She winked. "You'll find out tonight. I'm on the list." She nibbled his ear.
"They're big and pink-white. You'll love them... They put poor Andrea's
nipples to shame..."

If only he could get them side by side for a comparison...

"Not coming in?"

"No, dear. My job is done." She patted his hardening crotch. "I'll be out here
if you need me. Go on..." She pushed him through the crack in the door.

"Francesca?" Why were there two women sitting on the bed?

"No. I'm Sara. The house in Francesca's. She built it a few years ago."

He walked up to the open window and smelled the warm brine in the air. He
caressed the mist settling on his fuzzy cheek. The view was indeed splendid.
The window was so wide it was almost like being outside. It must be
spectacular at sunrise.

"Like the view?"

"Yeah... But I thought I was having sex with a girl named Francesca."

One of the ladies giggled behind his back.

"No. She's well past the change in life."

"He wants to make love to mom," the other tittered.

He turned around.

"Mom?"

"She loaned it for the hour. She suggested it might make it special."

"I brought my mate," the other said, patting the woman's hand. "I hope you
don't mind. They say in the legends men used to dream of making love to more
than one woman. Is it true?"

He grinned. "As long as we have fun, sure. Why not?"

He sat down next to Francesca's daughter and stroked her long auburn hair.

"No, honey." The blonde laid hands on his shoulders. "I'm the one you have sex
with. Not her."

"Don't I get both of you?" The two women were positively stumped. Hadn't they
thought this through? "Share and share alike?" Wasn't that how marriage
worked?

"Well... Ok. As long as I'm where you end up, if you know what I mean... I
suppose it doesn't matter where you start."

"Fair's fair," her wife smiled.

"Why doesn't he want to know our names?"

He snickered. Women. "Why don't you tell me?"

"I'm Deborah," said the red head.

"Sara," said the blond, leaning in to kiss the other girl.

"How long have you two been married?"

Deborah broke off their wet embrace with a loud smacking. "Three years." She
turned to Sara. "We really shouldn't ignore him, honey."

"Oh."

"No. Don't mind me," Jimmy said.

Each girl arched the same eyebrow. They really were a match.

"Why don't you show me what you do together?" Prove to him how much they
needed him... Yeah. He'd never been able to indulge that particular male
fantasy.

"Oh," they purred in understanding.

"Good," said Sara.

"I told you," Deborah whispered before turning to Jimmy. "I thought you might
like to see how women make love... You know." She cupped his hand. "So you'll
get used to the idea and it won't be awkward for you later." She shrugged.
"When you find someone you love..."

"Um..." He cleared his throat. "That's sweet of you."

"Thanks. I didn't want to be presumptuous."

"Have you seen many women making love before?"

"He's blushing." Both girls giggled.

"Sorry. We don't mean to tease you."

"We'd be honored," added Sara.

"Is this your first threesome too?" he asked. "You don't do it much on the
island?"

"Oh," they said with apprehension.

"I haven't. Have you Sara?"

"No."

"I guess we're new at it too."

"So should we... what? Just ignore you for a while? What do you want us to- "

"Well... you can look at me seductively if you like. Just make sure I can see
what's going on. Don't forget the 'show me' part."

"Of course." Deborah fluttered an eyelash at him.

The lithe young women fell on each other, smooching and giggling.

That was all they did for the next several minutes. Occasionally they'd glance
at him, eyes filled with curiosity more than anything... and occasional self-
consciousness as they eyed his lonely erection.

Only when their tittering leveled out into low, rolling moans did Sara shift
down to her lover's breasts, pinching at one of her puckered red nipples and
lapping at the other.

Deborah caressed the back of her head until she slipped too low on her body,
leaving a trail of kisses on her way to the red thatch between her thighs.

Sara pushed her thigh back and Jimmy shifted his seat for a better look. She
brushed the red hair aside with her fingers, revealing a second set of
luscious pink lips to match hers. A long red tongue unfurled and seemed almost
to merge with her wife's trim auburn muff.

Deborah moaned louder and twisted her stiff nipples under her thumbs.

Sara's hips reared up too and wriggled just like Deborah's. He could just make
out the dark shadow of her slit beneath that light yellow carpet. Her ass had
such a lovely curve to it.

He wanted to plug that luscious bottom thrusting into the empty air right now.
It was all he could do to keep from stroking himself.

He sat there absorbed and dumbstruck. He'd heard of such spectacles at frat
parties and those places the truckers hung out. But he'd always had enough
trouble talking just one woman into sex, let alone two. He'd never understood
why he might want to waste the extra effort.

Until now.

And it wouldn't be a waste. They both wanted him.

He couldn't hold back anymore.

He stood and ran a thumb through Sara's velvety lips.

She cried out in surprise and reared up.

Deborah sat up too and, as Sara turned to look at Jimmy, the two of them
pinned her to the bed.

Deborah latched on to her breasts and began to repay her favors as Jimmy
spread her legs out and moved down on her. Sara's hands drifted into his hair,
combing at its kinks and knots.

The stuff tangled too much. He'd need to get it cut soon.

But not by Michelle.

Yet another woman was pushing his head away from her crotch. Delicately...
politely hinting... as if he wouldn't notice, like it was some sort of
subliminal suggestion.

"Am I not supposed to?" he asked. "Is this something special?"

"Huh?" Sara blushed as she realized what she'd done. "No. Go right ahead. I- "
she stammered. "Please. If it makes you happy."

"Are you uncomfortable with it?"

"A bit," she sighed. "But go on. I'm sure it will feel quite lovely. In fact
I'd like you to... please..."

"Can your wife come down to help me out?"

"I'd like that."

Both grinned and Deborah kissed her lover tenderly.

He ran a finger through her thick vulva again, parting it like a zipper.
Deborah joined his side, crouching by him on the wide bed. He kissed her full
on the lips.

She closed her eyes and dropped her hand lazily on his shoulder. He looked to
the side and found Sara smiling politely back at him. He broke it off and went
down on her, spreading her legs back to make room for the two of them.

"Ah!" she sputtered as his tongue fought delightfully with Deborah's for
space.

Already she had two fingers in her girlfriend. He pinned her thick lips back
and they each paddled a side of her clitty. Sara grabbed at both of their
heads, fingers arching up and down like a child tenderly plucking at a teat.

Deborah giggled endlessly as their hot breath mixed together over her lover's
juices. "Promise you'll do this on me?" she asked him.

He winked. "OK."

"Where- ?"

He crawled behind her, laid hands on her hips and proceeded to bang away. He
leaned to the side to catch a glimpse of the frustrated redhead trying to
munch away at her wife.

Could he tease them back about it?

"Enjoying yourself Deborah?"

"Yes, thank you. Very much."

He chuckled. "How long would you like to do this?"

"As long as you'd like of course."

Sara frowned.

"Tell you what. You warm her up for me, OK?"

"Huh?" she slurped away.

"As soon as you get Sara there off, I'll switch up. OK?"

Sara's frown deepened. Deborah, tossed her head back and looked at her mount,
quite perplexed.

Then awareness dawned in her hazel eyes.

"You hurry up now," he teased.

Sara sneaked a finger into her muff. Deborah slapped at her but she wouldn't
withdraw.

"Ow! Don't bite *me*..." Sara complained. She gave her a love tap on the
cheek. "What did *I* do?"

Jimmy swept up Deborah's auburn hair into a ponytail and pulled her up.

"I changed my mind." He winked at Sara. "I'll switch after I feel Deborah cum.
How's that?"

She certainly wouldn't fake that. But could she cover it up? What an
interesting question...

Sara grinned and sprang up from the pillows, silencing her mate's protests
with a long kiss. Jimmy nipped at her collar bone, plunging his face into the
tangled red and yellow forest. He could just make out Sara's hands working
their way between her girlfriend's legs.

Deborah tried to brush her away but her heart wasn't in it. The poor girl was
confused as hell. Did she want to feel good or did she want to feel good? Do I
come or do I come? Jimmy chuckled. What a dilemma he'd created.

"Deborah?"

The arm wrestling stopped. "Would you do something for me sweety?"

She broke of the kiss. "Sure."

"Could you play with her too? I find it really arousing."

Her cheeks burned red. "Like this?" she asked softly.

"Yeah... but could you play with her other nipple too?... Both?... At the same
time?" He tugged at her earlobe with his teeth. "Can you show me how it's
done, honey?"

That took care of the hand guarding her mound.

She sighed, resigning herself to fate and Sara's big smile smothered her once
more. What a sight, watching their red lips wrestling together just inches
from his nose. What were those tongues tasting?

Poor Sara... poor lonely, dexterous Sara. Her hands were busy double timing
both snatches. What determination. It wasn't long before their eyes glazed
over and both women shuddered in delight. She knew their bodies quite
expertly.

"My turn," Sara piped up, as soon as her focus returned.

"First... you have to help me get Deborah off again." He wiggled his tongue in
the air. Sara pouted. "Sorry, honey. But I promised her. I'm a man of my
word."

* * *

He heard a flute in the distance.

"What's that?"

"Linda," explained Sara.

"Don't you love it when she gets bored?"

Sara sighed softly as her hand fell across her bare waist. Like so many others
had, she kept her hips propped under a pillow to keep him from dripping away.
Through Deborah had escaped the ritual she seemed just as trapped by the
afternoon heat.

Their heads rested lazily on one another's arms. The couple looked close to
sleep.

Weren't they supposed to run out on him right about now?

"We'll spend the whole afternoon with you if you like."

Deborah turned and kissed Sara.

"But don't you have to be getting back to the palace? You know, for the next
girl? When is that? Or did you turn her away?"

"Oh." He sat up at their feet. "I kind of expected you guys to traipse off
like all the rest."

"No," Sara giggled lightly. "Francesca gave us the afternoon. She's taking
care of her granddaughter for us."

He eyed the grayish spot nestled in Sara's fuzzy golden triangle. How long
would she have to stay like that?

How long would Deborah be stuck by her side?

She still looked moist between the legs too.

Was he the one supposed to saunter out the door this time?

"What?" Sara asked as he placed a firm hand above her crotch.

"What about you?" he asked, looking at Deborah. "Would you like to be the next
girl?"

"No," Sara replied. "She's been with child already."

Was it not allowed?

Jimmy shrugged.

He dipped a finger in Sara, who was now unusually protective of her privates,
then spread a globule of white stickiness as far in her mate as he could.

Sara frowned and draped the sheet over her waist.

"You had plenty to spare," he winked. It was his anyway. Or had been... wasn't
it still? How did ownership of stuff like that work?

Deborah grinned at his remark but Sara... For the first time on the island, a
woman looked back at him like she'd positively been violated.

"Did I do something wrong?"

"It's not tradition," Sara protested.

"He did make love to both of us, honey." Deborah kissed her and the blonde
relaxed. "I heard even just a little is enough sometimes."

"All it takes is one," he added.

"One what? Man?"

---

Amber had the sorriest expression on her face. But it wasn't something he'd
done. She fawned all over him like he'd broken an arm or something.  It was
adorable but he couldn't tell why.

He couldn't draw her into close conversation until Linda and Dahlia walked out
of earshot to set up targets with the queen.

Amber stayed with him, helping him learn to balance with the spear.

"No. Grab it a little higher."

"Tell me again why do I need to do this. Is there wild game on the island?"

"Some... You can use it to fish too but that's much harder. Besides. We have
to defend ourselves. You never know what might happen. A lot of unhappy men
might wash up someday in a warship."

He laughed. "Is that what Lucia says?"

"Who knows? It's possible." She caressed his elbow until he bent it more. "We
probably wouldn't be as good at hand to hand combat as they would but with
arrows we might hold our own. It hasn't ever happened, but in the scrolls they
write about wars between the islands and city-states- "

"Trust me. It still wouldn't matter. You can't fight a modern war with these
things."

"Really?"

"Really. Ever heard of guns?"

"Yes. But I don't quite understand how they work. Something like arrows,
right?" Her hand dallied on the back of his neck.

"No, honey. You can't defend against them with anything on the island." She
moved his arm higher and pushed his thigh back. "But no man would ever lift a
hand to any of you. You're too gorgeous and starved for sex."

She laughed and helped him pick out another spear.

"One can only hope." She walked behind him and, like a second shadow, began
correcting his grip.

"You really are the sweetest bunch of ladies I've ever met."

"We can get catty at times. You're seeing us on our best behavior."

You too? he wondered. "I've got you spellbound, huh?"

"Yes," she sighed nicely. "No... a bit lower." Her ankle pushed against his.
"Widen your step... good..." Her necklace of honeysuckle floated through his
nostrils. Her tenor changed. "I heard you had a threesome this afternoon."
There was silence. Should he invite her- "That's so rude, don't you think?
That she would split her attention of you that way."

"I liked it."

"You did?" Her hands dropped away. Jimmy lowered the pole as she faced him,
cupping his cheek and cocking her head. "You liked watching two lovers being
intimate when you knew they cared more for each other?"

"I like watching women be sexual, alone or together. It's kind of a thrill to
see them being intimate." He shrugged. "The more the merrier. We all had fun."
It was just a show, after all...

He didn't expect her reaction. "That's so big of you." He chuckled. "I wish
you'd be around longer. There's so much about men I don't understand."

"I wish I could be around longer too." He draped an arm across her shoulder.
"You could come with me tomorrow and we could be together in a threesome. I
know it wouldn't quite be the same- What?"

She was blushing. "No. They're all married to someone else."

"Later? With another single?"

"There's just not another woman I like that way."

"But if I asked, you would?"

Strangely, she brightened up. "Oh sure. If it made you happier. I know it must
get boring at times."

She must not like the odd numbers. "Don't worry about it if it makes you
uncomfortable."

"It's not that. I just- "

"Shh." He put two fingers over her lips. "I said don't worry about it. We have
plenty of time to be together in other ways."

He meant it, of course, but how much? He'd said the same to Melissa but then
it was just words rolling off his tongue.

Amber smiled and thumped his chest with her palm. His eye lingered over the
three women in the distance as they slung empty gourds over tree branches.

---

"What?" Jimmy asked.

"Go on. Throw it at me. I'll catch it."

"I'm not very good at this. Someone could get hurt."

"No. Not at all. Just watch." Lucia grinned slyly. She looked positively
girlish.

"These things fly pretty fast. Even from me."

"I'll grab it. I've done it a hundred times before."

"How old are you?"

"Thirty-five."

"Aren't you getting a bit old for this?"

"Don't worry about that. I'll stop when my eyesight goes bad and all that."

How would she know when that was?

Dahlia frowned from the sidelines.

He flipped the spear around.

"That's the wrong end. Honestly, you won't hurt me."

He dug the sharp tip into the grass.

Lucia glared at him impatiently while he fidgeted with his weapon.

"Amber," he asked, "can I borrow your sash?"

She stood silently and let him tug it from her, not daring to protest as her
spirals of red hair fluttered in the breeze Lucia seemed to be sucking in her
direction.

The others were similarly mute.

Amber hugged her waist to keep the robe from flapping open.

Jimmy wadded up the strip of fabric and looped it around the dull end.  He
tied it off and then pulled at it to insure it would stay on long enough. It
definitely wasn't the most aerodynamic creation. He tried not to chuckle when
he realized it resembled half a giant Qtip.

The queen continued to huff about it and assure him of her dexterity.

No one could quite figure out what changing the tail of the spear was supposed
do to the thing.

He hefted it by his shoulder again, lining her up in his pointed sight.

Lucia smiled at the challenge, her interest in his special technique plainly
evident.

"Is that a snake by your foot?" he asked, flipping the rod over again in his
palm.

"What?... Wher- ufff."

The javelin's cushioned tip ricocheted off her thigh, its sash unraveling like
a ribbon in the wind. Lucia's flailing hands tangled with it and she fell
over, clutching her leg.

Dahlia rushed to her side, tears streaming down her face. How long had she
prepared herself for something like that?

Even Linda left him to go after her.

But not Amber. There was shock and concern in her face, but not horror.

"Why did you do that?" she whispered with apprehension.

He thought about what he could say. She'd kill herself one day? She was being
foolish and needed taking down a notch?

"Because I like Dahlia."

---

"Can you walk?" He offered a hand to Lucia but she wouldn't take it. "What
would you have done if nature had tricked you instead of me?"

She cast her eyes down again and the unfocused orbs stabbed through the white
bandage laced around her thigh.

"She could lose the child if she's pregnant," Dahlia hissed.

"Better than losing your lover. I'll sleep with her again if it makes you
happy."

"It would be too late in her cycle."

He sat by the Queen's side and massaged her shoulder.

"I am sorry..." He glanced up. "Could you ladies give us a moment?"

Amber tugged at the reluctant consort. "He won't hurt her," she whispered.

He waited until they were out of range, listening all the while to Lucia's
shallow breathing. Dahlia turned in the distance and kept a keen eye on him
while Amber seemed to mutter something to her. Linda leaned against a tree and
observed the whole scene with detached curiosity and vague attraction.

"I wasn't trying to win or show you up." More silence. "I said there was no
shame in being strong for your loved ones... I meant that. And you weren't
tricked by some weakness of your own. Think what would have happened if a real
snake had distracted you and I happened to throw the sharp end at just that
instant. You might- "

"I do not need you to spell it out," she said flatly. "I am not a fool."

"Good. I'm glad you understand. I just want you to know it wasn't something I
wanted to do. I didn't know of any other way to show- "

"Dahlia?" she shouted, trying to mask the crack in her voice. "Go on back. We
will catch up."

He watched the lump she swallowed travel down her throat.

"Are you sure?" the blonde replied.

"Yes." Lucia swallowed again.

"We'll catch up in a minute." he added.

The three turned and descended down the path, Amber and Linda clinging to each
side of Dahlia. The taller woman stroked her hair.

He stopped massaging Lucia's shoulder and let his hand hang loosely. He stared
at her stern profile.

"I am sorry. I hope it doesn't damage our friendship. I was looking forward to
learning archery from you lat- "

She buried her face in his chest and collapsed in tears.

He took her in his arms.

"I hope the baby's fine. I'm sorry I didn't think of it."

---

Jimmy limped down the side of the hill with the Queen. She steadfastly refused
to lean on anyone else, including Dahlia. He knew she was embarrassed with
herself but her lover was starting to read it with jealousy.

"Can we stop and rest a minute? I'm tired," he confessed.

Jimmy slung the bow from his shoulder and set it down while he leaned on a
rock.

Dahlia didn't let him out of her sight, even though she'd been more cordial to
him since Amber had taken her aside. She raised an eyebrow in the twilight as
he cupped the Queen's ear.

"I know you're just feeling guilty about what you put her through," he
whispered, "but she's starting to think you're avoiding her because you're
smitten with me for conquering you and all that crap. Let her help. It's me
she's mad at anyway."

Lucia stood and, without a word or nod, limped into the outstretched arms of
her sullen wife.

A bright flame weaved its way below them. It had to be Amber judging from the
color of her equally fiery hair. She waved them forward as she rounded the
final bend and came into sight.

Linda must have stayed behind to prepare dinner.

Amber lit and passed a second torch to Dahlia as the couple passed her. She
then locked her arm around Jimmy's and started back down the path with him,
maintaining a discrete distant from the Queen and her whispering consort.

"I... wasn't going to say anything," Amber whispered, "unless you asked but I
didn't want you to think it was related to anything this afternoon." He
sighed. "You haven't asked of course, so maybe I shouldn't bring it up since
it's not my place, but... I already made a promise this morning to sleep
somewhere else tonight... I'm sorry. I'll stay if you like of course but- "

"No. That's fine. I'm sure you have your reasons."

They traveled the rest of the way in silence.

---

"Can I spend the night?" Linda asked. "I am the last for today... Would you
mind or do you have other-"

"Sure. I could use the company." It beat being alone and she was quite sweet.
But then so was every woman  here. "Just don't run off on me before I wake
up."

"I won't," she cooed, continuing to gently stroke his arm as she drew it
tighter around her abdomen.

He'd seen her so aggressive and openly flirtatious around other women. It was
a shock how receptive to him she'd become in bed. She was still eager and
caring, but now also quite passive and... almost shy? Overwhelmed? Such a tall
and big boned woman too... Did he really make her feel this way? Weak in the
knees? Was it acting? It couldn't be. What a transformation...

"She really is fine you know. Look how she split that arrow afterwards. Not
many people can make that shot to begin with."

"She's a trooper, your Queen."

"She's very tough."

"Yup," he sighed.

"So did you like my nipples? Were they all I said?"

"That and more." He kissed her again and cupped her bare breasts. Her points
had puffed back out to spheres in the warm air. They were beautiful creamy
globes in their own right, enough by themselves to give pride to any flat
chested girl. They blended in so well with the surrounding skin that if it
weren't for the way they pouted out, you couldn't tell she had any areola at
all.

He reached over and doused the torch in a bowl.

"You can play with them in daylight sometime if you'd like. I feel rotten we
had to do this at night. I know how much you like breasts."

"They're very pretty... Maybe you'd like another crack at one of those married
women tomorrow," he smirked in the dark.

Her breasts shook against his arm as she chuckled. "It's within your rights
and I'd love to but... they'd find out it was me and get upset."

"I'll find a way around it."

She kissed him. "Thanks but..." A gust of her warm breath stirred through his
chest hairs. "There *is* this single woman on the list... Let me ask Susan
first though."

"Sure."

Linda carefully folded her hands under her cheek and rested on his chest.

"I hope I have your son."

"I hope so too." He stroked her invisible strands of hair, wafting up more of
her rose scent. "I'm sorry you haven't met someone yet. It would be hard
raising a child on your own."

"I know... but I might not have to."

"Susan?" he asked.

"Mmm. Perhaps..." She seemed non-committal. "I feel a little guilty asking
Amber if I could stay with you like this."

"What?"

"I asked her this morning. Hope and I are the only ones who haven't spent a
night with you yet. Of course it's all up to you."

"No." He resumed his petting. "I'd like to do something special for all my
helpers."

Had Amber really meant it when she said there weren't any other women she was
attracted to? That's what she was- ?

"I know it's hard just arriving here and meeting all these women. It makes it
tough to develop a normal relationship and- "

"We're just friends."

"Who?"

"Me and Amber."

"Oh. I know..." Her voice wavered. "Men sometimes feel rushed about it. I was
just saying you can take your time meeting everyone if you want."

"Rush?... About what?"

"Falling in love of course."

---

"Huh?... It's cold," Linda muttered as she cracked an eyelid.

She drew the sheet up then stopped herself as she noticed him watching.

"They are lovely in the daylight."

"Thanks," she smiled.

Her arms stretched above her, sending little tremors through her chest.

"You didn't run off."

She yawned. "It's not my morning to."

"I guess that leaves Hope," he joked.

Something clattered in the bowels of the palace. He heard a muffled "Damn."

"That would be Hope."

He arched an eyebrow. "Really?"

"She's, uh... I don't know the word for it. She's something of the village..."

There was another commotion in the corridor. Another muted curse.

"Klutz?" he offered.

She giggled. "That sounds about right."

He cocked his head questioningly.

"Her name proved to be something of a misnomer to her poor mother."

"I bet."

"She's been known to fall off a bed during sex." Jimmy laughed at her until
she frowned. "Like *I* should know...." Linda protested.

"Shit!" The sounds of calamity were getting closer.

"Hope?" he shouted.

"Yes!? Sorry to wake you!" she yelled apologetically.

"Can you give me a few more minutes?"

"Sure!" She sounded enthusiastic. Clunk. "... fuck..."

"She's really very sweet," Linda whispered.

"What happened to her?"

"No one quite knows."

"She's normal otherwise?"

"Yeah. She's quite nice. In fact... she won't do it at all around you.
Something about men. You're quite safe."

"That's why you assigned her?"

"Yeah. Kind of like Andrea and that race. You're her one shot."

"So why'd you name *her* Hope?"

She laughed. "An oracle said the first man to marry her wouldn't turn into a
woman."

"Hey! I thought... They told me that- "

"He fell off a cliff first," she smirked. "Don't fret. We'll kidnap you before
we let that happen again."

"Jimmy?"

"Huh?" The light was bright.

"I promised I wouldn't run off and leave you to wake up alone."

"Hope?" He put a hand over his eyes. "Why is the light so bright?" Was he
drunk last night?

"No, honey. It's Linda. I'm sorry about the light.... It's starting," she
muttered.

"I thought Hope was on her way in."

"Did you have a dream just now?"

"Yeah," he sighed. "I think so." He cracked an eye open. "Say... they are
beautiful in the light. Like two rare gems."

"Thank you." She kissed his forehead and sat up in bed, blocking the sun with
her fair skin and enchanting globes on globes. He removed the hand from his
face. "Did you dream about Hope?"

"Sort of."

"She was uncoordinated and dropped a lot of things?"

"I think so. But I didn't see her."

"And I told you about an oracle that said she saved a man by marrying him?"

"Yeah. But he fell off a cliff."

"Oh dear. That part's true. Please don't bring it up with her. She hates
that."

"What?"

"We don't know why. We think it's Circe's little way of playing with us. Like
an echo. The last two men dreamed something like that. She really is quite
sweet."

---

He blinked.

The sunlight *was* bright.

Linda's nipples *were* beautiful.

And she *had* waited for him to wake first.

He smiled as she stroked his brow.

"Keep me away from the mushroom sauce."

"Why?" Her voice was so soft.

"I had a bizarre dream about Hope."

"Really? What about?"

"I don't know. I never saw her. It was frustrating... And there was some
strange legend about her too... only it kept changing... She's never been
married has she?"

"No. She's very young. Nineteen or twenty I think. Sounds more like a
nightmare than a dream. You did toss and turn a lot."

"Sorry."

"Maybe it was the mushrooms. I didn't sleep well either."

"Yeah. *My* mushrooms were bothering you."

"Is it itching yet?"

"Huh?" He followed her eyes. Why was he scratching his nipple?

"Is it bright too? You're squinting."

"Some. Is it just me?"

"Afraid so. It's starting. Do you know what to expect? Has anyone told you?"

"Amber said a little."

"Do you want to know more?"

---

"Do you want me to go in with you?" Hope asked.

She smiled and punched her chin forward while she tucked a lock of light brown
hair behind her ear. She had such exaggerated facial expressions.

"Sure. If you'd like... Why don't you?"

"Well..." Her cheeks puffed up around her closed lips. A gust of air broke
free and swirled her bangs. Hope nodded up and down nervously, eyes darting
from side to side. "Kids make me uncomfortable," she finally spit out. Her
rocking chin came to a rest.

"Really? Are you on the list?"

"The list," she repeated in a deep, mocking voice.

He chuckled.

"No, not really." She took his hand between hers. "But I can be if you want me
to. I'm sure it would be fun."

"Would you like to?"

"Oh it's no trouble." She swept more hair back behind her right ear and nodded
at him again. She seemed several years younger than she actually was.

"Do I make you nervous, Hope?" It seemed such a strange name for her. She was
so utterly lacking in self-confidence.

"I'm a little out of it this morning."

"You didn't have the mushrooms too, did you? Bad dreams like me?"

"No," she laughed. "Just, uh... female trouble."

"Oh." He thought a moment. What exactly did that mean now? "Period or
girlfriend?"

She snorted in laughter. "A little of each, actually. Don't you just hate it?
She's on a different one than me and... Well that's more than you probably
want to know."

"Ah," he swaggered. "You think you got girl trouble. Try keeping a hundred of
them happy."

She burst out in laughter again.

"In any case, I'd like to thank you for your trouble. If you'd like, you could
share my bed tonight or some- "

"I'd like that. You're very considerate. Maybe we can work something else out
too... You know, when it's not likely I'll get pregnant..."

"What about your girl?"

"Oh, her? It's not that serious. Besides, that stuff doesn't apply with you."

Amber poked her head out of the schoolhouse curtain and shouted at them.

"Sorry to keep you waiting, Jimmy. Hi Hope. Are you ready?"

He asked Hope one last time. "Want to come?"

"No. I'll stay out here. You and Amber can handle it."

"OK." He patted her knee. "Don't go running off."

"I won't," she snickered in reply, finally taking a seat on the primitive
playground swing.

Jimmy stood on the wooden steps and parted the fabric.

Thirty little heads turned around, breaking the silence with the breathing
noises of thirty little runny noses.

Most of them seemed to be the same age and size, but not all. Some looked a
little older than the rest. The mix of boys and girls appeared fairly equal,
but they weren't segregated so it was hard to count.

"Class? Show Jimmy what you learned this morning."

Amber waved him forward.

He walked to the front of the room, pausing to watch her pupils dragging
sticks through the rectangular dishes of wet sand on their desks.

Amber patted the empty spot on the tabletop behind her and he leaned against
it.

"Thanks for coming," she whispered.

"Glad to."

One by one, the boxes of sand went vertical. There were a lot of "Hi Jimmy"s
backed by proud faces.

"Anthony. Yours is upside down. Class, check your boards."

One or two more flipped over.

"Good. I'm very proud of you," she told them. "They don't know how to write in
English yet," she whispered to Jimmy. Jimmy was suitably impressed and nodded
his approval to the class. "Now for once," she continued, "I don't have much
to say. I thought I'd let Jimmy have the floor and say whatever he wants." She
turned to him. "Jimmy?"

"Uh, well. I don't know what you want me to say, really. Why don't I answer
any questions you have. Yeah. In the front."

The girl mumbled something guttural.

"Don't speak Greek, sweety. He doesn't speak Greek," Amber reminded her.

"Why not?"

"He's not from here. Class?  Where's he from again?"

"America," they all recited. "Home of the free and the brave."

He laughed.

A boy in the back raised his hand. "Aren't we free Amber?"

"No honey. We're trapped here. Remember the difference?"

"Oh."

"How many people are there in America?"

"A lot," Jimmy replied. "How high can you count?"

"A hundred."

He turned to Amber. "Do they know multiplication?"

"Some. That's the next level."

"Well how would I explain..." He whispered a figure in her ear.

"Really?" she whispered back, wide-eyed. Amber turned to the class and her
voice sank low. "About one person for every star in the sky."

Their eyes grew wide with hers.

A dozen hands went up.

"Is Mother Earth really round?"

"Do we really go around the sun?"

"How big is the moon?"

"How big is Mother Earth?"

"Why does the moon do this to us?"

"Settle down now class," Amber scolded them. "One at a time."

Jimmy winced and cupped her ear.

"What's next? You're not going to make me undress for an anatomy lesson, are
you?"

Amber giggled and whispered back, "They've already seen you naked, remember?"

Then sure enough, the next question out was "Can we see your thing again?"

"When you're older, sweety," said Amber.

"Aw. But he won't have it then."

"There will be another man. There always is," Amber sighed. "We covered the
facts of life last week when he washed ashore. You should ask your mothers
those sorts of questions anyway." She folded her hands in her lap. "And you
could have asked me all those other questions too. She'll still know about the
stars and the sky next month."

"Can I ask what it's like to be strong?" said a boy on the front row.

"Sure," Mike said. He grinned and turned to Amber.

"Ooo!" she yelped as he scooped her off the desk.

"It's fun," he informed the boy, swinging her back and forth while she clung
to his neck.

Her grin was genuine, but her eyes betrayed a bit of unease as her class
giggled away. He set her down gently and smoothed out her toga.

She swiveled back toward the children, her red locks spinning like a top.

"Have you done it yet?" The class giggled again. It seemed directed at Amber
more than himself.

"That's not a polite question, whoever asked it. I told you to talk to your
mothers about that. I'll only discuss it when you're older... Now are you
going to waste his time being silly or- "

Another dozen hands shot up.

He picked one out.

"What's it like sailing on the ocean..."

---

"Now boys. You remember I promised you on Tuesday that you'd get to go out and
play ball with Jimmy." Every male face shuffled in its seat. "I want you to be
on your best behavior and treat him well. As you know, he won't be around much
longer like this and if you want him to come back you need to remember your
manners as I'm sure you all will. Now." She straightened up. "If that's all
the questions, the boys in the class can now go outside."

She passed Jimmy the village soccer ball as a symphony of rattling chairs rose
up. From the way they bolted, he could have been a Martian for all they cared,
just as long as he got them out of the wooden building.

"No, Clara. Sit. You're not a boy." The girls all giggled. "It doesn't work
that way. It goes boy to girl. You know that."

"It's not fair," she pouted. Her remaining classmates roared again.

"I know it isn't, sweety. I wish it was. Now you girls in the back, why don't
you scoot up so I can read you a story?"

The checkerboard pattern of empty desks disappeared as the rest of the
children formed a solid rectangle in the front.

She nudged Jimmy with a smile. "Go on and have fun. They'll run off if you
don't hurry."

"He thinks he's a girl already!" Clara tittered. One or two other girls
cracked up with her but the rest remained awkwardly silent.

"Clara!" Amber shook a stern finger at her. "Go sit in the corner."

Jimmy quieted the room by giving their teacher a departing peck on the cheek.

Were they stunned or awed? Their eyes went back and forth between the two
adults like some tennis match.

Poor little Clara just stood in the back of the room, not even peeking between
the curtains at the screaming boys outside.

He walked back and tousled the munchkin's hair on the way out. She took a
playful swing at him.

Amber held the class's rapt attention as she read from a scroll, so he quietly
plucked Clara up and held her to his side, making sure none of her classmates
noticed. He pinched her nose and put a cautious finger over her lips, then
kicked the ball outside and followed it, feeling Amber's frown burning into
his back.

---

"Hey. How about a game of..." Huh. He'd run out of things to do with a soccer
ball. "Uh, what do you want to play now?"

"Seagull!" "Seagull!" "Two fish!" "No- "

"I don't know any of those games... How about some hide and seek?"

"Yeah!"

"Jimmy?" Amber shouted pleasantly from the schoolhouse. Her redhead poked
between the curtains. "Please don't," she smiled. "I'll never find some of
them again."

"Ooooo. You got in trouble with teacher!"

A dozen little fingers pointed at him.

Amber pursed her lips playfully and wagged her own finger at him.

"Ooooo. She's gonna make you kiss her again." "Betcha."

Amber blew him one and disappeared again, lest she have trouble finding the
female half of her class too.

Dozens of small hands tugged on him in all directions.

---

One by one, the mothers trickled in with lunch for their children, patting
them on the head, wiping grease from their lips and fixing their little togas
while they sat together in pairs on the benches and ate.

Hope and Amber had their own special table where they tended to the students
who's mothers were too busy this afternoon to make it. It was hard to believe
any of these women were mothers, they were all so pretty.

One by one...

All those hands grabbing at him this afternoon...

The fathers...

What was it like for those women who'd once been men as they watched the sons
and daughters they had fathered? Where were they? Were they just other mothers
in the crowd now? What did they feel-

"Jimmy? Hello. I'm Renee- Julius's mother. Would it be too much trouble if you
had lunch with him? You're all he's talked about the last couple of days."

"Sure. I remember you, fella."

He tapped the boy on the shoulder and leaned over to pick him up when his
mother thrust a wooden box in his tiny hands.

"I brought enough for Jimmy, too, honey. Why don't you be a big man and go set
it up on that table over there for him."

"OK," he chirped and trotted off.

Renee cupped Jimmy's cheek softly and gazed up at the large man. "Thanks. He's
had all these questions lately but he doesn't want to ask me."

"Sure. Glad to help."

"If there's anything I can do to repay you... sleep with you... or let my
wife," she suggested timidly.

Why would she say that? He almost felt insulted.

Or was she doing it because she actually wanted him to say yes?

Why would he be insulted? The circumstance was a bit strange but she was still
gorgeous.

Was he getting oversexed? Was there such a thing?

"Uh," he drawled. "I'll get back to you."

"I'm sorry. I forget you must have all the offers you can handle. I don't mean
to impose... Could I cook you a meal, perhaps?"

"Sure- "

"One for you and your lover of the hour?"

"Uhhhh..."

"Sorry. I'm not very good at talking about such things. I guess that's why
Julius wants to visit with you."

"Julius. Oh. Right. Listen, he's waiting..."

"Don't let me keep you. Bye."

She reached up on her tiptoes and pecked him on the chin.

He turned and walked over- where was the boy? He scanned the area.

There, at one of the tables behind the bushes. The one farthest away.

He paused to let Amber and Hope know where he was vanishing to.

The pair had their hands full. Poor Hope spilled a cup of milk on the table
when he touched her shoulder.

"Sorry Andrew. You can have mine."

Was it really children that made her nervous? Or some strange mixture of
people?

Amber delicately draped her fingers over Hope's wrist. "I'll get it, honey."
The girl relaxed again.

For a moment he thought of Sara and Deborah, lying back together in the house
overlooking the sea.

Why was that?

---

Renee wasn't much with words but she was with pot roast. The savory juices ran
all over his fingers, defying his every attempt to lick them up.

"How old are you again Julius?"

"Nine."

"Did you want to talk about something in particular, son? Something, maybe,
you couldn't ask back there in class?"

"I guess."

"Are you upset Amber wouldn't let you ask certain things?"

"Not really. She's nice and all. But she's not the same."

"Same as what?"

"Same as asking you."

"Oh... Like what?"

"For instance.... what's it like being a grown up man?"

He shrugged. "Great, I guess."

"Am I missing anything?"

Like a father? "What do you mean?"

"Well I won't get to be one. I'll be another woman. Am I missing something?"

He sighed. "Probably not."

"Really?" The boy arched his eyebrows. "Why's that?"

"Well I don't really know... Do any of the women think they're missing
something? They've been women all their lives." He wanted to say yes to the
boy, but what good would that do? How could you miss something you'd never
really have or experience? That was right, wasn't it? "Think of it as...
getting something extra right now that they never had."

"Oh." He tugged at a thread of beef between his teeth and popped a carrot
slice in his mouth. "You sound just like they do."

"You thought I'd say something different?"

"I don't know."

"I'm just doing what grown-ups are supposed to do."

"I didn't think it would be the same stuff."

"Some of it is."

Julius was silent a moment. He kept staring at Jimmy's arms, particularly the
biceps as they flexed.

"Will I miss my thing?"

"I don't know." Jimmy downed the last of the meat and set to work on the
carrots. Did they have potatoes on the island? He'd miss those.

"Andrew told me it was fun for the first few days but then it got to be like
doing his chores."

"What was?"

"Sex with everybody... Why are guys supposed to have sex with everybody but
the girls can't? It doesn't seem fair."

"Fair to who?"

"Fair to the girls. Or are girls different about that too? I don't really feel
like having sex with anybody, but the boys, when the time comes, they say they
suddenly like all the girls. Are the girls that way too?"

"Well... I suppose. Especially when you're young. But sex is one thing. When
anyone's in love, they just want to be with that one person... but I don't
really know about teenage girls. I've never been a girl."

"Oh. I forgot." He fidgeted on the wooden plank. "I don't feel right asking
Althea."

"Who's Althea?"

"She used to be Andrew. I don't like talking to girls about sex stuff. I guess
I'll know what I need to when I need to know it."

"You know when I was a boy, I didn't care about girls until I was a couple of
years older than you are now. I wouldn't worry... but whenever you have
questions, you can always ask me. Even if I'm different. I'll still be me
inside. I'll understand."

"OK," he sighed.

"What's wrong?"

"They always say that but then... something's different about them."

"Well ask me now if you're worried."

"Is it?"

"Is it what?"

"Like doing chores. Are they going to make me- "

"No. You'll have fun. No one's going to make you do anything. In fact a lot of
times they'll do what you want, just to please you. And you'll want to do the
same for them."

"I hope they don't make do it with someone my age."

"Why's that?"

"Cause little girls are gross."

They both laughed. "I know what you mean." Jimmy sighed and leaned back
against the tree behind him.

"I don't mind playing dolls with them, but sometimes I like doing other stuff
they don't want to do."

"Yeah...." Was that how they raised the boys? With dolls? "So you wouldn't
mind being a mommy some day?"

"I guess not."

"Women aren't gross, though, are they?"

"No. I like most of them.  They're nice... but I can't think of them that way.
I mean I know what I'm supposed to do when the time comes but... I can't feel
like doing it yet."

"It'll be a big surprise, but you'll have fun." He sat the young boy on his
knee. "It's hard to understand right now because you haven't grown up yet. How
many caterpillars think about flying? But they do eventually. Your body
changes a lot when you become a man. The things you think about... "

"Will it be like when I change into a woman?"

"Yeah. Kind of. Like when you change into a woman. They're both big changes.
The way you look at the world is different." Was that why Julius said he'd be
reluctant to approach him as a woman? Did he not understand it himself?

"Because the boys suddenly like all the girls that way- is that why they turn
into them?"

"No."

"What about..."

---

"No," Amber said. "There are plenty of younger boys- a lot of four and five
year olds- but they aren't ready for this school. Only a handful of infants,
though, but their mothers are still taking care of them. You probably won't
see them. They stay at home a lot. There are some older boys too, but not with
me." She hummed and looked at the sky. "And there's the last class or two of
girls, but I don't teach them. We have a lot around the age of fifteen.
They're very well-behaved too, but they gossip too much... and after 17
instruction is highly individual. Some get married and learn a trade. It
varies. Did that answer your question?"

"Mostly," Jimmy replied.

"I hope you enjoyed yourself. I know the kids had a wonderful time. Even the
girls. Thanks for playing soccer with them."

"Yeah. I liked it. So... what? They get a month of father's days every four or
five years?"

"Yes. Something like that... we always forget how tough it is on the
children."

"Ah," he sighed. "They're good kids. Even Clara."

Amber frowned. "She reminds me of a girl who used to punch me in the arm."

"Really? That explains so much about you..." Amber giggled as he wrapped his
arm around her. "Who was she? Where...? Point me in the right direction and
I'll protect you now." He crouched down and shook his fist in the air. "I'll
take care of her for you."

"Punish her, huh? It's a little late for that. You've already screwed her,
unless that's your idea of 'punishment,'" she grinned. "What are you going to
say? 'Give me that orgasm back?' Undo that kid in there!"

He chuckled. "Which one was that?"

"I'm not telling."

"Lucia?"

"Nope."

"Andrea?"

"Nope."

"Linda?"

"Nope."

"Dahlia?!" he sputtered in laughter.

"Nope... And you know she was a boy." Amber pinched him. "I'm just going to
say nope to all of them anyhow. Nope nope nope. You know that."

"Guess I'll have to wait until I'm a girl and hit you myself."

She got very quiet.

Amber took a last bite from her apple and tossed it into the woods.

She brushed her hands off. "Why were you so nice to Clara after what she
said?"

"If I wasn't, she'd just be mean again. What good would that do? She's just a
kid anyway."

Her head ticked to the side. "I guess."

"Did you mind when I picked you up? I hope I didn't undermine you in front of
your class."

"Oh." She cupped his cheek. "That's sweet of you. No, I didn't mind. You can
lift me off my feet anytime."

"Super." He kissed her on the cheek. "I want you to know you're a very good
teacher."

"Thanks."

"You can spank me any day."

"Spank?"

"Punish."

"Oh." She bent slightly at the waist and sputtered in laughter, turning just a
bit red.

Jimmy saw an opening and pinched her vulnerable bottom. "Next week if I
recall." She gripped his wrist as he rubbed her neck. "Guess I better study
up, huh? How long will it take to walk to the moon?" he squeaked. "How much
water is in the ocean?"

"Stop..." she chuckled.

"I better be prepared. What other questions are on the test?"

"Can I see your thing?" she giggled.

He pinched her again. She'd have to hurry up to ask that question, wouldn't
she?

But he didn't want to bring it up again.

Why did he keep joking about it?

It didn't seem real.

Would it?

He didn't feel it as he looked up at the sky with her.

"What happens if I can't come up with the right answers?"

She winked at him and then smirked. "You're getting plenty of help studying.
Don't tell me you need more?"

"Renee just offered."

"*Every* woman will offer if you let her, silly. Remember to pace yourself."

"Yeah. I remember. Pace myself," he repeated. "Just like the foot race..." She
punched him in the side. "Help! Clara! Defend me!" he laughed as they tickled
each other.

"Sh! They'll hear."

The pair sobered up again.

"Say... what's the deal with Hope?" he asked.

"I don't know. She is acting kind of strange this morning."

"I wouldn't know. I've just met her.... Does she not like children for some
reason?"

"I don't think so..." Amber replied. "But I've never really asked."

"Huh!?" They'd been ambushed. "What, Clara?" Was she trying to open his toga
again?

Amber backed away, mouthing to him her intentions to round up the class from
recess.

"Can I ask you something?"

"Sure." He hoisted Clara to his side. "What is it?"

"How come you're bigger and stronger than me, but I'm bigger and faster than
most of the boys my age?"

"Well I'm an adult. Of course I'm stronger."

"But you're stronger than Amber too. All the women."

"Oh. I think girls develop a bit sooner than boys." Was that what she wanted
to know? "In a normal place, when the boys reach puberty after you do they
start to get a lot bigger and stronger than you... but I guess that never
happens here. You haven't asked until now?"

"No. I just thought about it."

She kissed him on the cheek and he set her down, letting her run off giggling
to the school house.

Hope saved him from the tide of children that suddenly swarmed by at Amber's
beaconing.

"Come on everybody," Hope chastised them. "Let him go. Get back to class, you!
Jimmy's got to go work on his list." She winked at him.

"Ugh!" "I hate lists!" "Ugh." "Sorry Jimmy!" "Hope I didn't get you in
trouble." "She gives you homework too?"

"Something like that," he replied.

---

"Does it work? Is it still itching?"

"No. It's mostly gone. Thanks Hope." The balm smelled terrible. No wonder they
hid it from him all day. It wasn't terribly romantic.

"Reminds me of being a little girl again."

"Huh? Why?"

"I used it when my breasts were budding. You're timing was lucky. The flowers
for it only bloom once a year. The other ten months you're screwed."

Lucky? "That's what's happening to me, huh? I'm 'budding'?"

"Afraid so."

"Yours itched too? How long?"

"Oh. I think just the men itch when it happens, but it treats that too. No.
Mine were sore. You'll feel a little of that too in the coming days. After you
shed, I think."

"When's that?"

"When did it start itching?"

"This morning."

"Three or four days, then. You should have said something earlier, you know.
I'd have given you- "

"It wasn't bad." He crinkled his nose again. "It must have been a sorry
perfume for adolescence, though."

"You get used to it." Hope snickered. She looked down and smoothed out the
ruffles in her robe caused by the breeze. It was funny how her nervousness had
gradually evaporated throughout the day. "You know it happens when you sleep,
don't you?"

"Yeah. Linda clued me in a little more... Does it bother you? If you want to
go- "

"No. I'll stay the night with you."

"Can you keep me awake all month?"

She laughed. "No. It puts you to sleep if you try that. I can't even watch you
either. It'll do the same to anyone around you. Sorry." He cupped her face.
"But not much happens in any given night anyway."

"You seem to know a lot. You keep records and read up or something?"

"Like all of your volunteers, I can answer any of your questions about it. We
did go through training."

He smiled. "I hope I wasn't too much of a bother."

"No," she grinned. "Not at all." Hope kissed him. "It was an enjoyable day."

"Put your female troubles behind you?"

"Yeah. I think so." She gazed at the reddish outline of the mountain with him.
"Linda said you had a dream about me?"

"I did." He caressed her arm. "I can't remember it real well. I think I
dreamed you were this klutz- "

"Klutz?"

"You dropped things a lot and bumped into stuff..."

"Oh... Figures you had it while you slept with Linda. She never will forgive
me about that- "

"Except you didn't do it around me and..." He scratched his chin and continued
to remember as much of it as he could.  "That you'd gotten your name because
there was an oracle that said the first man to marry you wouldn't change into
a woman... only it turned out it meant he'd fall off a mountain first and- "

"Did you want to marry me in the dream?"

"Yeah... Huh?" He tore his gaze from the darkening sky.  "Oh. I don't know. A
little when I first heard the oracle." He kissed her forehead. "Why, honey?
Scare you?"

"What? No. I'd be... honored, of course." She smiled calmly.

"Really? You'd want to marry little old me?"

"Sure. If you'd like."

If 'he'd like'? "You hardly know me."

"So?"

He chuckled and pinched her cheek. "OK. Whatever."
 

"Well I want to see you have fun first. It makes me enjoy it better. What? You
have a girlfriend I'll make jealous?"

"No."

"Don't you want to have fun? What's wrong then?"

"It's just... I don't know how to relate to someone as different as you that
way."

Was it a dream again?

He blinked and saw the bed's canopy.

No. It was a fragment from yesterday. A girl named Heather, wasn't it? Or some
other plant name. She 'bloomed' eagerly enough. Her turgid vulva puffed out
like a cat holding its breath, reminding him, strangely enough, more of the
peach he'd had for dinner than any flower.

Who'd he woken up with this morning?

He'd given up trying to figure out how the cycle of volunteers went.

Or trying to count the days. Something about having too much sex had always
messed with his sense of time.

He just watched the moon out of the corner of his eye at night. It was the
only clock that mattered anyway. Half full now.

And growing.

Who was in bed with him? Andrea?

He'd been so spoiled it'd gotten so he couldn't sleep well alone.

She had him today? Why wasn't the order more regular?

Jimmy turned quietly to watch her and felt the unusual jelly shift around on
his own chest like trapped water.

There was no avoiding the truth now. Andrea didn't grow an inch in a week.
Neither did the rest of the world.

Doors. Doors in particular didn't grow like trees.

He took a deep breath of the floral hints still lurking in her black flaxen
hair.

She'd remained in bed with him for the first time. After that night with Linda
they'd all stopped deserting him in the mornings. It was funny how word spread
about even the littlest things he mentioned.

She really did have the most wonderful body for sleeping. Every part of her
was well padded, soft and sensual, moreso than the delicately woven sheets and
pillows of the palace bed. It was impossible to wake up next to her without an
erection.

What a shame she'd moved off the list so quickly. Was there another woman on
the island like her? Linda was voluptuous too, in her own right.

Jimmy sighed. There just wasn't enough time.

And there was something special about Andrea, especially after the race.
Especially *during* the race. He chuckled as he thought about it again,
growing harder and pressing into her warm bottom.

At least he could cozy up to one of these angels every night. Just being close
was enough.

Andrea stirred and plied his fingers tenderly from her bosom. He hoped he
hadn't hurt her during the night. He didn't have much experience sleeping with
a woman her size.

Come to think of it, he couldn't remember anything from during the night. He'd
slept solid as a rock, like almost every other night here. There was the
occasionally strange, but lucid dream, like the one about Hope, but he never
remembered opening his eyes for just a fraction of a second, looking at the
ceiling and changing positions. Didn't he do that anymore?

Andrea spilled everywhere as she took a deep breath and shifted onto her back.
She turned again, eyes still closed, and her heavy breasts fell on him. She
smiled and draped a wrist across his shoulder. She was awake now judging from
her breathing.

Yeah. She sighed and gave him a blind kiss which landed on his nose.

Her mounds of flesh slowly changed shape with each pleasant breath.

He'd enjoy having her company today. Her presence was always soothing, even if
she didn't seem to care much for conversation.

If it was her turn, who did that leave tomorrow?

He sighed. The ways of the women were overly complicated. It was easier just
to ask.

"Sore again?" Andrea stretched her arms.

"Some," he sighed.

"I'll get the ointment."

If it weren't for the slight sagging, he'd simply look quite muscular.

But muscles weren't sensitive like this.

Did they actually sag? The flesh was pretty firm. But soft and in a slight
teardrop shape. He could still walk around without a top. But for how much
longer? The nipples were starting to pout... Thank goodness the fine black
hairs covered most of it up.

"Is this any indication of how big they're going to get?"

"No. It's more of a warning really. We won't know until the new moon. Why?
What size would you like them?"

"Smaller than this."

She chuckled. "I thought you might say you wanted a pair like mine, you seem
to like playing with them so much... But then that's the catch, isn't it? It's
more of what someone else finds attractive that's important... That's hard to
know."

What *did* he know? Would it freak his 'clients' out?

This wasn't as much fun as it had started out.

"*I'm* not comfortable with them."

"I understand. Don't fret. You won't feel that way for long. When you're a
woman they fit. Of course... you might wake up next month like me not liking
the inconvenience of large breasts if you have them." Andrea shrugged.
"Someone could always come along and convince you how wrong you are."

Jimmy pinched her. "Well, if you ever start thinking different again, just
stop by and I'll try to make you feel better."

"I will." She grinned and dragged a damp cloth over his brow. "But what you
like about a woman could change too. If it does, I'll still be happy with
them."

He cleared his throat. "What's the itinerary look like?"

"What do you want it to look like?"

He sighed. "I mean whose on the list?"

"You know good and well it's Amber's turn today."

"Yeah. I know. What number is she?"

"Three."

"Can you move her back?"

"Sure. The order in the day isn't important."

"And move the other three up."

"Up? How would I do that?"

"Cram them all into this morning or something..."

"Oh."

"I can do that can't I? It's not rude is it?"

"Not at all. I can set the whole afternoon aside if you'd like."

He'd definitely need a nap to recover. "Could you?"

"Sure. I know it gets boring without a little romance."

"You're not jealous are you?"

"Certainly not," she laughed. The rag landed with a wet plop in the wash
basin. "If you want, you know you can spend more time with her... or any of
us. Whether it's just friendship or something more. All you have to do is ask.
It's up to you. None of us will question it... even a married girl. Of course
she's not going to leave her wife but she'd enjoy pleasing you to pass the
time if she caught your fancy-"

Andrea droned on while he smothered his face in one of the pillows. The light
was still too harsh on his eyes.

"Who's helping tomorrow?" he interrupted.

"Melissa, I think. You want I should get Amber?"

"No. She's probably teaching or something... Can you ask Renee if she'd cook
for us tonight?"

"Sure. But she's not the best in the village."

"She owes me a favor."

Andrea cackled hysterically. "We *all* owe you favors, darling." He peeked out
and found her smirking at him. "Is that what counting numbers for a living
does for you? You want to collect all your 'favors' at once?" She tickled him
until he surrendered the cushion and sat up. "We've never had an orgy on the
island before..."

He groaned. "Who'd look after the kids?"

She cracked up even more. "Family life changes everything, doesn't it?"

---

"Where are you taking me?" he asked. Wasn't this the path to the arts and
crafts part of the village? Why were they going there?

The little curves and loops of hair flowing over Amber's shoulder blades
seemed to smile back at him a hundred fold.

Jimmy yawned again and tried to shake off the last of his slumber.

He wished she'd slow down.

"It's just a nice way we can spend the afternoon together," she explained.
"You'll see in a minute. But if you don't like it, we can leave."

"Leave what?"

"The play."

"Oh... That sounds nice." She tossed her head back as he pinched her and those
sparkling emerald eyes caught the sun just right. "I thought maybe you were
going to sit me on your knee and read me one of your stories."

She paused enough for him to catch up and lassoed an arm around his waist.
"That would really hurt," she frowned. "You're too big." She gave him a kiss
on the cheek and started walking again, this time slower as he swayed by her
side. "No. I can do that too if you'd like. I don't know many stories for
adults though. Hm. I can go get- "

"Ah, you can tell me one you read the children. I'm sure I'd like one of those
too."

A young couple passed them on the right, neither of them much older than
teenagers. Jimmy watched how they held hands over the little leather bag
jingling between them. From the way their heads danced in unison and they
sighed at one another's comments, the two young women were obviously smitten
with each other.

The jingling faded as they passed out of earshot. Eventually they turned off
the path and entered one of the metalworking huts.

"After dinner, did you want to go... sleep in the palace again or... would you
like to be in your own home tonight?" Had she dreamed of one particular place
making it special?

"It doesn't matter to me. Wherever you'd like."

"Why don't you decide? Did you, you know, have a special place in mind?" Was
this something she'd dreamed of at all? "Is there somewhere you'd be more
comfortable or enjoy more?"

"No" she said simply. "You're more than welcome in my home, of course. It's
not much compared to the palace but at least it's someplace new."

"Do you want us to be together there?"

"Sure."

"OK, then."

"I'll tell Andrea and she can bring- "

"I gave Andrea the evening off."

"Oh." Amber stared at him blankly. "But I'm going to need help- "

"I'll help."

"OK."

They strolled on, arm in arm, until they reached a clearing.

He didn't remember the spot very well. The Queen had run through this whole
section all too quickly, which wasn't surprising given her inclinations.

The amphitheater had to be the largest man-made (he chuckled) structure he'd
seen on the island, sweeping out a full third of a circle, much wider than any
normal arena. It looked big enough to hold a thousand people comfortably. Were
there that many on the island?

Amber lead him down one of the two isles carved into the stone benches. There
were thirty, maybe forty other patrons here this evening scattered around the
huge space like buckshot.

Were they early? Unlit torches hung from spears every few feet. Amber remarked
that they'd be lit at intermission as the sunlight fell.

"Why aren't there more people?" Was this show just for them?

"It's a dress rehearsal for next week," she whispered. "The whole island will
turn out."

"Even me?"

"Of course."

"Is it in my honor or something?"

"No... It could be if you'd like."

He chuckled. "I've dropped my pants in public enough, don't you think?"

She returned the laugh and tickled him.

"And I'm not fond of running around naked," she added.

"Awwww... Andrea's not in the play is she?" He pinched the squinting beauty.
Amber pursed her lips as she led him to front row center. "Of course I'd
rather see you in the buff... Can I get you to run around tonight? Just for
me?"

Her expression leveled out. Did she grin a little? "We'll see," she said,
sitting and patting the portion of bench next to her. Amber cleared her throat
and started sounding like a teacher again. "It's an ancient tragedy in Greek,
composed even before the great shipwreck." Her hand drifted to his thigh.
"I'll translate for you."

"They won't mind the chatter?"

"Certainly not."

"Most actors get disturbed- "

"Actors?"

"Actresses, then. Most of them get disturbed when- "

"Oh. You should hear the children when we all gather... such a lovely sound
when you think about it... No. They won't mind us."

He placed an arm around her shoulder and relaxed as much as he could on the
hard surface. Her lap really would be preferable even though he'd been joking
earlier.

But then her legs would go to sleep. They couldn't have *that*, tonight of all
nights.

"What?" she laughed.

"Nothing. Just waking up."

His face straighted as the first players appeared on stage. A woman carrying a
spear and a very old, rusted helmet entered from the left side. Was that
Linda? Her considerable breasts must be squished up. She turned toward the
audience. It *was* her. Her hair was braided into a tight bun and hidden under
some form of hat. She took a mask to her face, one painted with an angry
expression.

Why was she doing this on stage? Shouldn't she don it-

Another player entered opposite her, wearing a helmet and a fake beard.

Guards appeared. They wore beards too. How did they make those? Wool or
something?

"Women play all the male parts, huh?" he whispered.

Amber leaned closer. "Ironic isn't it? In Greece only men were allowed to act
so they had to play all the female parts. Something about women being too
hysterical and emotional to remember their lines. Now it's reversed."

He pinched the hand on his thigh and worked his own between the redhead's
legs. "You're saying I'm too emotional to direct?"

"You have a mind of your own..." she smirked, "But I'm sure if you want,
they'd let you play the male lead. You'd have to learn Greek, of course. And
the king dies in a gory final scene. I never had much stomach for the pig's
blood they use."

"Doesn't sound too hot."

"It's a lot of hard work... but if you'd like I'm sure the troop would enjoy
having you. Authenticity like that's a rarity..."

---

"You weave much?"

"That?" Amber swept the half finished basket aside. "I promised Laura I'd have
that thing finished yesterday. I've just been so busy..."

"I'm sure she understands." Amber frowned as he took hold of her hands and
turned them over in the twilight of the torch. He rubbed the hairline cut the
wicker had given his thumb and gently traced each of her palms. "The
material's sharp and your skin's so soft... It doesn't cut you up?"

"We do a lot of hard work but Circe won't let us get calluses." She sighed.
"We do all the men's old work but the curse won't let it have the same
effect."

"You want rough hands?" She shrugged. "I like you beautiful."

"Thanks."

"So do you weave much?"

"Some. We all do."

"Is it something I'm going to have to do?"

"I'll teach you. It's not hard to learn." She sat on the edge of the small bed
and caressed the leather mattress beside her until he joined her. Jimmy ran
her silky auburn curls through his fingers. "Dinner was lovely," she
commented.

"I'm glad... but I didn't think she'd bring Julius along," he chuckled.

"They gave us plenty of time alone." Amber smiled. "Anyway, I like him. He's
one of my brightest students."

"Yeah... he is. Think he figured out what we were up to?"

"Probably," she smirked. "He's smart about other people like that."

"What do you say when he asks all those difficult questions?"

"The truth of course."

Jimmy laughed.

"What?" she asked.

"Nothing..." he said soberly. "Just remembering why I like you so much."

Did she blush in the dim firelight?

The torch she'd cradled on their return from the play had almost burned down.
Amber glanced at its holder on the table and reached for a box by her bed,
pulling out a fresh wad of kindling.

"Let it go out," he whispered.

Jimmy tugged at the front of her toga while he kissed her neck. His fingers
brushed the strands of hair from Amber's shoulder until she lolled back,
offering up the milky nape of her neck.

"I should start a fire before I forget."

"I'll keep you warm."

"Oh." She moistened her lips. "I forgot. Yes you will."

"Sorry. You're always welcome in my bed."

"And you in mine." Her hand gently hugged his as he pulled at her sash. The
smooth fabric snaked its way around her waist and she returned his kiss. "Have
you been happy these last few days?"

"Yes. I am."

Amber smiled. "I'm glad," she sighed pleasantly. "I'd hoped there was
something to please you in every woman..."

"Can we not talk about them?"

He pushed the toga from her creamy shoulders, nipping at the delicate tendons
that rose out of them. Amber gently withdrew her arms from the folded sleeves.

"Afterwards..." he whispered as his lips moved on to her ear. "Can we go walk
on the beach?" The roses in her hair were enchanting.

"I have to lie down, honey."

"Oh... How long?"

"We'll both be asleep."

He needed some sort of alarm. The distant roar of the surf was too tempting.
"Well, wake me in the middle of the night and maybe- "

"I can't." She cupped his face and brought her soft emerald eyes to bear. The
dark pupils were already so large. "It affects both of us. We'll sleep
together until dawn. Nothing can wake us."

Yeah. Why hadn't he remembered that? He hadn't stirred in the middle of the
night at all since he'd arrived.

"Would you like to go now?" Amber suggested.

She started to pull her robe back together.

"No." He nudged it down around her waist again. "Let's save something for
another night."

"OK." She smiled at him in the shadows and tenderly undressed him.

Jimmy cupped one of her breasts and massaged its strawberry nipple to
hardness.

Amber did the same with him, caressing his softening flesh under her thumb.
The way she brushed the jutting areola illicited an odd tingle.

"Does it bother you if I touch your chest?... Is it sore? I know you're not
used to feeling swollen here but I thought you should know how good it can
be."

He blinked at her a moment.

Did she still like the way he looked?

It was all a bit strange.

"Do you like me?" he asked.

"Yes."

"Touch me where you want."

He kissed her shoulder again.

"The hairs should fall out in a few days."

"I know."

Amber moistened her lips. Again the silence was broken by brief wet whispers
as she kissed her tongue.

"I'm sorry," she said.

"Don't say that again."

Jimmy leaned slowly with her into the bed and the back of his hand made
contact for the first time with the tanned hides of the mattress. They were
just as smooth and tender to the touch as her own luxurious skin.

He broke the kiss off and smiled mischievously. "You've been hiding out on
me."

"What?"

"This bed is much lovelier than the palace's."

Her eyebrow arched. "Really? It's a bit lumpy," she whispered. "There isn't
much wool in it... though you're welcome to use it anytime if you'd- "

He snickered.

Amber relaxed as his chest heaved against her breasts. She let out a soft
giggle of her own.

"It barely fits two," he teased, "much less three."

"Three? I don't see how."

"You wouldn't come with the bed?"

She blushed. "Not like that. But I thought we weren't going to talk- "

"Never mind," he sighed. "I guess it's not really that beautiful without you
in it."

"Oh... OH. Well if you wanted I could- "

"Relax, would you?" He kissed her glistening lips. "I was just trying to
compliment you on your furniture."

"Thank you. But I didn't make it. I traded some baskets for it... We could get
you another just- "

He hushed her with two fingers on her delicate lips. "Don't you ever think of
yourself?"

"What do you mean? How could I tonight?... Why? Are you?"

"No."

She was silent a moment.

"Did I say something wrong?"

"No. I just... I don't need more stuff. I loved being serenaded very much and
you're very thoughtful-"

She pinched him. "Don't you want me to be a love slave? Wasn't that the first
thing you said to me?"

"No," he chuckled. "Just a lover... You don't have to keep bringing me candy
and flowers to win me over..."

"I understand."

But then her lips pursed.

"What?"

"What's 'candy'?" she asked.

"Uh... small little treats that taste sweet. Like fruit, only more... You know
what honey is, don't you?"

"Yes."

"Kind of like that."

Kind of like her, he thought as he traced the outline of her chin.

"We have some honey but it's hard to make."

"Really? Why?"

"Too many queen bees," she giggled. His chest shook with hers. "Poor
things..."

"Bet you have plenty of royal jelly," he laughed.

"Yes." He watched as the waves of gaiety slowly washed over Amber and seemed
to pool by the bedposts on the floor. She sucked soberly on her lower lip
while she caressed his neck. "I'm sorry I'm so talkative tonight. I guess I'm
a little nervous."

"Me too." He kissed her. "But I always like talking with you. For some reason
it's easier than with the others..."

"I feel it too. There's a strength hidden in you."

He squeezed her cheek. "You wait too long and it really will be hidden..." he
teased.

She didn't grin. "Why do you make jokes about it?"

He shrugged. "There's nothing else to do."

"Do you look forward to it? It's said that on rare occasions a man actually
rejoices when he hears about the curse."

"No. I really don't want it to happen. I'm happy right here."

"I hope you didn't take offense."

"No. I know how you meant it." He sighed. "I'd hoped tonight would be
special."

Amber drew his face between her hands and leaned up to kiss him. "It is," she
whispered. "Very."

"It's just- "

"I know it gets monotonous sometimes."

"Yeah. I'm not happy about that. I wanted our time together to be-"

"It will."

Without another word, Amber raised her hips to let him slide off the rest of
her toga. She took his hand upon her breast while he gazed into his eyes.

"You're very beautiful," he whispered.

"Thank you."

He brushed the underside of her soft, white globes with the back of his hand,
marveling at their fullness. She was more than his palms could handle, though
it fit her smaller frame remarkably well.

He recalled the evening he'd first seen her naked, standing in the surf. Her
spine had just enough curve, kindly tapering off to where it kissed her nicely
rounded bottom... the one that bounced out so perkily as she darted after him
into the sea. He'd always remember her like that.

The graceful proportions of her chest sloped and hugged her in all the right
spots too. He hoped his comments hadn't hurt her. The only thing more
beautiful than her breasts was her polite sensitivity. He could know her a
thousand years and she would never make a peep about it.

Amber wet her fingers and, as he began to tweak her nipple, she reached over
and repeated the motion on him. Jimmy was surprised at how fast his breathing
changed as the pleasure grew under her scratching nail. It was just a tickle
at first but now... he'd never felt anything like it... not there...

Did her strawberry nipples taste as delicious as they looked in the quiet
moonlight? He bent closer to savor their salty flavor and her hands slipped
into his hair to caress his neck while he nursed.

He licked at her slowly until she rose up into a fine point then he nipped at
her stiff little prong while batting the other back and forth under his thumb.
She gave out a sharp sigh and then moaned.

He let her slip through his teeth.

"Too hard?"

"No." She stroked his scalp and tugged him forward again.

Soon her hips writhed under him and she let out the most lovely low cry he'd
ever heard. For an instant he saw her jaw quivering again in the dawn light
under his window...

"Ow!" she yelped, smiling at him. "Too hard, sweety."

"Did I hurt you?"

"Not much..." She pulled his hand back to her bosom. "No. It's very nice...
please go on... if you want..."

He switched and suckled her other breast, lapping leisurely at its long peak.
Amber kneaded the teat he'd bitten until his timid hand rejoined her. She
stroked and patted his arm reassuringly. Soon her smile straightened and
passionate m's rolled off her lips again in sweet succession, encouraging him
to become bolder.

Jimmy flicked his wet feeler over her prickled pink cup, making it gleam in
the diffuse lunar light. He gripped her stiff tip in his mouth once more,
cushioning it under his tongue before tugging at it to Amber's approving
murmurs.

Convinced of her safety, he gnawed at her again with all the emotion flowing
through him. Her soft fingers march through his tangled hair. He loved the way
she stroked the side of his jaw...

Jimmy smiled at her.

Amber smiled back.

But then it was gone. Her mouth pouted open and air rushed through her
nostrils. The tender mounds rose up under his hands with her curving back. Her
gentle breathing grew deeper and her ivory hip shivered against his. Her neck
arched once more, giving a hint of the delicate bands hidden in the flesh of
her soft white throat.

His palms began to sweat at the warmth flooding through her.

He had to taste more.

Jimmy rose up on his elbow, gazing into her dark glassy orbs as she wiped the
saliva from her bosom. She watched him keenly as he slid further down on the
bed, then cocked an eyebrow as he hesitated with his chin above her crotch. He
looked down at the dark curls that sprouted from her joined thighs.

"Can I?" he whispered.

"I'm ready, if that's what you..."

"No I... I want to do this for you... if you want me to."

She caressed his cheek. "Of course."

She was hard to read tonight. For some reason, she looked so serious. Was it
just passion? Hadn't one woman joked about hiding something down here?

"Touch me where you want," she echoed.

He grinned. "If I don't..." He stroked her arm. "Can you help me please
you?... Sorry. I've been... it's like it's all I do some days and yet I... I
want to get it right for you. I don't want it to be another part of the
routine. I know that sounds completely lame..."

"Not at all." Amber pulled his hand to her. "I know how hard it is to
understand the other sex." She kissed his open palm. "I'll help," she
whispered. "I'm touched you even asked. Some never do."

Really? "It's just... I'd hate to hear you go 'Ow!' again."

"It was a bit of surprise is all."

She turned his hand over and silently placed his fingers on her nipple,
cupping the reddish cap with his forefinger and positioning his thumb over it. 
She delicately inched the nail down, scratching to the edge of her crisp
point. She smiled politely at him as he repeated the motion. Her head lolled
back while he learned the rhythm, then her face drew somber yet again and she
nudged his wrist lower.

Jimmy took the hint and maneuvered even farther back. Amber parted her legs
and suddenly the tang of her excitement was in the air.

He fell off the bed.

"Oh! Are you OK?" Her frowning face came into view like an angel above him.
She offered a concerned hand and pulled him back into bed. "You do need
advice."

"All I can get... but make it timely, huh?"

"OK," Amber said flatly. She scooted as far back as possible, rising up on her
elbows.

Why wasn't she laughing at him? She'd turned so solemn this evening, as if
some heaviness had descended on her soft white shoulders.

Jimmy put it aside and crouched at the joint of her splayed legs again, taking
in the clear signs of her arousal. An enchanting sigh escaped as he ran a
finger lightly through her velvet comforts, parting her fine hairs and
stirring the moist stickiness within. He traced the outline of her lips,
followed them up and marked their little wedge at top.

Amber sigh deeply.

He turned a leafy flap over in the deep shadows of her crotch, savoring the
quiet, almost liquid, sound as it folded. Jimmy bent down, curving his back
like an inchworm until his nose sank into her silky fluff and he tasted her
for the first time. He sloshed into her satiny cavity, exploring and laying
open her slick, warm creases.

Amber's hands fell about his head, massaging his scalp with prancing fingers.

His tongue dallied in her juicy ruffles, fluttering around and occasionally
grazing her clitoris to tickle her desire for him. He could feel it building
as she ground into his nose, nudging that hardening bud ever closer to his
lips.

Finally he gave in and drew her stiff little tip into his mouth, flicking
lightly over the smooth kernel and pushing back on the skin that encircled it.

Amber gasped.

"A little slower, honey... mmmmm... thanks..." Her soprano tones cracked and
shuddered in a long, pleasant sigh as he lapped more gingerly around her nub.

Jimmy plucked at one of her sticky nipples while he reveled in her fishy musk.
Something warm and wet greeted his finger tips and he looked up to find Amber
kissing his knuckles.

Her head lolled back and he slipped a finger from his other hand into her
warm, salty recesses. He worked his way in and out of her smooth walls,
reveling at the squishy sounds gracing his ears. When her hips began to rise,
he plunged into her, sucking forcefully on her tiny pea until he felt her
fleshy ring contract around his digit, trying to draw more of him in.

Her rigid fingers clenched his head. The bottom of her jaw trembled as her
lyric happiness poured into the night.

One of her short nails dug into his cheek.

"You have a wonderful singing voice."

She sighed and her eyes twinkled down at him. "You've never said that before.
Thank you."

He rose again and they kissed. "You didn't know it when I kissed you at the
window?"

"Of course." Her kisses moved to his chin, then under his neck. She pushed him
to the side as her body stretched out beneath his. "You've told me many things
that have warmed my heart, spoken or not." Her lips marched slowly downward,
showering him with affection until she reached one of the puffy protrusions on
his chest. She brushed his downy fur aside, gazed up into his eyes and nibbled
gently at it.

Jimmy sank to the bed again. His erection stiffened and strained, etching
further into her thigh as the tingle from her kisses surged through him. The
little prong tensed between her lips and contracted into an impossibly fine
point. The fine bumps ringing it came alive one by one and kissed her back.

Its twin, strangely enough, didn't respond. He watched keenly as her delicate
fingers glided over to scratch at the soft, smooth skin. It too drew taut and
collapsed in pimples under her expert attention.

His flesh glimmered under her beautiful lips, highlighting the wet forest of
small hairs. The lightly nipping teeth sent an alien warmth flowing through
his upper body. Something was growing... spreading in his blood...

"No it's... it's a little much." Jimmy pulled her up. "Give me some time to
adjust." Amber cocked her head. "It felt nice." The crow's feet around her
eyes vanished. "Thank you." Her tension melted away under his kiss and she
floated back to the bed.

He stroked behind her ear in silence as his mind took its time returning from
a far off place. Her soft, soothing hands drifted down his abdomen.

He knew what she'd say. Probably one of the many variations of "it's up to
you" that he'd heard so often but he offered anyway.

"Would you like to be on top or bottom?"

Amber brushed the back of her hand tenderly across the side of his face.

"Bottom, please."

She returned his smile briefly as he caressed her face, then the wayward
sailor lifted himself above her. Her leg moved to accommodate him and Jimmy
descended on her, sinking into her caring grasp.

Her arms rose like shadows next to his. Fingers locked around his neck. She
bent back and drew him in for a long kiss that never quite broke through those
enduring minutes.

Her eyes closed. The pitch from her chest quickened. He felt her soft,
feminine touch all around him, even under the arms he wrapped beneath her
shoulders. Thanks to the leather of the bed it stretched down even to the legs
sprawling out from beneath their union...

His hands stirred through her silky tresses and the sharp spike of rose filled
his throat again.

Her face was so beautiful, even half-visible like this in the night air. He
remembered the coy way she stood with her back to him, that evening in the
freshwater stream as she washed herself off... that black tree limb falling
across her shoulders... the way it hid her chin as she turned and laughed at
the water he splashed on her...

He wanted to draw it out... another five minutes snapped from eternity... but
he couldn't deny himself to her any longer. The warm longing in her called out
for him, tugging at all his restraints, causing the surge to well up once more
within him and spill over into her...

Her own contractions followed swiftly behind his and in that blinding moment
of union, the soft breeze of Amber's voice floated to him.

"Thank you."

---

"Are you glad we did it here?"

"Made love, you mean?"

"Yes." She smiled. "Did you like it?" she asked again.

"Very much."

"I'm sorry the bed's not bigger. That's my fault."

"It brings us closer together. I like it."

"Thanks... You're always finding the best of something."

She took the pillow from her head and stuffed it under her hips.

"Here. Take mine."

Amber pushed it away. "You keep it."

Jimmy sighed. "Is my arm good enough for you?" he asked, working it under her.

"Yes," she laughed. "I'd like that."

"Can't talk you into sitting on your side, can I?"

"You'll drip out."

Jimmy chuckled. "*I'm* not going anywhere right now."

"OK, then. *It* will," she sighed.

He stared at her profile in silence.

She had a delightful little nose. Did she know that?

"Are you cold at all?" he asked.

"A bit. There's a quilt on the floor. Can you reach it?"

"Sure." He pulled it over their waists and spread it lower.

It did keep the cool breeze away.

Had the weather turned chillier since he got here? Maybe this part of the
island was different.

Well if he couldn't get her to roll over and look at him, he'd meet her
halfway.

Jimmy stretched his leg over hers and draped his free arm over her chest,
lying half on her.

Her prominent hip gouged his stomach and his other foot still dangled off the
bed. Oh well...

Close was better than comfortable right now.

She turned slightly and smiled tenderly at him.

"I'm not crushing you am I?"

"No." Amber ran a finger through his curly chest hairs. "You're much better
than a blanket." She watched attentively as he scratched his navel. "I'm sorry
Andrea's not here to give you a bath."

"I don't want to spend the night with Andrea."

"Oh." She digested his remark with more silence and thought than usual. Her
eyes followed his in the dimming light, etching the question into his face
even before she asked it. "Have you picked anyone?"

"What do you mean?"

"Has no one explained it yet?" He nodded. "Sometimes we're bad about that."
Her nails dallied up and down his arm. "We get so excited about having a man,
we forget all about him." Amber paused. The last thin ember in the torch
finally died and he grinned back at her in the residual moonlight.  "On the
last night it's your right to choose any of the single women as your mate.
It's our gift to you. You can of course decline..."

"Really?" He brushed her cheek with his knuckles. "There would be women still
interested in me?"

"Of course," she said meekly. "We're all we have."

"Then why haven't any asked if they're interested."

Her eyes dropped. "It's not our right. You must choose."

"Do you want me to pick you?"

"Yes."

He sighed and sank back to his side of the bed.

"Did you go through the same thing?"

Jimmy flinched. Why of a million questions did he ask that stupid one? Here
she was unattached and she'd just said a man could pick any- . Oh, he could
also pass.  Had she... he? passed?

Sigh. What to do about pronouns? They did speak of foreign language here.

Why was it even on his mind?

"Why do you want to know?"

"I'm just curious."

"If you find out one way or another, would it affect your decision?"

Jimmy fell silent. He honestly didn't know. It was hard enough imagining sex
with women as a woman.

"Then I won't say."

"I could always ask someone."

Amber smiled. "They won't tell you." Her eyes paused a moment as they wandered
across his face, then she drifted back down into a soft cushion of curls. "I'm
not... I'm not fighting with you about it, so don't take it that way. And it's
too early to make a decision... You should... take your time. Not feel any
pressure." She caressed his hand in hers and turned again to kiss his cheek.
"I know why you asked what you did and I... have a pretty good idea of who you
are..." She sighed. "This is magic. You won't wake up a month from now and be
a man in a woman's body. You'll be a woman. That's why it doesn't matter what
I was in the past. I am who I am now. Some men come through the transformation
only attracted to men. I hope it doesn't happen to you, but it's different for
every man. Some have to learn to be attracted to their own sex. I'll help if
you let me. I'll even tell you about my past... But not if it affects your
decision. If it did I don't think... I don't think it would but if it did I'm
not sure... we'd want to be together in that way."

Jimmy blinked at the long shadows formed by the thatch weaving in her roof.

"So I'm going to lose my mind?"

"You're going to lose your gender. Some of your mind will go with it... Not
most of it, though. Maybe not any part you'll notice."

He sighed. How would he know if he didn't have it? Would he just feel a hole
in his head? Or would it be like he'd never existed?

"Will I... Will I remember- "

"You'll remember everything, clear as a bell." Amber lifted their clasped
hands into the fuzzy white wedge streaming through the window. "We'll never
forget tonight."

"Good." He pulled her knuckles to his lips. "Is anyone ever picked who doesn't
want to be?"

"It doesn't matter. It is your choice. I know you don't wish to spend your
life with a companion who openly resents you. Why would you ever find that
attractive? In any event... such a thing has not happened in living memory."

"But it has happened."

"It is your right to choose as you will. No one else may make that decision
for you. You must respect the previous bonds of love, of course. And you can
reserve your right to pick at a later time." She sighed and looked away to the
window. "It is said sometimes that on the final night, the spirit sometimes
changes with the body. Some cursed few... find their thoughts turning to men
and the world they've just left. Others develop different tastes in their own
gender and wish simply to choose a different woman." She shrugged. "Nothing
can be done of it. It's why you wait until- "

Jimmy chuckled.

"What?" Amber's dark orbs flashed as her gaze returned to him.

"You'd pick me before you knew what I'd turn out like? I could be ugly as
sin."

"Oh." She snickered and laughed lightly with him. "Have you looked around?
Even the old women are quite handsome.... In any event, it would not matter.
That's not why I like you, though you are handsome. Physical attraction of
that sort isn't so important to most women. You'll see soon yourself. I mean
I'm sure I would find you attractive, regardless... And if you still love me
then whatever's you that I love..." She blushed. "Sorry." He stroked her
cheek, slowly rubbing the red away. "Then whatever's you that I love will
still be there. Don't you see?"

Jimmy turned and stared expressionless at the half-filled moon rising out of
view. "Sorry."

"For what?"

"I'm ruining the mood."

"No you're not."

"I know you probably wanted to talk about something else... ask me about the
outside world, visit, just fall asleep in my arms, I don't know... but I... I
appreciate not having to ask first with you, you know, about what to expect.
With all the other girls there's..." His voice trailed off.

"It's not always comfortable having to ask about it, is it?"

"No. They're very honest but...  Don't they know- ?"

She put a finger to his lips.

"Yes. I'll tell you..." Amber stroked his hair while he rested on her
shoulder. "When the moon goes dark again, your last nights are yours to spend
with who you see fit. You'll be able to function as a male the first night.
Perhaps even the second. You can try to father one last child if you wish,
with whomever you wish..."

"Would... the others be mad if I didn't choose them... when I picked the woman
who I- "

"What? Noooo. Of course not. You can't force love that way. Besides," she
snickered. "There are plenty of pretty women on the island. They'll all find
someone eventually."

He chuckled with her. "I forgot."

"Hm. What else?" she muttered to herself. "Pray to be tall. Sometimes it
happens."

"Why?"

"You might get elected Queen. Height is power."

"I meant why would I get bigger? At the rate I'm shrinking I going to be- "

"Oh. Right now, yes. It feels so strange because you're becoming the woman you
would have been had you been born that way, like your own sister. But you'll
be someone completely different next month. Sometimes the change is quite
remarkable. The way you're changing now... it's a bit like the way the water
rolls back out to sea before a big wave hits. A kind of warning about what's
to come..."

"So why is height power? I'd think it'd be the woman with the biggest tits."

"Andrea?" She laughed. "Why? Breasts are hardly powerful." He remembered her
lumbering gait in the race. Well it *did* win... "They connect you to the
world more than anything else. Like an anchor," she mused.  "They're
responsibility."

"You tell all your little students that?"

"Yes."

"It's just that... you would have figured the perverse way Circe is..."

"Oh." Amber chuckled. "That would be awful. I'm glad you didn't cast the
spell... No. We pick our own leaders. We were started by a group of Athenian
sailors who believed in equality and democracy."

"Horny sailors, huh? The kind with a skirt in every port... provided you
aren't the one trapped in port."

"I think that was the exact origin of the curse."

"So you pick the tallest one?"

"One of the tall ones, yes... We haven't always been this way, either. The
sailors forgot who they were... fell into the ways of the Amazons for a while.
In our more barbaric days, we used to tie the men up and force them into sex.
And then we'd humiliate them and treat them like second-class women. Make them
slaves. Force them to work in the fields or... the Queen even used to have her
own harem of sorts."

He snickered. "Pretty useless, huh?"

"Oh I know," Amber commiserated. "Why?" She frowned. "Why treat people like
that? I wouldn't have liked it back then. They were angry people."

"It's easy to understand why."

"Are you angry?"

"Yeah..." he sighed. "Guess that's why I've got my own harem."

"Stop!" Amber pinched him. "You're always teasing me with that!"

He fought off her offended fingers and even ventured a nip of his own. "Wish
you could tie me up don't you? Drag me off somewhere for yourself? That's it
isn't it?"

"Yes," she giggled. His tickles faded to gentle pats again. Amber sighed and
stroked a lock of her spread out hair. "It could all slip back in a
generation. We could all be barbarians like that again."

"You're too nice to ever let it happen."

"I hope. The things washing out of the ocean now make our lives much easier...
But we still can't let our guard down. Good leadership counts for something."

"I think Lucia does a fine job."

"Yes. She does. But she'll be getting too old in a few years. Moving to the
council of elders....."

"So? I'm her age too."

"Not long."

"Really?"

"You'll be a young woman. Younger probably than me even."

"Shoot. An extra ten years? It's good to know there's a perk or two that comes
with it."

"Being a woman isn't all bad." Amber caressed his neck. "A change like that
should never be forced on someone... particularly when others care so much for
them as they are..."

"Tall, huh. That's the way you want me?"

"Yes."

"You like a taller lover?"

"Of course... and we wouldn't have to marry. We could simply be lovers a
while. If you want me to wait I would... and you could see how you... related
to other women again..."

"You really aren't very jealous, are you?"

"When the time is right... only if you say... But any woman would let you do
that. You may need time to adjust. It's delicate." Her fingers dawdled in the
puffy flesh of his chest again. "You'll understand it better after the new
moon. All this will feel like it fits."

Jimmy tracked the movement of her beautifully plain short nails.

And the jiggle they stirred.

"Would you... what size breasts would... What do you want me to look like?"

"Like Jimmy."

"But if you can't have that... what kind of woman would you like? I mean... if
I wound up like Andrea or- "

"You'll be beautiful, I'm sure."

"But- "

"Do I want you tripping over your bosom?" she giggled. "Not really. But what I
want doesn't matter, not that I want something like that. Circe doesn't listen
to anyone but her own whims. But if you turned out that way, I'm sure we'd
have fun together. Women don't- aren't as interested in physical appearance
like that, I think. Not... well, maybe some but not the way you're thinking.
You'll understand- "

"- understand after the new moon" he echoed.

"Yes. You know you... on that final night if you... If you feel like crying,
you don't have to be a man about it. You can- "

Jimmy cracked up. "That's the whole point, isn't it?"

"Oh." Amber laughed lightly with him. "I suppose it is but I was just going to
say it's your choice who to invite. You don't have to pick anyone at all,
though most do. I was just saying it might be private for you and- "

"If I asked you, asked you in both senses... what would we do?"

"Share a bed for the night and wait. There's nothing special to the ceremony.
We're preparing a house for you and we would move in there together... For the
nights or possibly longer... It's-" She stammered a moment. "It's understood
that if you ask someone... and you change your mind about them... nothing will
be spoken of it."

"You said I could- How will I know I still want you?"

Her chin dimpled as she shrugged. "It's why you wait to ask until the last
day. I wouldn't worry about it. Probably not much will happen to you. The
spell is different for everyone. In any event, you won't be unhappy. Even if
it's not with me."

"I would hate to do that to you. Back out like that, if I made a commitment."

"There's nothing hateful about it. If you change, you change. Love can't be
forced."

Of all the million absurd things flying through his mind right now... "So if
we marry, can I at least give you my last name? Make you a Baker?" he
chuckled. "You do bake don't you?"

Amber blushed. "You take my clan name."

"Me? Why me?"

"Because. You will be my virgin bride." The color drained from his face as the
enormity of it descended on him. "Oh. Not intact in that sense, if that
concerns you. Legend says only boys who wandered off on the island and then
were found changed months later ever had their virginity intact. Circe had an
odd sense of humor. Every man who'd had sex beforehand... was reborn as if
she'd had sex already as a woman... if you catch my meaning."

"I won't be... pregnant will I?"

"No," she sighed. "Not sex in that sense either, unfortunately... But one of
the young boys will come of age within a few years. If you'd like to then, we
could try... unless some other poor fellow washes up on shore. But it's up to
you. You haven't changed yet so I don't know what you'll want. In any event,
you'll have many years to decide. Not every woman knows right away. Or wants a
child. But don't worry. Few woman who have wanted one have ever gone
without... Yes, you'll probably want one at some point. For some reason almost
all the transformed women end up giving birth. Put it out of your mind for
now."

He'd be hopping in bed, acting shy about his wife just like Dahlia had? What a
turn on that had been...

Ugh. But he'd be the one getting stuck between the legs.

She had fun, though, didn't he?

He shivered and drew the quilt closer, stopping on the way to pinch Amber's
stomach with a grin.

"So I'd be Mrs. Jimmy- what?"

"Oh. You won't be Jimmy anymore. The Queen will consult the elders and give
you a new name."

He sighed. "Guess I shouldn't have hit her with that spear. I won't be able to
pronounce it..."

Amber smirked back at him. "She's not really mad at you for that. She's taken
a shine to you in fact... managed to make Dahlia jealous for the first time... 
But don't worry. It's- oops."

Amber covered her mouth. Her light mood sank beneath the waves again.

"You've already picked me a new name?"

"Yes. Sorry. You're not supposed to know."

"Well what is it?"

"I can't tell you. It's easy to say, though."

"Why can't you?"

"You'd remember. I have to tell you when you're a woman or it's spoiled. It
won't feel right."

"*You* have to?"

"Whoever you pick does. When you first awake."

"Well do you like the name?"

"It's quite lovely, as I'm sure you will be."

"So how do you usually decide who takes whose name in a marriage?"

"Each islander retains her clan name. It's not a real marriage. We're all
aware it's just a substitute. In your case, though, you're new so you're sort
of reborn into one of the established households... but no one really uses
them, except for the birth records so I wouldn't worry."

"What's yours?"

Her lips pursed and she thought about it. "You know I haven't used it in
years. I'd have to go look it up to make sure I can spell it correctly."

"You don't stay close to your family?"

"I stay close with everyone on the island. Would you like to hear my first
name in Greek?"

"It's not Amber?"

"No. It's..." She uttered something he could never hope to repeat, much less
remember.

"Sounds scientific."

"Really?"

"Can I stick with 'Amber'? I like the way it sounds better."

"Of course. I prefer Amber anyway. The other one doesn't mean quite the same."

"What's it mean then?"

"Oh." She laughed faintly. "Um. It's better in Greek than you think but the
rough translation is flaming insect."

Flaming insect...? "Firefly?"

"Sort of. But we don't have them on the island often. The last was seen a
hundred years ago."

"I like it."

"Please... please call me Amber. I'll teach you to say it in Greek if you
like, but firefly sounds so silly. I hate flies when they visit the island."

"Ok... So what's Jimmy in Greek?"

"Mmm." She smiled coyly. "Jimmy," she responded.

"Just Jimmy?" he yawned.

"Just Jimmy."

Singing drifted across the windowsill from somewhere quite close, startling
Jimmy from the warm crease they'd formed together. He looked down at Amber,
half-expecting to see her mouth open wide again and her arms out stretched.

But she just returned his smile, putting a calm arm on his as he tried to rise
from bed.

"She's just an old friend doing me a favor. I thought you might like to be
sung to sleep. She won't bother us."

"She owes you a favor? It's not for me?"

"Of course it's for you." He was still anxious about it. "Don't worry. She
won't intrude. And the neighbors won't mind. I asked."

"Neighbors?..." His brow knitted. "You mean... They heard us?"

"Of course. It's a small island. It's not unusual to hear those sounds at
night. They're only natural... but don't worry. The children were sent
elsewhere to sleep."

"Just for this occasion?"

"So mothers wouldn't have to explain the deeper voice... but it is a lovely
music, don't you think? The music of love-making? The children hear it anyway
when their mothers are alone together. No one speaks of it."

"Are people listening when I'm up in the palace?"

"A few, I suppose, if they're around... but what are you upset about? No one
stays just for that. And we all enjoy it. It doesn't disturb- "

"You've heard me before with other- "

"Shh. Is that what you're worried about? It's not my place to be jealous. And
we all try to give you as much privacy as we can but it's a small place."
Amber yawned and pulled his arm tight under her bosom. "I'm tired, honey. Can
we talk about it in the morning?"

He was getting sleepy too. Was it the low, mournful tones of the song? Or
perhaps the spell was kicking in? How late was it?

"Yeah," he sighed. "Sorry for spoiling your night with all my questions. I
feel like little Julius."

She giggled. "It wasn't spoiled. It's the kind of talk beds were built for."

"I suppose it is..." The melodious voice flowed through the air and through
his ears in time with the faint surf. Who was the enchantress? Had he heard
her before? "But yeah. I'll shut up. I'd like to enjoy the lovely music too."
It was thoughtful of Amber. He kissed her goodnight. "Thank you."

---

For once he was the first to wake.

Bright light streamed into Amber's one room home, finally giving him a good
look around. Calling it a home was being charitable. It was more of a hut of
wooden planks strung together with rope. It wasn't ugly by any means but it
was a far simpler abode than a woman of her charms deserved. Though strangely
enough, it did match her sincerity.

She hadn't been embarrassed by any of it, not that she should be. She was
quite comfortable here... indeed, she'd seemed pleased to invite him in last
night.

Did all the islanders live so plainly?

It didn't have much stuff... but then what kind of stuff was there to have?

What kind of lives did they lead here? What kind of life would he have?

It certainly wasn't much compared to the palace. The floor was a mixture of
dirt and sand. A black and silver pot hung over her hearth.

At the foot of the bed, there was a box lying with its lid half-ajar. Inside
was a short white cylinder, sort of like the sawed-off plastic pipe they'd
used for batons.

Hadn't she said she didn't race?

There were some shells beside it, polished like jewelry. He hadn't seen her
wearing that long one yet. Was it her jewelry box? Two of the smaller shells
dangled from her ears last night. When he first saw them at dinner he thought
the loops of fishing wire should look sillier than they did. Instead he
couldn't help thinking how beautiful the plain brown and white striped cups
were as they swayed from her cheeks. Of all the strange contradictions- the
modest adornments somehow made her look all the more sophisticated.

Next to her hearth hung a few togas, drying he assumed. In the darkness he'd
mistaken them for curtains and bushes.

He spotted the basket she'd tossed aside last night, sitting in a pile of
other half-finished projects lurking in the shadows.

The remains of the torch sat in a pile of ash on her table.

The room's one chair laid underneath it, turned on its side. Only one? He
looked around but couldn't find any others. Did she ever have company? Maybe
she borrowed one from her neighbors. Or went over there when she wanted to
visit.

Did she visit? With friends like last night's invisible singer?

What was her life like?

There wasn't much stuff.

It wasn't the place he'd dreamed of his career culminating in.

What did he care? Health. Love. Long life. Maybe even family. And an easy
living. The sort of simple beachcombing existence burned out businessmen
dreamed about.

What price? What price for making this fantasy a reality?

He heard voices in the distance.

All those female voices. They drew closer along the path... then they faded
away...

He was trapped at an estrogen convention. The only balance he struck was in
bed.

Bed... This particular one was cramped. Parts of him still weren't awake.

Wasn't this the first night he'd spent away from the place?

But being forced into Amber's arms only made her all the more attractive.

She hadn't moved at all during the night. Her hips still thrust into the air,
like an offering to the heavens.

Shafts of morning sunshine stabbed across the soft curves of her face, failing
to find a single wrinkle in her fair skin.

What was going on under those gently fluttering eyelids? What was she dreaming
about?

How could he have missed those freckles on her shoulders last night? Were they
hard to see in the dark? They tapered off into almost imperceptible orange
splotches that blended with her creamy bosom.

He slipped the pillow from her rear end. Her eyes twitched and she began to
stir. In the fullness of time she blinked and smiled at him.

"Morning."

"Mmm. Morning."

"When did you get freckles?"

"Oh." Amber frowned as she strained to look down at herself. "I've been in the
sun lately."

"I like them."

"You do? I can spend more time outside if you like. They disappear in a few
days if I..." He grinned devilishly at her. "... don't." She cocked her head.
Her lips curled on one side, returning half his smile. "What?"

She stretched her arms above her, sending auburn curls over the edge of the
bed.

Jimmy kneed one of her legs aside and rose above her. A line formed under her
chin. "I don't feel like talking just now." He winked and plunged into her
tender freckled flesh.

Delicate hands clawed at his stomach.

"No, don't," she protested calmly. "You should be with the other girl if- "

"Shut up about it, would you?" He blinked. He sighed and quit his thrusting,
sinking down on her warm breasts. "I'll stop if it's what you really want..."
He kissed her. "But not if it's because you're thinking about another person.
There are no other people right now." She bit her lower lip. "It's all my
decision. Just tell me if you want me... Yes or no?"

Her eyes darted back and forth across his.

"Yes."

---

Amber giggled. "I do *not* have to lay down again. That was last night."

"I'll drip out," he teased.

"I've got enough in me already. Yuck." She made a face. "I was so messy down
there to begin with. How could you stand it?"

"I like making a mess with you."

They embraced and pinched each other a moment. "Well you made it even worse."

His voice shot up in pitch. "Can I give you a bath before your next client?"
he asked mockingly, with a limp wrist draped over the front of his toga.

"No," she smirked. "I like having some of Helen in me."

"You!"

"Don't mind do you?"

"I never mind... and I'd like to see Helen in you too."

"Ah!" she yelped in protest, breaking free of his arms. "She's married!"

He'd never seen her this playful.

"You suggested it..."

"You're confusing me with Linda!" she said sarcastically. She saw what he was
getting ready to do and put a hand on his forearm. "Don't. We save that."

"Ashes?" She didn't want him to dump them out back?

"They make soap." She handed him a rusty can. "Put them in here."

Soap? He shrugged and brushed them into the container while she wandered over
to the hearth. "Can't get rid of Helen without soap..." he mumbled. She had
his back to him, doing her best to let that remark slip. He started humming to
himself. "Can't pick a married woman, huh? Shoot, there goes Julia... poor old
considerate Julia. And all those other chicks who ran out... Guess I'll have
to settle- " Amber was finally cracking up. Over that?

"That was so funny." She put a shaking hand over her mouth. "Ooooh! Cornelia!"

Funny? Wasn't Amber usually hurt when someone did something like-

She winked at him. She was on to their little secret. How? "She told you?"

"Julia!?" She burst out laughing. "No! Gosh. She'll never tell another soul."
Amber knelt at the foot of the bed to fold some of the linens, determined to
hide the crushing damage he'd done to her hamper last night when his eagerness
had sent him overboard. "I figured it out from talking to Melissa," she
explained. "I'm not that thick, you know."

"Melissa?"

"Melissa?... Oh... no. I doubt she's even suspicious. She's just a kid. I
asked her a few carefully worded questions. She doesn't know either of them
very well anyway. But I have Cornelia's daughter in my class." Amber smirked.
"Having her call out for 'Cornelia' *after* Ambrosia had seen you two... It
was inspired." Amber giggled. "She must have been quite something in bed." She
set the folded square aside and rested a hand on his shoulder. "Don't worry.
Melissa will never put it together... and I'll certainly never tell."

Jimmy just shook his head and grinned at her deductive skills. Did he have no
privacy at all?

"But what I can't figure out," Amber continued, "is how you knew Melissa was
such a gossip."

He cocked an eyebrow and simply hunched his shoulders. "I didn't. I figured
she's a chick. She'll blab."

"We're not all like that," she growled, pinching his meaty thigh.

"Just enough of you." He pushed the grinning beauty away. "Besides, I dropped
enough hints elsewhere. I knew it would get back. I bet- " He chuckled for a
moment as he finally considered the implications of what he'd done. "I bet
Cornelia gave her hell, then found out about it and begged for forgiveness. I
really did that girl a favor. She's gonna owe me."

"'Owe' you, huh?... Well, it was sweet of you, nonetheless. You really
shouldn't intrude like that... but in her case it was appropriate. If only
Claudia could write a song about that..."

Amber's sobriety suddenly returned. She brushed the sand out of last night's
toga and soaked it in a kettle of water.

"I still can't believe I called her Michelle half the morning."

"Who?"

"Melissa. I was really out of it."

"No kidding? Hm. She didn't say anything about *that*..." Amber set another
sheet aside and mused on it a moment. "I think you intimidate her somehow...
though she has become much more comfortable around you. In fact she talks of
you quite fondly." Amber sighed and returned to straightening up. "She said
you were very sweet to her that night."

"Um... I guess."

"Sorry. I don't mean to intrude. I didn't want you to worry that you had
stepped on her toes. She's grateful to have someone older and more experienced
taking an interest in her. She just may not show it well and I thought you
should know. That's all I meant to say." She turned to him again. "Something
wrong?"

He couldn't keep the bangs from tickling his eyebrows. Maybe a bath would
help. Come to think of it, he'd been kind of shaggy to begin with when he set
out on the high seas with that cooler full of beer.

The cooler. A shame they could salvage *that*...

"Time for a haircut," he announced, tracing the nearly healed scar on his jaw.
"Would you do it? I'd, uh, rather not go back to Michelle any time soon."

Why wasn't she reacting to his joke? "Sorry Jimmy. You'll have to wait a few
weeks. It'll just grow back tomorrow morning."

"I'll *always* have long hair?"

"Until you're a woman. Then you can cut it. But it won't get very long before
then anyway. After the new moon you can do with it what you like. I don't
know. You might like it long then. I suppose I could trim it for you now...
but it would have to be every morning. Would you mind sitting still for that?
I'll be happy to do it if you want, but... you may find better ways of
spending your time."

He stared out the window and rubbed his stringy black strands together like
prayer beads.

"Would you like some dates? I keep a few here... No?" She draped yet another
quilt over her lump of a hamper.

Jimmy watched as she drew a small dark fruit from something next to the
kettle. Auburn curls swirled about her as she stood and took a bite.

His attention returned to the chirping birds and bright green bushes outside.
He looked at the brown wooden branches and drifted back a few short minutes to
when he climaxed with her... and that moment of clarity when she confessed to
him. "I hope it's your son."

"Jimmy?" Melissa's head popped between the ragged curtains of the doorway. "I
thought I'd find you here. Hi Amber." Melissa stroked a lock of hair behind
her ear and walked in.

"Sorry," he said.

"Oh. Don't be. I hope I'm not barging in. I heard voices down the path. I just
wanted to know how you intend to spend your day. I'll wait for you at the
palace if you'd like. I just thought I'd stop by and see if you needed
anything or there was something I could do first..."

"Uh... I'd kind of like to bathe or go for a swim before breakfast. You think
the first girl would mind waiting at all?"

"She doesn't mind," Melissa grinned.

"You asked her already?"

"Oh. Did you forget?" she asked meekly. "Oh. You did. I'm next." Her lovely
bronzed head tilted and she curled back another lock of hair as it tried to
escape from her demure smile.

"Oh." He'd forgotten. He hadn't thought much about today.

"It's OK. I know you're really busy all the time. If you'd like I can- "

"No. That's fine. I- "

"Thanks, Jimmy." Amber patted him on the back. "I can get the rest."

"Are you sure? We made quite a mess last night."

Amber's cheeks captured some of the fading rose color of the dawn. "Go on and
enjoy yourself. It's always a mess around here." She saw the hesitation in his
featureless expression and pulled him in for a farewell kiss. "Please?" she
whispered, perking up and smiling. "Melissa's a sweet girl," she said,
pinching his cheek like a grandmother. "I'm sure she won't treat you the way
Julia did."

He finally grinned back.

Melissa's delicate shoulders relaxed. "Of course I won't," she said, snaking a
thin arm around his waist. "You don't have a wife to worry about with me."

"Who'll chase after the young ones if they spy on us?"

"Oh. Andrea's helping for that part of the day."

"Good. I like watching Andrea run."

"I know you do."

Melissa tugged at his toga, dragging him eagerly to the door, bottom first.
Jimmy waved good-bye sheepishly until Melissa grabbed that arm too.

Amber winked, chest heaving in surpressed laughter at the undignified way he
vanished from her day.

---

"Sorry I forgot about you."

Melissa kicked a stone from the dirt path.

"Think nothing of it. We probably come and go like the wind to you."

"You're a very sweet smelling breeze." Jimmy kissed her tanned knuckles.

"Thank you." Melissa smiled and swung their joined hands back and forth with
renewed energy.

Once or twice the giddiness broke out of its bottle and she tried to skip, but
she got too far ahead and had to stop before their fingers slipped apart.

She was so thin and athletic. And so giggly-girlish this morning. Her
anticipation and eagerness was giving him another hard on as they traveled.

Where exactly were they going? Wasn't this the trail to the beach?

"Would you like to do it in the ocean?" he asked.

"Do what?" she replied. "Oh," she said after a moment. "That." Her face got
serious.

"Would you prefer the palace?" he ventured.

"Please? If it's not too much- "

"Absolutely. It'll be nice to get into a wider bed again. My back hurts."

"Not too much, I hope..."

He pecked her cheek. "After you give me a massage I'll be fine."

"Great. I love the way the muscles in your back feel..."

They were getting a bit soft, though.

After a few minutes of winding through the trees and sand, they came to a
freshwater pool. Wasn't this the one Amber had taken him to that evening?

It was beautiful in the daylight.

---

"I'm a virgin."

"You mean you've never been with another... uh, person before?"

Melissa blushed. "Of course. It's just... I've been very careful about...
penetration."

"Saving yourself for marriage?"

The poor girl turned crimson. "No," she sputtered, eyes downcast "Just... just
you."

"Oh." He clasped her hand to his chest. "I'm very honored."

"Thanks..." She tossed her hair back and looked shyly at him. "I thought you
might not understand."

"I understand perfectly."

"Some of the other girls didn't."

He kissed her flustered cheek. "I'm not one of the other girls. It's very
special."

"Thanks."

"So how do you want- uh, is there some way you'd like to proceed?"

"I don't know. Whatever you usually do with virgins. Is it different?"

"You're my first, sweety." He kissed her again.

"Really?" The tan beauty smiled ear to ear.

"Absolutely... unless someone lied to me," he quipped.

"But you'd know, wouldn't you? Why would they do that?"

He snickered and tickled her until she giggled. "I don't know..." he replied.
"So... would it be easier with you on top?"

"Right now? But I'm not..." She frowned and threw her gaze over the bed. "OK."
She pushed on his chest with surprising strength and started to straddle his
hips.

Jimmy held her off.

"No." He turned the tables and pinned her to the mattress. "We have to warm up
first," he whispered with a kiss. "Don't we?" His feathery thumb rubbed on the
soft part of her side until she squirmed. "Unless you're ready to go without
me..."

"No..." Melissa giggled again as her legs spread wide for him. "I don't want
to go anywhere without you."

She kissed his cheek. Her hands spread out on his abdomen, tugging at his
hairs as they drifted upward to his face.

He chased her pinching fingers from his chest. "Please don't."

"Sure."

She locked her mitts around his neck and mixed her tongue with his, giggling
yet again as his head slipped through her grip.

---

"Eeee! Eeee! A child! Save me!"

"What!?!" Melissa burst out laughing. She peered past the flat fur between her
legs and followed his damp grin to an empty window.

Andrea's voice drifted through the bowels of the palace: "Nice try Jimmy."

"Just checking," he yelled.

He expected her to retort with something like "You don't need to see me
running again. Melissa ought to be enough." or "If you want me to watch, all
you have to do is ask."

But the hallways were silent.

Melissa sucked down half her lower lip, drowning her smile in anxiousness.
"Please?" she asked. "I'd prefer if it was just us..."

He laid a sloppy wet one on her knee. "Only joking, honey." Jimmy wiped his
mouth on the back of his hand, sending Melissa's longing arms up in the air.
With a kind wink, he collapsed on her thin frame. "Sure you want the bottom?"
he checked.

"Which way works better?"

He shrugged. "It's like eating crab one day and oysters the next. They're both
good."

"Well I only get one meal..." Her big brown eyes sighed as they gazed at him.
"What did Amber like?"

Jimmy cleared his throat. "Why don't you start on the top and... we'll have
dessert on the bottom if you like."

"Really?" she squeaked in delight.

"For you? Sure..." He rolled over and patted his stomach. "Take your time and
ease into it."

Melissa turned and hesitated as she watched his excited prick bob on his
tummy. "Will it hurt?" she whispered, contemplating the hard veins she'd never
touched before.

"I don't know. What do the other girls say?"

Her almond orbs pierced his own again. "They say it might."

The dark-haired girl mustered her courage and straddled him again, wetting the
thin hairs of his navel with her humid tuft.

"I'm sorry."

"Oh no." Melissa leaned back on her haunches and cupped his cheeks. "Don't be.
I want you to- I want it... Please. Have fun. I want you to enjoy me. I don't
think I could..." Her face knotted up. "... if you felt guilty... You know
what I mean?"

"I know." Jimmy squeezed her cheek back until her unpretentious smile
reappeared. "But I want you to forget about me for a minute, OK?" She frowned
at his request as he wrapped her hand around his throbbing erection. "Take it
slow and do it as comfortable as you can? Promise?"

She swallowed as her awkward young hands fumbled with the shaft, rubbing him
tantalizingly through her cleft as she searched for her vagina. Finally she
found the bull's eye.

Was it a part of her she'd forgotten until now? he wondered.

She giggled coyly as he stiffened in her fingers.

"I really..." She glanced down at the small, high curves that graced her
chest. "I really do all this to you? I excite you?"

"You're a very lovely woman."

He took a moment to drink in her slender form with her as she stared in wonder
at herself.

Her thin lower ribs gently rose and fell with each breath, highlighting her
lean form but revealing no hint at all of any emaciation. Their skin stretched
tight as a drum down over her broad flat stomach, curving inward like a smile
into her navel. Her modest B cups were broad and expansive, spilling out and
covering her chest with their short pancake forms. They had small dark nipples
that seemed to ride precociously high on her firm teenage bosom. Narrow, wide
bones spread out from her hips delicately like a butterfly. Long, soft ovals
filled her well-tapered rear and merged with fleshy but thin, long thighs.

Her large, dark pupils grew as they let her own form pass from sight and fell
softly across his body. Her slender neck straightened. "And you're very
handsome," she replied.

"Good... Now stop teasing me."

She tugged at his penis with added frustration, unable to get him where she
wanted.

Jimmy smiled and let out a short laugh. "I can't go anywhere, honey. It's all
up to you." The coy, questioning of her dark watery irises only made him throb
harder in her palm, which compounded her frustration. "Lower yourself gently
on me..." He caressed her face and brushed one of her nipples for
encouragement. "You do most of the work in this position, honey. Relax. You
have all of the control... that's it..."

The head of his organ slipped into her, slowly plying apart the walls of her
slick cylinder. In a sudden motion she plunged down around him.

She was so deliciously tight.

"Does it hurt at all?"

"No." Melissa brightened and vigorously shook her head, sending up a storm of
thick black hair as she bounced eagerly on him.

He felt something indescribable around his penis, something sudden he'd never
before felt in a woman's care and then, like she'd snapped her fingers, her
loins seemed even more receptive to him.

The joyous look on her face hadn't changed. Was it his imagination? He was
just as warm and snug as a moment ago. Was he anticipating something that
hadn't happened? Was that it?

She billowed with enthusiasm and pulled his hands to her athletic bosom.

Melissa bent forward and smothered him in kisses, bringing a brunette curtain
down around their wet embrace.

---

"I guess I should wash up now. Where's the- "

"No. I'll get it." Melissa hopped out of bed and bounded naked across the
marble floor.

"Aren't you supposed to lay back or something?"

"It doesn't matter to me. Either way I'd be happy, with or without a child."

"I thought the lottery's only for women who want one."

"Oh, I do. Maybe not immediately. But regardless, it's within my rights as a
virgin. Or it was," she beamed slyly.

The vase sloshed under her arm as she returned to bed.

"In that case, do you have an extra sponge?"

"Hm. Why?" Melissa placed it at the foot of the bed and searched around for
one.

"I thought I could give you a bath too."

"That's sweet," she sighed.

"Come on. Come over here. Let Andrea bring us one."

"Oh. Andrea's already left."

"She didn't stick around?"

"No... If any little children spy on us we can both run after them." Melissa
tugged at some of her dark pubes and tried to comb them out. "Speaking of
sticking around, you're not," she pouted. "What am I supposed to do when you
drip out?"

"How should I know?"

"Oh. I guess you wouldn't know yet." She cocked her head. "Haven't you ever
watched your lovers? What do they do?"

"Lately they've all been laying on their backs." He chuckled. "The other times
we've just drifted off to sleep together." Actually, he'd been too drunk most
of those other times to notice. The girl usually went in the bathroom and he
heard the toilet flush. Sometimes he passed out before then.  If he was lucky
enough. Poor Melissa would probably get confused again if he mentioned any of
that.

"Why don't we both go down to the pond for a bath?"

"The pond?" She blinked. "Oh there. It'll spill down my leg on the trip."

"Why don't you just lay back like all the others?"

"No. Then I won't be able to help you today."

"I can get- "

"No. I wanted to spend time with you. That's not selfish of me is it?"

"Not at all. Give me that cloth."

"This?" He dipped it in the water. "Oh. I guess I can use the other towel on
the wall to dry you."

"Don't worry about it." He handed the damp rag to her but she pushed it back
into his hands. "Don't you think you should learn to do it?"

"Why?" She shrugged. "For all I know it might be the only time I'm allowed."

"Sorry."

"I know." She sighed as he spread her legs back and dabbled at the
inexperienced girl with the cloth. "I would have liked to get married. Do you
think I would have made a good wife? Would I have made a man happy?"

"You made me happy."

"I know. But I'm too young for you probably. But when I'm older, if I were in
the real world, I'd like to think I could have met someone and taken care of
him."

"Sure you could. You're sweet and pretty and most men would fall all over
themselves for a girl like you."

"Really?"

"Really. There'd be no shortage of fellows willing to take very good care of
you."

"They do that?"

"Do what?"

"Take care of you? Men do?"

"Of course. It works both ways, doesn't it?"

"Oh."

Jimmy sat on his heals a moment and puzzled over her comments. He *was* being
kind of lazy on the island. Was she referring to that? It was his vacation,
but they didn't know that. Or did the men never have a chance to act like men
around here?

She gasped. "I'm a little sensitive right there."

"Sorry... Didn't anyone tell you what to expect? How to do all this yourself?"

"They said lie down. I guess I should have asked but I didn't want to let
anyone know."

"They'd be upset?"

"I don't know. You hear things." Melissa let her legs fall together and she
pranced across the room for the other towel, rubbing herself between the
thighs when she got ahold of it. She returned to him quickly, with a fresh,
gleeful expression on her face.

It was the same look she'd had when he came. He could hear it in his ears
again, the way she'd yelped happily when she sensed him going rigid above her.
He must have had that lover's scowl on his face but her boundless, girlish
charm just beamed back at him, showering affection on her first and perhaps
only male lover. There was something about that look, that twinkle in her eye
as her smile sucked down her lower lip... as if she wasn't only pleased with
him and the time and attention he'd spent on her but also delighted with
herself just as much, overjoyed with what her body had done for him and the
pleasure she'd given in return. Some... confidence- perhaps? Pride in her eye?

Would he ever understand her emotions about it?

It took her so long to disrobe... those long arousing seconds while he coaxed
her from her toga. Those shy, gangly long limbs that he encouraged with a soft
touch...

And now she darted around him with such assurance as she stroked his privates
clean. Had she changed so much in half an hour? Had he changed her so much?

"How does it feel to be a woman?"

"Wonderful. I'm so happy, even if it means I never have a chance to sleep with
another man."

"Not going to go gossiping about it are you?"

Her face paled as she washed his thigh. "Never," she shuddered.

His penis snaked out another inch as the shift in conversation made her timid
again... but she didn't notice with it tucked under her palm. "Your
girlfriend's gonna know when she peeks between your legs," he teased.

"Oh that. Sure. That's nothing. It's just sex. I'll be happy to talk about
*that*." Melissa kissed him on the cheek. "But I'll never say a word about
*you*," she whispered. "It was too beautiful to put into words anyway."

He pinched her fleshy hip. "I wouldn't want you spreading word around town
that I'm an easy lay. I have my standards..."

She giggled.

---

"Hi Clarissa. Nice to see you again. Your legs look lovely. Not falling down
anymore I hope?"

"Not yet," she grinned. "Here. I brought you some flowers."

Jimmy laughed. Had he said something to Amber about that last night? It didn't
take long for word to spread.

"Is something wrong?"

"No. You just surprised me. They're lovely. Are the same kind in your hair?"

"Yes." She pulled a stem out from the bunch and poked it at his ear.

"No, honey." He took the yellow bloom from her. "Men don't wear flowers."

"Oh. Sorry."

"But you'd look very beautiful with one more." He tucked it away in her
equally golden mane. "Can I keep the rest? They smell wonderful."

"Absolutely. Let me put them in this vase and they'll keep longer. Just change
the water every- "

"I know how to treat flowers," he quipped as he cupped her cheek.

"I bet you do," she purred, casually dropping them in his bath water. "I bet
you do..."

Her dress fell just as quickly.


"Is the world round?"

They sounded just like Amber's class. Yeah, Amber thought so too from the way
she smirked at him as she passed the bread.

"Yeah it's round," he replied.

"Really?" Linda asked, double-checking just to be safe. She glanced at the
ground again with that mild fear of rolling off still in her eyes.

"Really," he assured her. "The country I'm from is on the other side of the
globe. Or at least it was. I have no idea where the island is now." He dipped
the morsel in honey and took a bite. "Come to think of it, I guess your world
might as well be flat. You can't go around it."

"So does that mean your world is flat too now?"

"Flat? I wouldn't say flat so much though it's not round either." He grinned
as his eyes drifted down Linda's chest.  "More like filled with little hills.
Lots of little hills."

Amber giggled and poked him in the ribs.

Linda choked and spit up part of an apple while Melissa hit her on the back.
The half-dozen women at the table were red with laughter.

"Amber? Weren't you supposed to answer these questions for them last week?
Honestly. You don't teach these kids anything, do you?"

"No," she sighed. "They all think they're too smart for a little school."

"You'd think they'd want to go. It's the only other place on the island to
pick up boys."

Andrea spurted a little water through her nose but the other ladies fell
silent.

Linda cleared her throat. "Can you believe Hope's gone and gotten engaged to
Catherine? They only had their first date two weeks ago."

"It must be love at first sight."

"Huh?" Jimmy set his cup down and sighed. "Love at- No... I think I know
exactly what it is. I'll go talk with her."

"Why?"

"But Jimmy. It's too late. You've lost rights over her."

"Not if she rescinds."

Amber sat silently and finished her meal, seemingly unaffected by the change
in conversation.

"Maybe Catherine will let her stay on a while."

"Catherine?" someone snickered.

"We'll have to get him a new volunteer."

"Susan likes him."

"We *all* like him," the ladies giggled. Even Amber laughed lightly.

"She just misunderstood something I said," Jimmy told them. "I'll straighten
it out." He stroked Amber's forearm. She took a little long, Jimmy thought, to
look him in the eye. "I'll be back," he smiled. "Don't go making any plans
without me."

He stood and walked over to the corridor but then stopped and just stared at
the curtains.

"Want one of us to show you where she is?" Amber asked.

He heard giggling behind him.

"Yeah..." Jimmy turned. "Andrea? You finished yet?"

She shoved the remaining rump of bread between her lips. "Swurf," she
sputtered along with a couple of crumbs.

"But I'm- " Somebody kicked Melissa under the table.

Andrea and her breasts waddled to the door. "I think she's picking flowers not
far from here. If we can't find her, I'll go ask Catherine for you."

He waved good-bye. "I'll see you again in a bit so please stay and enjoy the
rest of the meal. If you can't, then I enjoyed the conversation as always."

They departed and were soon in the sunshine again.

---

"So are they really in love?"

"Who?" Andrea gave him a puzzled look, her eyes stabbing deep into his for a
moment.

"Hope and Catherine."

"Oh. Those two." Her attention turned to the path again. "I didn't think so.
Not until I heard about it."

"What do you know about the pair?"

Andrea shrugged. "I don't know them well at all. They're both very young.
Catherine's only come of age."

"Come of age?"

"She's seventeen. The age of consent."

"Consent? You mean sex?"

"Sex? She can do that whenever she wants. No. Consent is for marriage. We'd
allow it earlier but the new girls sometimes need a chance to readjust. It
wouldn't be fair otherwise."

"Is it unusual to get married so young?"

Andrea shrugged again and pointed in the distance. "There's the field. Should
I come with you?"

"I think I remember what she looks like."

"OK," she laughed. "I like you. You're a funny one."

"Funny, huh? Do me a favor and ask Amber... uh, I'd like to talk to her...
tonight if she's not too busy."

"You like her, don't you?" Jimmy cocked an eyebrow. "No. I'm happy for you
two, if that's what it is."

"You wouldn't be jealous?"

Andrea grasped the front of his toga and tugged it up and down. "No. I like
you very much. Whatever makes you happy makes me happy."

"I like you very much too. And I do find you quite attractive."

"I know." She kissed him. "But there wasn't that spark, was there? When we had
sex?"

The wrinkles in his brow relaxed. "We could go looking for it again."

"I'd like to," she laughed. "It was the most fun I've ever had in bed." Her
eyes dropped to the rich brown earth. "And if you picked me I'm sure we'd be
very happy. But I'd be glad just to have you as a friend if that's how it
turns out. Sex is just sex, you know? If you find that spark, grab on and see
what it turns into."

He kissed her on the cheek. "You already have me as a friend..." He worked a
hand between her large, yielding bosom. "You give all your friends such big
erections?"

"Stop!" she giggled. She yanked his hand away and spun him around. "Now go on.
Fix Hope's love life."

Andrea pushed him toward the multicolored fields and walked back toward the
palace.

Jimmy wandered through the rows of lovely young women picking at the variety
of herbs and flowers until he stumbled across Hope.

He touched her on the shoulder. "Hey, Hope."

"Oh!" She shot up at the sound of the deeper voice, spilling her basket over
the tall grasses. "You scared me."

"I just heard the wonderful news. I thought I'd come and congratulate you."

"Thanks." She kissed him on each cheek. "You're invited of course. We plan a
public ceremony and everything."

"Is Catherine around? Can I meet her?"

"No. I don't know where she is right now."

"Oh. Maybe later then." Jimmy spied the trail again in the distance. "I can't
quite remember my way back." He scratched his smooth cheek. "The area's still
unfamiliar. Could you do me one last favor as a volunteer and show me the way?
I don't think it takes more than ten minutes."

"Sure." He bent down to help her re-collect her flowers. The other smiling
girls looked on from the corners of their eyes.

---

"Huh?" Jimmy rolled over in the warm afternoon air. She'd finally said
something besides "hello" and "lick it?".

"I hope you read the paper a lot," she repeated.

Read. Past tense. "Why?"

"Man, because after they pump you, they'll pump you again for everything going
on in the outside world. They'll ask you about books, movies, songs, world
events, you name it. The more you can remember... well, you can keep them
entertained for years at dinner."

Them? "You sound like you know from personal experience. I know I'm not
supposed to ask that- "

"Don't tell my wife I told you but yeah I used to be a guy like yourself."

"Really?"

He looked at the woman reclining beside him. Her beautiful fair skin was quite
sexy for a lady nearing forty. For any lady.

And she'd been a he? Like him? Was that why she wanted to get out of the
palace? Bad memories?

She reached out with her delicate, long nails and shook his hand.

"Doug. Doug from California. Didn't want to freak you out earlier and ruin a
good fuck."

"Doug? The surfer?"

"The same. Or used to be. Got washed out on my board. Wound up here in the mid
'70s. Call me Rachel now. It's my name... I know. You're thinking what the
hell is all that about?" She sighed. "I really am a woman. I don't mind guys
and I sure don't mind women... Yeah, the old Doug's still there and now
there's something new. You... you just have to go through it to understand."

She hadn't been much for conversation until now, though she'd been quite
enthusiastic about everything else. And now she was practically babbling like
a beach bunny.

Her movements were so odd. They had a strange matronly grace about them,
coupled together with a kind of casualness. She resembled one of those women
in the old black and white films you wanted to light a cigarette for. In fact,
she looked positively out of place without one in the hand she draped over the
bed's edge.

And she was telling him yet again he wouldn't understand...

"Is it that bad?" Jimmy asked.

"Nah. Once you get past periods... It's kind of funny in my case, actually. I
was an obgyn man myself. Or I was going to be. Was in my last year of medical
school when this happened. They have me help around here a lot in deliveries.
Never thought I'd be dilating myself, though." She laughed lightly and patted
her tummy. "Wish I had the tools to do in vitro fertilization but it's not so
bad." She sighed. "Buuuuuut even if I did it wouldn't really solve anything.
Your pecker would be gone at the end of the month anyway. Might as well fuck
his brains out to take his mind off it." She leaned forward and inspected her
crotch. "Ah. You wouldn't get this much pussy in the course of a normal
lifetime anyway," she said off-hand, pulling her short hairs up by the roots
before she placed another pillow under her hips.

"I get the feeling I'm not supposed to ask what people used to be or how the
curse affected them."

"I don't mind."

"And others?"

"Well... even after you're no longer an outsider, for some people it's still a
bit personal." Her butt squirmed again as the cinematic beauty scratched
herself. "Rule number one is that we're all women. Like we'd been born that
way. In your case it will take some getting used to. Learning how to pee again
and all that." Her hands waved in the air and she fell into a whisper. "God
I'd like not to have to squat anymore. Or just have a commode, you know?" Her
voice shot up again and she turned to look at him. "It'll feel normal, of
course. You'll be a full woman... but it's sort of like you've got someone
else's memories. Anyway, when you are a chick you'll be an islander and you
can find out whatever's common knowledge about someone. You'll find there are
lots of different women, just like men.  Some prefer you don't ask and are
private about it but, quite frankly, they'll let you and me get away with
murder if we want." Her limp wrist fell across her full bosom again.
"Strange... before the change Doug... I'd made... had all these ideas and then
never wanted to take advantage of the situation. Oh well... not much to take
advantage of on this island anyway. Funny enough... it was me who was
uncomfortable with a threesome. Imagine that..." Her mind wandered off a
moment. "It's funny, you know. At least you and I had a taste of the normal
life. They're the ones who have it really bad. Straight sex maybe once or
twice. And yet they're the ones most... They're quite embarrassed about it, I
think. Like it's them doing something. Three thousand years and they still
aren't comfortable approaching it." She sighed. "Boy. What a way to go cold
turkey that was..."

"It doesn't seem like the most appealing way to spend the rest of your life."

"You kidding? Hell, it was a blessing for me. I was so high when I went out
that night on the waves, I thought I'd drown for sure. The sex? Anh." She
shrugged. "If I miss anything, it's surfing. These boobs are too big and the
waves are never- "

"You were intoxicated too? Huh. I was drunk. You think it's got something to
do with lonely, drunken sailors?"

"Not just sailors. Anyone at sea. You should go talk to the old woman on the
hill." Rachel knitted her brow. "Maybe it's booze," she hummed to herself. "I
never really thought about it. What good would figuring it out do? How would
you warn people?"

"I don't know. Put a message in a bottle?"

"Why? We never pop up in the same place and once you see that fire- " she
snapped her fingers- "that's it."

"I guess you're right."

He thought about the less than three weeks he had before the ax fell.

"Is it like Doug's dead? What exactly happened to you? Am I going to- ?"

"No. It's not like dying. It's kind of like another weird puberty. I don't
know how else to put it..." She pulled a flower from her hair and began
chewing on the stem. "It's not like I wasn't ever him. It's been more than
fifteen years. Some of the women say that's just a natural feeling toward the
past... but... he's a little more disconnected than that. Like a distant
husband I once knew... I once was intimate with and shared my life... but he's
gone now.... or I've been reborn... maybe I'm his sister? And yet he's still
there and still me and I haven't changed at all.... I don't know how to put it
into words. I've tried. I'm not him and yet I was. And large bits still are...
It's like sharing a home with someone who's never there." She patted him on
the wrist. "Don't worry. It doesn't haunt me and it won't haunt you. It's like
a shadow that casts itself over your thoughts now and again.... I suspect the
part that doesn't change you can't notice..."

"Is that what all the former men say?"

"Former? Oh. They aren't really former." She sighed. "I know. It's hard to
understand... Sorry to pour it all out on you like that but I've spent years
thinking about it. We all do."

"How many others are there?"

"How many? Let's see. Five years ago there was the Spaniard. I don't think
you've met her yet. She has a child already. There was me ten or eleven years
before her. I lose count. After that... no, she's dead. Before me it was
thirty years. Usually the drought lasts quite a while. If they keep coming at
this pace, some of the women might have to quit having sex just to keep the
population in check."

"That would suck."

Rachel laughed heartily. "That's probably what they'd do." She turned the stem
over in her mouth. "Jeez. They were so fucking hard to talk into a blow job.
Are they still that way?"

He shrugged.

"I'll give you another if you like. Was it good?" Jimmy nodded. "Good. I can
still sort of remember what it feels like if I concentrate. I'd like to think
it gives me an edge over the other ladies in that department."

"Can I ask you something?"

"Sure, Jimmy." She spit the crumpled stem out and stole another from her hair.

"I think I asked a girl something that upset her. I'm not sure."

"You asked her in bed if she used to be a guy and she got pissed?" Rachel
laughed. "Yeah. Been there done that." She sighed and inspected her sticky
privates again. "You hate having to ask them stuff too but sometimes they just
won't spit it out."

"Exactly. She was explaining about my right to choose and- "

"Oh. That's much different."

"Huh?"

"She wanted you to pick her?"

"Yes. She said as much when- "

"She must have liked you to let you do that. They're not supposed to bring it
up... You like her too?"

"Very much."

"Well why did you ask her that, then? I mean sex is one thing... You think
you'd be more attracted to her if she'd always been a real woman? I mean, how
would you feel about your wife being attracted to another woman after the new
moon? You think she's some kind of hidden man-hater? A lesbian who was just
waiting to jump you in your new vulnerable state?... Or what if she'd been
screwed over like me and washed up as some man on this fucking island? You
think she's some pervert for taking advantage of you as a woman? Or if she'd
been born a boy... you going to pity her for what she'd lost and never had?"
Rachel put a soft hand on his shoulder. "Sorry. Now that I'm in the position
it pisses me off too. Shit it can give you a headache if you let it." She
sighed. "I know you don't necessarily think all that but it did rush through
your head at that moment, didn't it? And she knew it. It does you credit you
worry how she thinks about you and why... but I'll tell you this as a friend.
You gotta give all that up. It has no meaning here. It'll give you nothing but
pain... We're all women. We're all exactly what we look like. And it's not a
terrible thing by itself. Most of us are happy and have managed to fall in
love with one another." Rachel shrugged. "But some haven't. If you stumble on
it, then treasure it. Don't question a gift like that in this kind of place."
Jimmy sat up in bed. "Sorry. Don't mean to run you off."

"Nah. I liked talking to you."

"You like her, don't you?"

"Yeah, I do. I think I do." He sighed and searched for his sandals. "Why don't
you come by the palace and visit sometime? You can meet her. Come to think of
it, why didn't I meet you earlier?"

"What do you want me to do? Fawn all over you and suck your dick?" She pinched
him. "Didn't I just do that?"

"No. I meant- "

"I'm getting on in years, babe. I guess I'm about thirty-eight or thirty-nine
but I've got closer to fifty years of memories up here." She tapped her head.
"I just don't get as excited about it as I used to. Been queer too long I
guess." She turned and kissed him. "No, really. You were great, sweety. I'd
love to chat sometime. I just didn't want to drop a heavy load on you all at
once. That first week's the most fun. You get to be a kid again. And what a
candy store. Pussy, pussy, pussy. Everywhere pussy." Her lips puckered and
wandered around in some strange dance, like they were greeting invisible
strangers. "Only after five or six days do you want to start doing other
stuff. If I'd popped in earlier, you'd have caught my accent for sure and it
would have spoiled things." She put her hands under her butt. "It's why I kept
my mouth shut (or filled)"- she grinned, "when you came over." Rachel kicked
her legs over her head and rested them against the mud-brick walls. "That
won't work," she muttered, red-faced. She turned a half-circle on the bed and
then worked her heels up the wall, flashing him an upside-down look of pride
as her head filled with blood. "Much better." She wiggled her legs back and
forth, in and out of a split.

It gave him a lovely view of certain parts. Could any of the other girls do
that?

"What's that for?"

"You're little thing there didn't deposit your whole load very close to my
cervix. I've got to stand on my head to get it all in... I hate it when it
drips," she whispered. "Looks sexy as hell but it tickles you to death."

"Isn't there an easier way to do it?"

"Sorry. I'm a doctor, not a physicist... and I kinda like the rush."

Jimmy chuckled and yanked on his shrinking member. "They say I'll have to do
that someday."

"Yeah. Maybe."

He sighed at the gleaming slit that held his attention like a hypnotist.
"Pussy pussy pussy," he fired out, doing his best to imitate her enthusiasm.
Rachel laughed. "You miss it being married?"

"If I were a guy I would...." She thought on it a moment. "Well maybe not. I
don't know. I've never been married as a guy. I love my wife of course..." She
smiled. "There's certainly no shortage of pussy in the bedroom," she laughed.
"One to lick and two to run my fingers through." She pointed to his genitals.
"I miss *that*. I'd like to have one sinking in me every night but, oh well."
She shrugged. "I finally have a lifetime supply of pussy. That's marriage for
you." Her cheeks were positively crimson now.  "Ah!" she cracked. "Life
changes when you get older, kid. Seeing the same one every night isn't such a
bother. You won't miss the variety, I bet... but if you do, I'm sure whoever
you pick'll let you run around on her. They're extra nice to us."

Her creamy breasts took on a wonderful glow in their interesting new shape.
They pooled like two giant nose cones under her chin and quivered delicately
while she breathed.

"Well.... as sexy as you look like that- you don't mind me saying that do
you?"

"Not at all. I take it as a compliment."

"Well as sexy as you look, I'd better be going."

"Hey. Thanks again for the thorough screwing. You don't know how long it's
been," she sighed. "I really needed a good, straight fuck. You were fantastic.
Let me know if I can ever do you any favors... Oh. And if you've found someone
special, spend as much time as you can with her. You'll treasure it." He gave
her a sideways glance from the door, stopped and cocked his head. "Yeah. Even
sex. I know she'll object but no one will know. Wait until everyone goes to
bed."

"Was that how your wife got twins?"

Rachel winked.

---

"Um. Did you... you... Someone said you don't mind more than one woman at a
time. Is that right?"

"Yeah. Why?" He pinched Melissa's bottom. "You want to join the next batch?"

"No. I have other arrangements for tonight... Unless you want me to change
them."

"Not at all. It must be fun getting to have all that teenage sex whenever you
want and not having to worry about getting pregnant."

"Fun?" The final word tripped her up.

"Uh never mind. So who's next?"

"That's what I wanted to ask you. Ellen is. She was wondering if her wife
Lydia could come along for fun."

"Sure. I like an extra face. I haven't had that much fun since Francesca's."

"Oh they're a little different than that couple but I'll send them in."

"Thanks. You can skip off if you want."

"No. I'll hang around a bit." Melissa parted the curtains. "You can both come
in." She disappeared between the pair as they emerged from the shadows.

Two brunettes, both naked. Both lovely as always.

Was he getting a bit jaded?

The one with the D cups stepped forward, with a gleam on her bald crotch. Her
slightly less endowed companion remained near the door.

"We were warming up in the hall. We didn't know if you'd say yes or not."

"Well, yes."

"Huh?"

"I said yes. Come on in."

He waved at the other girl, but she just stood there as her girlfriend pulled
him to bed.

"I'm guessing you're Ellen?"

"Mmm." She kissed him. "Yes."

"Is Lydia going to join us."

"Yes. She doesn't want a child of her own, though. Would you please not poke
your thing in her? Just to be safe?"

"Sure." What could he do with her then? "Is she going to stand over there and
watch or something?"

"No." Ellen waved her on. "So this is it, huh?" She stroked his semi-erect
cock. "I just rub it until it goes off?"

"Something like that."

"So this is the big difference?"

"I guess."

"Can I look it over? Do you mind? I've never seen one before."

"Not even a little boy's?"

"Well sure," Lydia said. "But not... you know," she said, flustered.

"Want to suck on it?"

"Mmm. Not really."

Sigh. Rachel was right.

"Want me to suck on you?"

"No. Lydia will manage."

Lydia frowned. "You're not ready *yet*?"

"No. I only came once."

"You don't need to come at all."

"They said he likes watching it."

"I thought that's what I was for."

"Ladies, ladies. Can we... get down to some serious sex here or what? In the
interests of diplomacy, why don't you both lick each other?"

"At the same time?" "Great."

"No. Ellen, you get on top."

"Why?"

He wagged his hardening erection at her. "Because you're easier to get to up
there."

"Oh. I keep forgetting about that part. Yes of course. Whatever's better for
you... can you see Lydia well from there? Should I move my head over more?..."

Her tongue flailed through her lover's parted snatch. Lydia's pink fin
fluttered back and forth a moment before splitting in two and opening like
petals.

"That's perfect," he replied.

"Ooo," she squeaked. "I guess I *am* ready."

"You're right honey." Lydia's breath tickled his balls. "It is a lovely
view... Is it as good as they say?"

"Ssshleph. Yes dear, it is. But I... unh... can't talk right now and keep both
of you... unh... pleased... unh... unh..."

"Sorry."

---

Amber scooped the flowers up and straightened them. The blue vase that she set
in the window contrasted nicely with the setting sun.

"Someone brought them by this morning. She tried to put one in my hair."

"She didn't mean anything by it," Amber said, stroking one of the long stems.
"It's just courting ritual."

"Didn't mean anything?" Jimmy laughed. "Anyway, they'd look much better on
you..."

"Yellow's not my color."

"You don't like it? I think it's lovely."

"No. It's a pretty shade. I just don't wear it well."

"You're wrong," he said, pulling another green stem from the vase. "You wear
every color well... What? Upset I'm cheap enough to pass off another girl's
gift on you?"

"No."

She smiled as he worked one into her curls.

"Would you like to stay tonight?"

She clasped the hand stroking her cheek. "Are you ready to choose yet?"

"Choose...?"

"The one you want... I'm not asking you to. It's just that we spent so much
time together yesterday and since you're not sure... You might want to visit
with other women so you can find out. Andrea likes you very much. And so does
Linda. All your volunteers."

"If I asked you to spend the night again, would you stay?"

"Of course."

"You want to?"

"Yes." She kissed him.

"I wouldn't have to choose?"

"Not at all. I just thought... it would, you know, help you make a decision...
if you want to make one. The other girls really like you. You should enjoy
your time with them." She slid a finger along the soft stem in her hair. "If
you pick me we'll have the rest of our lives together. But if you want only me
for tonight, I'd be honored, nonetheless. It's completely up to you. It's not
like it's sex or something. We're just sharing a bed." She stuttered a moment
and her eyes wobbled. "I'm not being this way because of what you asked
earlier. I'm not mad at you about last night. In fact, it was very sweet. I'll
always treasure it." Amber kissed his hand. "I just thought I'd mention it
since we've been together so much. You shouldn't feel rushed and you should...
well, get to know all the others better too." She sighed. "You know what I'm
saying?"

"Sure." He cupped the back of her neck and watched the sun's final rays
flicker in her equally red hair. "Stay the night."

"OK."

He kissed the fingers on his cheek. "Which bed do you like better? Yours or
the palace's?"

"Oh. This one. It's the biggest on the island."

"And it's my mess to clean up." She smiled but didn't laugh. "You're so
serious when we're alone together like this."

"I'm not," she protested mildly.

"What is it, then?"

"It's how I feel."

"How is that?"

Amber watched his face in silence a moment, then let out a sigh and turned her
back to stare at the setting sun with him, pulling his arms around her waist
and nuzzling his shoulder.

"Passionate."

He looked at the hints of distant angry sea with her.

"Not romantic?" he asked.

"All of it... mmmm." She was quiet again. "Don't tell anyone but I brought a
calfskin blanket for us. They don't- Ow!" She jumped in his arms but kept her
eyes glued to the sunset. "What was that for?"

"Your excuses are getting pretty flimsy. You planned for this..."

"I know," she snickered. "I know." She stroked the thinning hairs on his
forearm.  "I'm trying to be a good friend to everyone."

"You have to be true to yourself before you can be true to others."

She pinched him back. "I'm here, aren't I?"

---

Amber yawned and stretched her arms toward the dawn sky.

"What are you doing, love?"

"Looking for some fishing wire. I know I left it in here somewhere. Ah.
There're the gloves. That'll help. And there's the spool."

"You could use a net if you'd like. One of the fisherwomen will loan you one
I'm sure."

"No. I'd rather- There's a lure. I thought I'd lost that... I could use some
bait, though." He was a bit curious to see if he could cast without a rod. And
nets just weren't very sporting. "Why's this junk still under the bed anyway?"

"It's yours. Where would you like it?"

"Mine, huh? How generous. Do I give it up after the new moon too?"

"No. It's yours forever... well, what's left is."

"What's left?" Jimmy asked, looking over the crate again. There *were* some
missing items. A lot, when he thought about what he'd had on his boat. What
had they shown him that night, though? It was all so vague. And he wasn't in
the mood to go fishing through his last tenuous threads to the outside world
again. "What's gone? I can't remember."

"Some items were appropriated for the good of the village."

"Like what?"

"Well. If you don't miss them, why are you worried?"

"You say the same thing about next month," he huffed. "Come on, don't you
think you've taken enough of my stuff?" He patted his crotch.

"Please. You're being well-compensated for your donations, don't you think?
And I said they'd loan you a net." Amber yawned again. "Are you going out this
early?"

"I don't know. Where's my little elf for the day?"

"Elf? I don't know that word."

"Santa's little helper. My knight in shining armor."

"Huh? Your volunteer?"

"Yeah."

"It's me, I think." She blinked at the shadows of night still lingering in the
woods. "Yes. It is me. This is one morning I'm actually *supposed* to be
here." Jimmy shoved the crate back under the bed with a clatter and chewed at
the end of the clear wire like dental floss. "Is something wrong?"

"My chest is killing me. Can you do anything?"

"Wellll... I'd like to say I'm sorry but I can't. I'm not supposed to."

Jimmy looked over to find her grinning and returned the smile. "See? I knew
you had a sense of humor about it somewhere in there." He put the twine down
on the bed and sighed. "My hips hurt again too. I'm getting fucked up, aren't
I?"

"I think you're still handsome."

"Yeah?" What did she know? He sighed again. They kept telling him not to look
in any mirrors... "Am I going to be bitchy all morning too?"

"It goes with the tits..." she cracked. "Some wine or sex should clear it up.
You'll feel it one or two mornings more then it'll be gone." She kissed him on
the neck and began to massage his nipples. "There's an old dock out about half
a mile from here. Nobody goes there but they say the fishing's good. I'll take
you and leave you with a little wine. You'll feel better in an hour or two and
you can come back up. Or I can send her down to you." She stroked his
erection. "Unless you don't want to waste this. I can get her now..."

---

"You have an interesting way of casting a line. Did you catch much with it?"

"A sunburn." Jimmy rubbed the abused skin under his long sleeves, wishing he
had taken Amber's fashion advice earlier. Her it gave freckles. Him it cooked.

Enough with the baking jokes, already. He should have said his name was
Schwartz when he arrived. Let them fuck with a name like that. His Jewish
officemate would get a kick out of it.

'Interesting,' huh? The queen thought his cast was 'interesting?' That's how
she put it? He probably looked like a plastered cowboy trying to lasso his own
foot...

"It will disappear tomorrow."

Huh? Oh she's still talking about the sunburn...

Lucia put up a protective hand to the afternoon sun and walked closer along
the sandy shore. "Was it better from the other dock?"

Jimmy gazed at the three nondescript, rather smallish silver-scaled creatures
by his knee and then at the bulging nets of the three boats still out near the
reef. "It was for me," he said nonchalantly.

Maybe he should try her spear idea.

Once that popping noise quit in his hip socket...

The Queen stopped and watched the seagulls circling the boats. "Where's
Amber?" she asked, eyes still off in the sky.

"She's around here somewhere. Poor girl promised to clean whatever I caught. I
think that's why she's been scaring the fish off all day."

He heard a few giggles in the distance.

Jimmy pulled the line in and looped it up again, then tossed it out like an
inept cat burglar trying to scale a building in the wrong direction.

Damn these hot gloves. It was either sweat up a storm or cut up his hands.

"I would offer you a spear but you can't seem to hit anything with it."

"Nothing important, anyway."

More laughter from the background.

He looked to see Lucia squinting back at him. The afternoon was turning out to
be pretty enjoyable after all.

"I have some rocks here. Perhaps you could just stun them and jump in after
them. I'm sure you would catch more."

He yanked the line back up. "Careful or I'll wrap you up in this crap along
with me."

"I doubt you could even get it this far. Regardless, you would probably throw
the wrong end again."

Jimmy sighed.

"Why is it none of the other ladies complained about my aim?" Snickering broke
out all around him. "If I, uh, fished in the wrong hole I'll be happy to try
again... but I must say that would be more your fault than mine."

Every woman within earshot collapsed in hilarity.

"We'll see," Lucia muttered with a hard smirk on her face. "You know," she
shouted, "one would think you would have had your fill of fish by now."

"If I'd caught what you did, maybe I wouldn't be hanging around the docks
looking for more." He reeled the twine back. "Why *are* you here? Watching my
technique just in case?"

"Do you see any fish in my hands?"

"No. But then you're short a spear too."

That did it. Now she was scowling.

"I can get one," she threatened.

"Well no one would definitely complain about your aim."

"You're damned right."

"More like effectiveness, maybe." He looked for her reaction as he prepared to
cast again. "Uh... pardon me, Lucia. I know the smokehouse is supposed to
smoke but is the barn next to it?"

"What?"

She didn't get that one.

"Behind you," he pointed out. "It's not a joke."

"Alarm! Alarm! Fire!" "Find all the children!"

Jimmy dropped his line. Was there a bucket anywhere?

He looked at the long robe Amber had given him to cover his legs and then at
the deep, rolling green washing by under foot. He ran for shore, pounding the
rickety old boards in the pier, then swerved and hopped in with about twenty
feet left.

He sloshed to dry land, making sure to keep hold of his sandals as he ran into
the throng gathering around the source of panicked squeals. Amber stood close
to the smoking doorway with a sash wrapped around her mouth.

"Is anyone inside?" he asked.

"Lucia's gone inside for the butcher. It's possible a child or two."

He ripped the fabric from her hands and pushed her back. "Get as much water up
here as- "

"We're already starting."

Lucia's blackened face appeared coughing in the doorway. "I couldn't find
anyone but I think there's someone in there."

Amber beat the sporadic flames out of her toga while Jimmy wrapped the fabric
around his face and tied it in a knot. He took the first bucket of water to
arrive, tossed half of it in the window and doused himself with the rest.

Hands immediately tore at his clothing.

"Noooo!" the crowd screamed. "Don't let him go!" "Stop him!" "Please don't!"

Somebody pulled them away and he crouched down in the smoke filled portal.

He could see about six inches from the ground but it didn't do much good. He
hadn't been in this building before.

The damn women were still outside yelling at him and cursing. It was hard to
hear anything.

He crawled toward the wall in front of him.

"Jimmy? Jimmy? Go to your left. That's probably where she'll be. The pens are
on your right."

Left. OK. He turned and found a doorway.

Uf. Something knocked him over. Something with four legs.

There were pigs everywhere. The squeals filled his ears.

He pushed them as far toward the daylight as he could.

At least it looked like daylight. It was getting hard to think. It could be
something else couldn't it?

What was that around the corner? He grabbed a leg. Did he hear a woman's
voice? He saw spots.

It was hot.

He needed to leave.

He stumbled, coughing, back into the day. He yanked at the mask on his head
until it slowly unraveled.

"Ugh. You saved half a pig."

"What?" He dropped the carcass. "Wrap me up again and douse me. I heard a
voice."

He watched the all-to-surreal scene while hands soaked him down. If he could
only laugh. Lucia darted about in the buff, breasts jiggling wildly as she
chased after two of the flaming pigs with her ruined toga as a net.

"Just smash it with a rock..." "Use the wineskins..." "Is the butcher asleep
again?" "I can't find her..."

The Queen managed to pin one of the poor sows and someone clubbed it until it
stopped twitching. Blood splattered on her grimacing face.

Suddenly the image was gone.

The world disappeared in a narrow slit again. Someone was pushing him into the
billowing black curtain. He had to find that voice.

A dead goat.

He'd come back for it.

There was that room again.

His hands and knees were getting hot. He heard more female voices this time.
They were frantic.

There was nothing in this room. Unless she might be in that chair.

He knocked it over.

No.

The pens maybe?

He crept back toward the door and heard a dozen voices yelling, "Come out!"

Lucia was dressed again, down on the ground and pulling the dead goat away.
"That's all," she said, waving him on.

He stood in the late afternoon sun again and felt a dozen hands beating at
him. What were they so pissed about?

Shit. He was smoking.

He pulled the damn thing off and rolled around in the sand and salty mud.

Someone soaked him with a wayward bucket. The sea water stung. Fingers started
brushing away the grime but he pushed them back. "I'm fine. Help someone
else."

He sank back to the earth and stared at the figures towering over him who
rushed by against the blue and white sky.

The Queen's charcoal-colored cheeks came into view.

"I was wondering when I'd get to see those- cough- wonderful breasts again."

Lucia chuckled. "You must like pork." She reclined next to him, quite naked
once more.

"Who needs fish when you can have pork?"

"Indeed."

"They find everyone?"

Lucia pointed to a gray haired woman with a well-worn bosom.

"Yes. Someone fell asleep and we couldn't find her. All the children are fine.
There's no one inside."

"You saved the goat, I see."

"Yes, thank Zeus. She was only passed out." The queen sighed and then her
heavy breasts shuddered with coughing. She spit something up before turning
again to Jimmy. "Aren't you a baker? Aren't you supposed wait until things are
fully cooked?" He shrugged. "It was just swine. I could have seen to it."

"I didn't know. I though I heard a..." He rested his head on the ground and
chuckled at her. "I like your new fashion."

"I have a lot of sewing to do," she sighed. "I hate sewing. I think I'll go
without for the next few days."

Jimmy twisted his sunburned neck in its mushy cradle and noticed the crisp
brown ends of her hair. "Changing your hair style too?"

Lucia smirked. "Lost the rest of yours I see." She patted his chest and the
puffy nipples trembled sweetly.

"Huh?" He looked down.

It was gone.

He took a last deep gasp and peered at the gray sky.

"What a day..."

At least nothing was hurting right now. It would when the adrenaline wore off.

He tried to catch his breath and sit up again but before he knew it he was
surrounded by beautiful, if grimy faces. For a moment they looked like the
shell-shocked veterans of a Miss America bake-off gone awry.

His chuckles descended into dry hacks.

Amber threw a blanket over him. The hills of rumpled fabric still smoldered in
parts like a prehistoric mountain range.

The women blinked several times, like judges contemplating his fate. And then
they opened on him like floodgates.

"You shouldn't have gone in." "We could handle it." "Lucia would have been
fine on her own." "What if you'd- " "That would be horrible- " "What would we
do?"

"Gee, thanks."

The Queen just laughed and patted him on the thigh. Jimmy rose on his elbows.

A steady drizzle began to fall.

"Figures," he whispered.

The crowd broke up and Amber came into view again with Andrea at her side.

"Come on," Andrea said. "Let's get you out of here and take care of those
burns."

Julia and some woman he didn't recognize stood in front of him with a giant
plastic paint bucket, tipped and dripping in his direction.

He pointed a chiding finger at them. "No more salt water."

The pair turned and stumbled off toward the barn, shoulder to shoulder, sunken
together by the weight of the liquid like two lovers meeting across a table.

He crawled upright and coughed, doing his best to fix the blanket around his
waist. Amber and Andrea positioned themselves under each arm until he slumped
down on them.

He felt more tired than he ought to. Was it the smoke?

"I guess that was pretty useless and stupid of me."

"No," Amber said. "It was brave." Two hands spread across his back and locked
together. "Someone could have been trapped. It's what you were supposed to do,
isn't it?" She paused a moment before starting him up the path.

"What do you think Andrea?"

Andrea just laughed like she usually did. "I think Dahlia doesn't know whether
to bless or curse you. You keep showing her wife up." Amber joined her in
laughter. "I bet the Queen wishes she'd waited much longer in the lottery."

"We all do," Amber sighed.

---

"They're almost gone. I didn't believe Lucia when she said it."

"I told you the medicine was powerful. We've had fires before."

"Is she still wandering the palace naked?"

Jimmy rubbed his neck. The sunburn was almost gone too. Was it the magic? The
soreness in other places was definitely back. And his cough was still strong
even though Lucia was fine.

"No. She's dressed now. Something happened this morning. I think she and
Dahlia had an argument about it. I'm not sure, though. Dahlia was naked too
and now they're both clothed again." Amber shrugged. "It's not unusual. You'll
see more naked women in the coming months."

"Even more?!" His jaw dropped open.

"It won't have quite the same effect," she replied sarcastically. "That's why
we restrain ourselves more when there are men around and boys of age. It's a
tease."

"Really? And with Linda? It doesn't tease her?"

"Yes. But as I said, she isn't affected quite the same."

He put a finger up from his crotch, cocked his thumb back like a trigger and
made a gun noise. Amber just giggled. She still didn't know what guns were but
she understood everything else.

"Did you like meeting Rachel the other day?"

"Yeah, I did."

"She said you had a good talk."

"She's, uh, she's unique."

"She is. She wants to come over sometime and have dinner if you'd like. Just
the two of you. And later with her wife and others if you want."

"Care to join us?"

"Sure. She's a bit outrageous at times but I guess you already know that."
Amber frowned as several instances came to mind. "You know the Queen lets her
look at every woman's private parts at least once?... but when she does then
she pokes you and it's not any fun. Why? It's uncomfortable and kind of rude."
Jimmy chuckled. "I guess it's OK. Doug did father thirty-three children. I
wonder what her wife puts up with, though." She arched a curious eyebrow to
her amused companion. "You won't ask to do that will you?"

"No, honey. She's a doctor. She does that to check on everyone's health."

"But it's always the same. We don't have those sorts of problems." Wrinkles
formed in Amber's forehead. "She's an excellent midwife but... the other
stuff's not appropriate. And with pregnant women I heard she sometimes... oh
forget it."

"It's a normal part of being a woman on the outside."

"Women do that to each other?"

"No. It's how we look after their health. No one's protected by magic in the
real world."

"Oh. She says that but it never really registered until I saw how much you
coughed. And that sunburn. Is it better now?"

"Almost gone. Say... Rachel said something about an old woman living up on the
hill. You know anything about that? It's the only place I haven't seen yet."

"Miranda? The poor woman. We should have given her a new name after she
arrived... The view's lovely, though. It's easy to see why she stays up there.
I'll send you with Hope. She sometimes takes provisions to her. It's her day
anyway... such a shame about her engagement."

"Yeah. Terrible... What? Not going to ask what happened?"

"No."

"Aren't you curious?"

"I'm not that nosy. I know you and she had a mix up. I think it's probably her
fault but for some reason you're doing your best so it doesn't look that way.
I won't pry."

"If you want me to tell you," he smiled, "all you have to do is ask."

"Honestly. If you want to get something off your chest go right ahead. I'll
listen and I won't blab."

He placed her fingers on his silver dollar nipple and tried to coaxed her into
pulling on it. "You're not strong enough to get what I really want off my
chest." Amber slapped his knuckles. "But since you twisted my arm so badly,
I'll tell you. I had this dream- "

"I know. Linda told me about it."

"She did?"

"Yes. She thought it could be important."

"Huh. Well the long and short of it was, Hope figured I had this hidden desire
to marry her so she went and got engaged." Jimmy chuckled. "Only... it wasn't
that she didn't like me. She just figured it would discourage me. Poor
Catherine didn't know a thing about it so now she's on her ass clueless."

"You told Hope you wanted to marry her?"

"No," he drawled. "She asked if I did in the dream so I said yeah, for a
moment I did. And then she hinted at it in real life and I guess I laughed and
didn't say no. I thought she was joking. I mean she was smiling about it...
What do you think? Is it my fault?"

The redhead folded her legs in bed as she mulled it over. "A little bit. But
mostly hers. I told you teenagers drive you crazy."

"How *did* you put up with yourself at that age?"

"I was nice. You would have liked me. I wouldn't have married you or run off
either, but you would have liked me."

"I thought you didn't have the say? I thought it was all mine?"

"OK. So I might have run off with Andrea."

He laughed. "No you wouldn't... Let's see." He hummed to himself. "You would
have set me up with Linda or something and that would have taken care of it."

"Yeah, you're right," Amber snickered. "Why didn't I think of that? It's
neater... but Linda? She runs around too much... Now Andrea. She's got *much*
bigger breasts. She'd land you."

He pinched her fleshy hip. "She still might," he teased. "But you're wrong.
Linda's nipples are too pretty. You have to take size into account there too."

"Yes. They are nice."

He brushed a red curl from Amber's eye and kissed her. "So did I do the right
thing with Hope? What would you have done to fix it?"

"I guess that's it... I don't see any real way though of keeping Catherine
happy."

"Maybe one of us should marry her."

Amber chuckled. "I don't think she likes anyone living in the palace right
now."

"Probably not."

"At least Hope's friendly with you again. I guess it's her job to patch up
with Catherine anyway."

"I still think she'll try to push me over a cliff. Sure you don't want to go
up with me?"

"No. I've been before. It's nothing special... Miranda's sweet. I think you'll
like her. She's very sad though."

"Sad? Will I get that way?"

"Not if we can help it."

"So do you want to help out for one more day? Or are you going to leave me in
the hands of Hope?" Jimmy chuckled. Did they ever make fun of her name that
way?

Amber poked him with a nail. "Hope likes you."

"But do you want to help out more? It'll give us a chance to be together
more."

"It's just sex," she said. She caught his reaction and frowned. "You're going
to pinch me again, no matter what I say. I know it."

"No I won't.... well I will but not for that."

Her mouth curled in a grin. "What do you want me to tell you?"

"I don't know."

"I'd like to spend more time with you... but... doing other things, if you
know what I mean."

"OK."

---

The trip up to the mountain took more than an hour and hope was more than
eager to pass the time in conversation. Though the topic never drifted back to
Catherine, Hope was all too happy to fill him in on the comings and goings of
the rest of the village.  There wasn't much to discuss other than what people
were like and, like Melissa, the young girl was plenty happy to gossip about
personalities.

The big events in the village which were rare and far between seemed to
consist mostly of yesterday's fire and whatever washed up on the shore.

And the list of the later was impressive.

About six months ago, Melissa had found a box women's lingerie on the other
side of the island. From what he could figure, she made regular trips around
the island like many did just to see what had washed up. And it seemed the
gods had a sense of humor about the whole thing. A box of mostly corroded
condoms had washed up with the lingerie, plus a few cans of motor oil, which
Melissa had stupidly assumed was some form of chocolate, tasted and thrown
back into the sea. Apparently they were destined for the island, though. Lucia
stumbled across the white containers again while on a boar hunt and put them
to use dipping torches.

The children blew the condoms up to make what was only the second set of
balloons the island had ever seen... until Rachel stumbled into class and told
a redfaced one of Amber's colleagues that they weren't quite like that other
batch of 'balloons' that had washed ashore in her youth. Before Rachel could
snatch them up, the teacher popped the handful that still retained air and
buried them in the sand. And such was the fate of the only prophylactics the
island had ever seen. When Lucia found out what they really were for, she
outlawed them and ordered any more burned on sight. Balloons too, just to be
safe. Jimmy couldn't stop laughing.

The lingerie was another story.

The women giggled hysterically for a week and couldn't find an appropriate use
for it. It looked silly in the daylight but they loved wearing it to work in,
though the fabric ended up ruining too easily. Rachel and Antonia tried
explaining the concept but to no avail.

Hm. Six months ago... He laughed as he worked out the dates in his head. It
sounded like a Valentine's Day offering to the island. Useless rubbers,
unheard of lingerie and bitter chocolate. It was all somehow appropriate.

Hope went on to describe some sort of electronic device that had made it to
land. Rachel and Antonia must not have thought it was very important. They
sent it floating back out to sea. But the packing material was another matter.
A cat-fight broke out over who would get to pop the last of the plastic
bubbles.

Then there was the shipment of fortune cookies that washed up. They loved
breaking the seals on those too. And then laughing hysterically at the
predictions therein. "You will marry a beautiful woman." "You will be rich
beyond all dreams." "Things are looking up." (Hope blushed and giggled).
"Every journey begins with a step." So many philosophical cliches that had
taken a bizarre twist here... They still greeted one another using the lines
as jokes. He realized now why one girl sent the dinner table into hysterics
when she crouched down like a cat and eyeballed her plate from several
different angles: "Watch what you eat."

And there were the cartons of spoiled eggs. The useless camera. The car
batteries and license plates. The dead whale. The box of gift wrapping (little
girls went around with the bows pinned to their hair for a year- Hope still
had hers). The jock straps- Hope couldn't keep from turning red and sputtering
in laughter when she mentioned them. She wanted to offer him one but they'd
all been sewn into a hammock.

(Must be some hammock...)

There were wet matches. The rusting baseball bat. The flotilla of little
plastic buckets that said 31 flavors. No one understood that find.  Jimmy
tried explaining but she still didn't get it. Ziplock bags. Tons of them, like
a grocery store had exploded. A rusted stapler. A spool of telephone cord.
Plastic pipes.  More styrofoam than they knew what to do with. More plastic
pipes. Dentures. Ice-chests out the ears. They loved those for carrying
things. An anatomy skeleton, from the way she described it (it was like being
in a bone of the month club. A different piece showed up each day). Rachel
kept it to show students. Even part of an iceberg washed up once. It didn't
last long, but the kids loved it while it did. Rachel turned it into another
science lesson.

Anything that floated. (And some amazing stuff that didn't). You name it,
they'd gotten a little of it at some time or another. Not much of it, of
course, could be put to its original uses, but they made do with it. They
turned everything from gaskets and screws to copper wire and shark's teeth
into jewelry. When they couldn't make the fiberglass automotive shell sea
worthy, they tacked on a few pipes, stuck it on the roof and that's where some
of the palace's fresh water came from.

Nothing remotely compared to the story of the tampons Amber had first told
him. Hatreds still lingered over that. They traded the things like cigarettes
in jail. It was nice to hear Amber and the other younger women were smart
enough to stay out of it.

Hm. Perhaps they just weren't old enough to have rights over it. He still
couldn't figure out how they decided who got what. Sometimes the stuff stayed
with whoever found it. Other times it went to the person who knew how to best
use it, like Rachel or Antonia. Or him now. Hope wanted him to look at what
sounded like a kite that had washed ashore.

By the time she got around to mentioning it, she'd already introduced him to
Miranda and started lying out the fruit and strips of dried beef in the cave.
Before he knew it he was watching her light brown hair flutter in the wind as
she trekked back down the hill.

"Have you enjoyed your stay?"

"Yes, mam."

"Mam? Please don't call me that. No one else here does."

"Is there a special title or something that they- "

"No. Just call me Miranda. I know I probably remind you of your grandmother.
We all go by first names here, except for the queen when she's being a queen."

"Did you know her when she was a little girl?"

"Who?"

"Lucia. The queen."

"No. I've gotten to where I stay up here most of the time. I try to keep busy
making knickknacks and other things I can trade. God, paradise can be
boring... Would you like some wine? I have my own vines."

"That would be lovely. Not too much, though. I have to get back down on my
own."

"Of course." She handed him a small cup. "Is that plenty?"

"Thank you. So how long have you been stranded?"

"Stranded?" She looked around the cave. "I guess I am stranded, probably more
than anyone else... After a while you have to call it home, though." She
sighed and took a sip. "Forty... almost fifty years, now, I guess."

She was fairly handsome for a woman who must be retirement age.

Retirement? Did that apply here?

"So you grew up... during the Great Depression? Is that right?"

"Oh honey. I did more than grow up during it. I was in my thirties when I got
here. I was lost at- well, I got here during the second world war. It added a
whole fifteen years to this dull life." She sighed. "This is a hard existence
for a flapper."

"I'm sorry you weren't able to, uh, fit in with the other women."

"Ah! Sorry!" she cracked. "I heard that word a lot." She poured the remainder
of her burgundy drink on the dirt floor. "The thought of it still turns my
stomach... though I suppose at my age just thinking about sex makes me a
pervert." She pinched a fleshy wad of his cheek. "I'm glad you visited. You're
still quite a looker, you know. I don't get to see many men."

"Will it... will it be like that for me? Will I not be able to- "

Miranda shivered. "I don't know. I hope not but I don't know much about it.
Why don't you ask one of the islanders?"

"You never wanted to... I don't know, just hang out around the young children
and help out there?"

"No. What the mothers do... disturbs me. And it's too painful to watch the
little faces sometimes."

"So you did want children?"

"Yes. I tried four times but it never worked. They said I might be infertile.
Something about real women intruding. Only the former men... I don't know. No
one knows for sure. A few native women have rolled the dice more than I did
and failed... at least their library said as much. Who knows why?"

"Only four?"

"I... I just couldn't do it to one of those poor lads like that. Seeing what
was happening to them... I hate that place." The old woman cleared her throat.
"I'm being a poor host. Please. Let's visit a while... and please, feel free
to come up anytime you like. The view's lovely here. You can see forever."

"That's about how far I need to go..."

"Yeah. It's the damndest magic. You know I've never once seen a ship from up
here? And my eyes are still quite sharp. Nothing but clear blue sea... Not any
moving light at night, except for the occasional shooting star... but look.
I... later, when you change... I enjoy visiting with other women very much
too, though few ever make it up here. Rachel's been such a friend to me over
the years. I've even visited her home once or twice whenever, uh, she's by
herself..."

Jimmy finally sampled her brew and faced the crisp winds.

"So how has the world changed?" she asked.

---

"Which curse are you talking about? The curse of womanhood?"

"Yes."

"The age old curse?" She patted his knee. "It's not so bad. In some ways it's
a friendly reminder. You'll know what I mean when you have your first one."
Miranda sighed, then stood and looked out from her cave at the distant blue
and green below. "It's a greater shock when it ends," she whispered. "It
visits a little less and a little less each time. You skip a month or two.
Finally you look down and there's just a little splotch..." Suddenly her eyes
were farther off than any flock of birds. There was a long stretch of silence
before she sighed. "There's nothing to describe it when you look between your
legs and watch the spring of blood dry up... the last bit trickle from you and
you know... you feel somewhere inside you that was the end of it. Your last
chance to have a child. And you know... that chapter is closed." She turned to
him and the wind caught her long silver hair, turning it white in the beams of
sunlight. "Well, there are other things to life than being a mother... More
tea?" she asked.

"No." He fidgeted on the pile of animal hides she called her sofa, the warmth
of her wine finally spreading in his cheeks. Something in her words made his
impending loss seem small in comparison. "I'm sorry," was all he could think
to say.

"I'm sorry too. I hope at least you have... find your happiness, whatever it
may be."

"If nothing else happens to me, I think I'll at least have that."

"Good. I'm sure you'll be happy with whomever you pick."

"I wish you could have had someone."

"I know," she sighed. "I know. Some days I... I wish I'd lost more of myself
after the first new moon." She let out a half-hearted laugh. "I wish I could
have fit in...  When I was a young woman before I came here... briefly... once
there was someone... I can still remember him, plain as the moon some days..."
she mused. "I suppose a taste is all they ever have either..."

"I could be that someone again, if you'd let me. Though... though it would be
brief again..."

The grayish wisps stirred about her waist like the grasses on the ridge below.
His hand drifted up to her arm, caressing soft skin that, after all these
years, had still retained its shape. She looked at least ten years younger
now.

Something about this seemed so right. He'd rarely felt with this kind of
clarity.

A smile crossed her lips. "I'd like to, sweetheart, but I just couldn't rob
the other women."

"I've always dreamed someday, if I lived long enough I'd make love to an old
woman who could still appreciate me... Right now you're my only shot." She
laughed and looked away again. "We'll practice safe sex?"

The way she snickered reminded him she was one of the few on the island with
the experience to understand such a joke... perhaps too well...

"You don't worry about pregnancy at sixty-seven years of age."

"I meant I wouldn't come. How's that for a first?" he chuckled. "You won't
even know I'm faking." He reached up for her other hand. "I'd like to share
what I have while I've still have it... with someone wise enough to appreciate
it... it doesn't mean much if I can't... I'd like to mean something."

She clutched the waist of her dress and buried her eyes in the dirt floor. "I
can't... I don't think I can get... anymore. Be..." She sighed. Was she
crying?

"Sh. Come here..."

He closed his eyes and thought of Amber... just enough...

---

"It wasn't as much fun as I thought. He was kind of distracted."

"Well what do you expect. Four different women a day. He's only human. How
would you like it?"

"It's just that... it didn't feel as good. I had to touch myself... and we
didn't kiss enough. I mean I like him... He's so nice. I wish... It was
just... kind of empty... rushed..."

"You're being rude." "Child, his heart's with another." "He must be sick of
pussy by now."

"Shh, girls. He'll be here any minute."

"I wish we could talk in Greek and not have to worry- "

"I bet you'd do it around him too. You are so rude. Doesn't tradition..." "No
wonder he was that way with you..." "He's been very caring with the women *I*
know..."

"I just wanted it to be more..." "We all want that." "... be more for him..."
"That's not what you meant."

"Please hush. I keep telling you he could get here at any time."

"You said that ten minutes ago."

Jimmy rattled a few limbs and turned to shout at the empty trail behind him.
"Thanks, Miranda. I can find my way from here. Have a safe trip back. Go on.
I'll be fine. It's just a little wine. Take a right at the junction? The one
there? Got it. Thanks again." He straightened up and trudged through the
fallen leaves. As he rounded the corner of bushes, he was taken aback. "Hello,
ladies. What's this?"

"We thought you'd be hungry when you got back from the mountain," Hope
explained.

"Yes. We thought we'd fix you lunch out here. Unless you mind?"

They were all bright, smiling faces, just as they always were, though Hope's
was the only one he knew well at all.

"No no. It's lovely. You picked a great spot." Right where the woods parted to
reveal the distant whitecaps. "It's very thoughtful of you."

"We thought we'd wait here where the path to the mountain joins the main road.
We knew you had to pass this way." "Yes. We thought we'd surprise you."

"It's a lovely surprise."

And with that, the rains started again.

"Ah!"

He thought he'd have to run down each of them in the bone-chilling downpour to
get them to stay, but every one of them kicked back on their heels, opened
their mouths and savored it like delighted children.

"You had a surprise for us too!" Hope cried, as she spread a blanket for him
on the bald, gleaming clay.

"I love the rain!" one of them shouted. She swept her wet hair back into a
ponytail, closed her eyes and parted her lips to the sky.

Jimmy took a seat and watched as bits of the forest beneath them gradually
clouded over and vanished in the mists. The ladies divided up the bread as
quickly as they could and Jimmy hurried through his portion before it turned
soggy.

The stringy tresses matting their necks and faces reminded him of every wet
kitten he'd ever seen. He could almost hear the sorrowful, horrified mewing
that accused the world of betrayal. And yet he'd never spied a happier group
of women. The hazy rain had turned them into girls again, pouring thick
rivulets over their cherubic cheeks in the gray afternoon.

What was it in the water that they loved so much?

It flattened their tunics, turning the cloth transparent where it clung to
their tender flesh. He was fascinated with how the little ponds of pink and
tan shifted as their thin limbs danced about to the soprano music of the
conversation.

Then the girl beside him turned and asked his permission before disrobing.

Two others in their company followed suit.

A shaft of sunshine passed tantalizingly close and their faces lit up in
wonder. One girl rose to meet it but it drifted out of reach, slowly sliding
down the hill in its march to the sea.

By the time it passed from view into the gray veil, Jimmy had finished the
last of his fruit. His hosts had reached such a fevered pitch in their
giggling he expected them to jump up and start chasing one another in the mud,
but it never happened.

Who was here to chase him? He knew he was being set up again, however sweetly,
for something exotic by his staff of volunteers.

He'd only slept with three of them. That left five more, not counting Hope of
course. He surveyed each of their faces. He didn't have the faintest idea who
she'd be, not that any of them wouldn't keep him wonderfully warm in this
weather. They were each beautiful in their own way.

He turned for Hope and whispered something in her ear. She pointed to the
brunette dressed in white, seated at the far end. Her wide grin was oblivious
to the attention, but she seemed gushing with anticipation as she chatted with
her girlfriends.

Hope smiled at him. "That's a lovely idea..." she whispered back. "No. You'll
have plenty of privacy. Go back up the mountain a bit just to be safe. I'll
give you more blankets..."

One by one the other women turned and noticed as Hope pulled out the last two
dry linens from the large ice chest. They stood, shaking the bits of mud from
their bare bottoms and thighs. They kissed him good-bye on the cheek and
helped clean up. Laura rose and watched from a distance as Jimmy took what
looked more like two rugs and folded them under his arm.

The girls tossed away the inedible remnants of the picnic, then formed a soggy
line behind Hope and made their way down the trail like a caravan of traders
with the big red cooler slung between them.

Laura remained glued to the spot, admiring his every movement. Her soft eyes
smiled agreeably. Jimmy stepped forward, charmed by the loyalty of her white
dress and the way it lovingly hugged her shoulders in the drizzle.

"Thank you. I've always enjoyed the rain," she sighed.

She reached out to cup his check in appreciation, giving birth to tiny air
bubbles under the translucent fabric. Suddenly the spell broke.

"Are you sure it's what you want? I'd hate to leave you stranded here."

"I'm sure there's a dry spot under a cliff. I can rest there before going
home."

"Should I stay, just to keep you safe?"

"Safe? Thanks..." She smiled warmly at him. "My wife will find me."

"It's nice to know you're well-loved."

She blushed. "Thank you." She kissed him. "You'll be well loved," she
whispered as she took one of the rolls from under his arm. "I know a grassy
spot up the way."

She gingerly took two of his fingers and led him around the bend, back up the
trail. The trees thinned away and she came to a stop.

"No. Over there." He pointed to a flat spot in the middle of the grassy hill.
Something about its exposure to the rest of the field interested him.

"All right." She brushed the stringy hair from his eyes.

"What's your name again?"

"Laura."

"You don't mind being out in the open like that, do you Laura?"

"It's very sweet," she said. She let him walk ahead until their fingers hooked
and the slack in their arms pulled tight. "The cattle won't bother us in the
rain. In fact I don't think they've grazed this area in quite a while. You
shouldn't have to watch your step."

The short grasses cleaned the mud from his sandals long before he stood on top
of the hill with her. Arm in arm, they surveyed the gray, distant ocean. Spots
of sunlight freckled the various hill and forests below them.

"It's beautiful," she sighed, caressing the small of his back.

Behind them rose the stone mountain. He turned and saw the path they'd just
ventured from etched into its side. And her dry little spot there under one of
the cliffs.

"No." He stilled her hands. "Let me." He kissed her throat and stood back,
watching the ghostly fabric snap from her luscious skin. He carefully folded
her dress and offered it to her as a pillow, then did the same with his soaked
toga.

The droplets pelted his newly smooth skin, rolling down his body far quicker
than any water ever had. It sent an erotic shiver over his soft flesh,
stirring up goosebumps particularly on the inside of each thigh.

Laura squinted at him in the rain and smiled as she took his hand. "It's like
being under a giant waterfall, isn't it?" She reclined and pulled him down
with her. "Finally a little warmth," she sighed.

Her nipples were so deliciously tight against his smooth skin. So were his,
come to think of it.

He felt paunchier in spots now that most of his body hair was gone. Indeed,
the short fibers on his legs almost felt out of place. Should he take Michelle
up on her offer again? She was probably fairly good at shaving a pair of legs.

He grinned at Laura as she bit gently into his ear a second time.

"What are you thinking about?" she asked as she wrapped her legs around his
waist.

"Thinking about you, in a way."

She kissed him and fluttered her tongue over his. "Well I'm right here," she
reminded him.

Her hand drifted down his abdomen and her legs opened further.

"You sure you're ready?" he asked. "Should, uh, I lick you or something?"

"No," she giggled. "I'm wet enough. Aren't you?" Her blue eyes gazed into his.
"Go ahead if you'd like. I just didn't want to be cold again."

"You are mighty warm."

"So are you."

He slipped into her eager cavity. "Ah. The warmest part of all..."

"Isn't it?"

Her arms covered his back from the watery chill and her breasts began to glow
under him.

"I feel like a boy scout."

"Huh?"

"I'm starting a fire with a stick."

She snickered. "It's one way to do it."

---

The rain didn't stop for two days.

His feet itched, though no one else seemed particularly bothered. Were there
certain intangible benefits to being an islander? If so, they didn't seem
worth the trade.

Jimmy rubbed his toes against the bedpost and watched the black sky that never
ended. He couldn't see the moon but he knew in his marrow it was there, round
and almost full, lurking somewhere behind the liquid canopy.

It'd softened his voice just this morning. Amber reassured him he still
sounded quite masculine, if a tad boyish. She said it would stay with him the
two remaining weeks, not changing further until the night turned pitch black
again.

Was she right? It was hard particularly now of all times to tell exactly how
he did sound. A beautiful chorus filled the hallways as women crowded into
every room of the palace, unable or unwilling to go home to their mud floors
and dripping roofs. The love affair with the monsoon had been brief.

He wished there were children around, but the married couples lived in
sturdier housing. The fifty or sixty young women were all single and lived on
the outskirts of town in dwellings much like Amber's.

And now their voices drowned his thoughts once more, this time from the other
side of the window.

"Does you hip hurt anymore?" Andrea asked as she rubbed his feet.

"No. I must be getting the hang of sleeping with three women."

She plucked at his big toe. "We're very grateful, just the same... Did you
want some of us to clear out and give you some privacy?"

"No. I like the company. I come from a big family."

His family.

Had they made funeral arrangements? Would he ever know?

What would his mother and father say-

"Would you like to go to the beach again?"

"What?"

"The beach this morning? Yes?"

Oh.

The women headed indoors and oddly enough he wanted to be outside. There was
something cleansing about the rain. And it kept away the prying eyes. It was
the first time he felt comfortable enough to make love outdoors.

There was nothing quite like the sky's cool tears pelting his back and a warm
body beneath him... another soaked towel spread out under the gray sky...

"Yeah. Why not... Want me to check on your baskets Amber?"

"No. I put everything on the bed. We'll all be fine. I just don't like the mud
between my toes."

"Funny. I seem to be the only one bothered by it."

Linda massaged his shoulders. "I wouldn't worry too much Jimmy. In a few days
it'll clear up and you won't have to worry about it ever again." Her fingers
paused and he felt her hunch her own shoulders. "It does come with some
perks..." she comforted him.

"Yeah." He scratched his chest and then tried to rub the tingle out of his
puffy nipple before he remembered himself. "Feels like I'm getting your perks
already."

Linda laughed. "They're big but they probably won't wind up as perky as mine.
That's rare."

"You know," Andrea interrupted, "I think every available woman on the island's
here today. We should all line up and have some sort of contest so Jimmy can
have an easier time choosing."

The girls laughed nervously.

"Nah," he replied.

"Why not?" Andrea asked.

Amber cocked an eyebrow.

"Miranda's not here. It wouldn't be fair."

They giggled.

"What *did* you two 'talk' about for so long?" Linda asked.

"I'll never tell."

"Well I for one know it's true," she retorted.

"What's true?" asked Amber.

"What they say about older women," Linda replied. "They *are* more
experienced... *and* more grateful."

The bed shook with laughter.

"That's how you got that side of beef!" Amber yelped.

"The butcher? Ugh. Even I have my standards."

"That rug!" "The quilt!" "No! That funny metal thing!" They took turns
rattling off her personal belongings, making her sound like a common tart, but
Linda's guffaws only got louder.

Jimmy climbed out of bed to stretch and left the girls to the remnants of
their slumber party. He settled into one of the far chairs and stared out the
window, savoring the cool mist blowing in on the breeze.

He rubbed his chin. It was kind of nice not having to shave every day.

Kind of.

Andrea and Linda eventually collected themselves and wandered off into the
bowels of the mansion to round up breakfast. In a minute the women outside
would become bolder and start trickling in to pass the day.

"You sure you don't mind having us here?" Amber sat on his lap and slung her
arm over his shoulder.

"No. I like it. You don't mind sleeping with so many other women do you?"

"Mmmm." She stared into the gray drizzle with him. "No. It's like being a
little girl again and having to share a bed."

"Really?" He thought a moment. "With your family or other boys or other
girls?"

"Oh. Just other girls."

"They don't worry about you fooling around?"

She let out a sarcastic snicker. "I'll never tell..."

"Speaking of that... it's been several days. Why don't you pack a lunch for
the two of us?"

"MMm. Sounds nice."

"Want to make love in the surf?"

"It might be bad for conception," she complained, as she caressed his neck.

"I've always wanted to do it in the sea."

"Hm," she sighed. "OK." She kissed him. "So have I."

"What? You're not going to protest? Twist my arm to take someone else?"

"No. I missed you." She kissed him again. "I know you'll take out someone else
anyway... and I can't help it if you're stupid enough to waste your time with
me, now, can I?"

"Stupid, huh? I'm not the one with a leaky roof."

"My roof doesn't leak..." She frowned. "It's the drainage that washes down the
path... and under my bed that bothers me."

"Why didn't you put in a stone floor and- "

"I didn't plan to live there forever. It's hard work pulling stones from the
field and hauling them all day."

"Well when were you?"

"Mmm. When I met someone I loved. Then we could live in a proper home of our
own."

"That's why you're really sweet on me?"

She giggled. "Actually, it's all Melissa's plotting. She knows she can have
mine and she hates still living at home."

"There's a housing shortage?"

"Unless she wants to build one there is. Or get married."

"So how often do you get rain like this?"

"Every few months. It's not so bad. It lasts a few days, replenishes the
springs then it's gone."

"I saw one or two girls last night who looked like they'd been crying. Were
they flooded out of their homes? Did they lose anything?"

"No, honey. They didn't lose anything."

"What was it?"

"Nothing at all, sweety." She kissed him. "You know how we women get."

"If I don't, I guess I soon will. Two weeks and counting."

"Two weeks, two days," she corrected him.


"Did I break it?"

"No, you didn't break it. I'll be fine in a moment."

"Should I lick it again?"

"No."

"I don't do it well? Maybe if you could- "

"That's not it."

"Why don't I play with your nipples? That always works for me."

He brushed her hand away.

"I guess I'm not in the mood. Maybe it's the moon again and more of its little
curse."

"I don't understand. This hasn't happened before. It must be my fault. I'm
terrible at this, I know..."

"No. It's not your fault."

"Oh. Then what should you do?"

"I don't know. I don't want to talk about it."

"Melissa," she called.

"Ugh." He pulled a pillow over his face. The mattress shifted as she rose from
bed. He dragged a sheet over the rest of him as her toes tapped across the
stones.

"His thing isn't working."

"What? Oh no!" Melissa was dumbstruck.

"Go get Rachel. Quick."

"Could you *please* leave me alone," he muttered. He wanted to crawl into the
nearest cave and just die. Shit. Maybe if he just didn't think about it...

---

He heard Rachel's voice whispering in the halls.

That was fast. Had he fallen asleep? Yeah. He had. The brief bit of sunlight
was gone again, replaced by the dull rain. He tossed the pillow away and sat
up.

Maybe it was the heavy lunch. He burped. Yeah. That was it.

Didn't they know he could hear them?

Why *could* he hear them over the pattering water? Was his hearing getting
better? Some sounds had seemed louder lately.

"No, honey. More women would make it a lot worse."

He groaned. Why couldn't they go away?

"He's not unhappy with you at all..."

Melissa said something.

"No. Andrea wouldn't do it either. You can't ask someone he's close to. Oh
no... you're very attractive. Don't... Dry your eyes. No. He loves you very
much or he wouldn't be doing this for you... And I should know. No, honey.
It's not his fault either. Sometimes nature just needs a little help, you
know? Nature does strange things to all of us, doesn't it?... That's better.
Don't let him see you like that... It's a man's thing, sweetheart. There's
nothing for you to understand about it... It's more frustrating to him,
honey... Yes, really... I should go talk to him now..."

The curtains swished. Two squishy thighs delicately caressed one another as
they approached. He could hear her toga dripping from here. Didn't they have
umbrellas? Or did they all enjoy the rain that much?

"Hey, Jimmy."

"Hey, doc." He turned from the bedpost to look at her and found her giggling.

"I haven't been called that in ages."

"You got a shot for me or something? Isn't that how this works?"

She surpressed another giggle. "There's no, uh, shot for what you have..."

Or don't have. He frowned. "No? Then why are you even here?"

"A pep-talk, I guess."

"Well save the talk and give me the pep."

"I know how difficult it is for you to discuss this. Men don't talk about such
things with each other." She giggled again. "And I guess you're not exactly
talking about it with some clueless girl right now either."

He arched an eyebrow. "You had this problem?"

"Huh? Not on the island... but drugs do certain things, if you catch my
drift."

"Well is it 'broken' like she said? Is there some sort of test you can run?"

Rachel struggled to keep a straight face at his mention of the word test.

"No honey. I don't think a man's ever 'broken' it or had a physical problem
like that on the island. All your equipment's going to work that way."

"For a few more weeks at least."

"No. It'll work then too. It'll simply be designed for different things... Is
that what this is about? Are you anxious about next month?"

"Yeah. I'm anxious about it. But it hasn't bothered me like this. It wasn't on
my mind at the time."

"No? Well... are you just bored? Not in the mood for it?"

"I don't know."

"Well..." Rachel hummed to herself for several seconds. "Is there a particular
fantasy she can fulfill? She'll do almost anything for you, you know."

"Ah..." he mused. "No. Not right now." He straightened up. "What do you mean
'almost'?" This sounded interesting.

"Nothing involving farm animals or- "

He winced. "That's disgusting..."

"Sorry. I shouldn't have mentioned it. There are stories about men with
strange fetishes that they won't play to anymore. They've decided if it
happens again they'll just... Hey! We could get you drugged and then just take
your pants down. I know the herb. You want us to do that? You wouldn't
remember it, either, if that's the problem. I mean if she reminds you of a
cousin or something I understand... and that way everybody will be happy. I
can show her what part of you to massage and you're sure to get hard, even if
you pass out."

"No. I'd like to be there for it." It didn't sound like much fun. And he
didn't want to start a trend.

"Oh." Rachel was clearly puzzled now. "You don't want to go out to the beach
again either, huh?... Well, you want to talk to somebody else? Want I should
get Amber?"

He paled. "No. Get her a million miles away from here."

"Spending a few hours with her wouldn't- "

"No!"

"I thought so. It's a heart problem."

"Listen! I'm only talking with you about this because... I know you used to
not want to talk about this. You know?"

"Why don't we just take your mind off everything. You want to go play ball
with the kids? Go fishing? Walk? What?"

In the rain? "I don't know."

Rachel sighed. "A blow job? I'll be more enthusiastic than she was, I bet."

"No. She was nice. I just... I got a little... bored is all. And then all the
other crap set in."

"I understand."

"You sure this didn't happen to you?" It seemed a ridiculous question for a
woman so clearly voluptuous, one he'd already had fantastic sex with. Of
course she couldn't get it up... not anymore at least...

"Mmm. Not quite. I was a horny bastard... but I think I know what'll fix it.
No fantasies, right now? You sure, dude?"

"I'm sure."

"And you want to stay in?"

"Yeah. My feet itch too much."

"You know the other women have cleared out for the day?"

"Yeah, I know. That's not the problem." His voice lowered to a whisper. "Hell
I know Melissa's probably gotten a lot of jollies listening in over the last
few days. Or somebody has. It doesn't bother me anymore."

Rachel laughed hysterically, pulling her soaked dress up around her knees. She
finally calmed down and twisted out its remaining liquid in his wash basin.
"You really can't blame us," she whispered back. "We don't get to hear those
sounds very often... and that deep voice of yours is so sexy."

He stroked her forearm. "It's OK. It's never bothered me."

"Well I'm going to send her back in, then. Just don't be surprised by anything
and go with the flow."

"You sure?" I'm cured? he wondered. It was *him*, right?

"I'm sure. We're going to solve the boredom problem for you."

Shouldn't his curiosity be piqued at her statement? He just didn't feel it.
The thought of another woman coming in, doing a dance to some music while she
undressed for him... even playing with herself... it all seemed so stupid
right now.

"Pussy pussy pussy." Hadn't she rattled that off like a machine gun in bed
with him? Now it felt so blah. One more pussy. Ho hum. Back to the office...

Rachel left and after a few seconds of unintelligible mumbling, Amanda parted
the curtains and walked naked into the room again.

He wished he could get turned on by those wide, well-curved hips and the full,
pert breasts that bounced enchantingly with her every step.

Was it his fault? He'd seen so much of it lately.

No. That wasn't it. What was, exactly? He had a feeling he didn't want to find
out. He just wanted it to go away so he could enjoy things. Enjoy his last
days...

Get away with Amber...

But how was that going to happen, if he didn't do his best to live up to his
end of things?

Jimmy rose and met Amanda half-way for a kiss.

"Ow!" He shoved her back and rubbed the cut in his lip. "What was that for?"
She grabbed his waist and leaned in for another bite. "Hey!" Her teeth sunk
into his shoulder.

She growled and backed him into the bed until he fell over like a startled
schoolboy. Those feline eyes flashed again and he felt her sharp touch on his
neck. Her nails dug into his thigh.

"Stop that!"

He pushed away. She sat up on her haunches, her heavy breath straining, black
pupils burning under her stringy, disheveled hair. He could smell her sweat
and animal excitement.

She slapped him.

"Hey!" He grabbed her hand. "Stop! Why are you doing that!"

"Because *I* don't want to stop."

She slapped him with her free hand.

She kept slapping him.

It stung.

"Stop it!"

"No!"

"Damn you, bitch!"

She pulled him on top of her, rolling with him like a wrestler. Fingers tore
the skin on his back and teeth sank into his neck again like a vampire. She
was all over him, nipping and yanking at him like a trapped animal.

"Get your fucking hands off my chest."

"Your tits?" she teased, breaking off another kiss that left red scratches on
his arm. "Your nipples? Women don't get erections. Is that what you are?" She
grappled with him and flipped him over again on his back. A forceful knee
parted his thighs. "What's wrong? Can't get me to keep my hands off you? Too
weak?" she panted at Jimmy, tossing him over her again. "Fuck me good," she
yowled with lust, rubbing her slick crotch on his thigh. "Teach me some
manners."

He chuckled. So that's what this was about. This really wasn't him...

Wasn't it? Other parts of him were saying different.

Yeah... finally...

"Put me in my place," she groaned, spreading her hair out across the pillows
and undulating her abdomen seductively against his. Her fingers dug into his
ass for the umpteenth time and barely kept from drawing blood.

He slapped her and threw himself off the bed.

She caressed her jaw with the worse possible expression on her face. It
disappeared in a flash as he commanded her to "Put your ass in the air!"

"Oooooooo," she purred. "Finally...." Amanda reared up and clawed
enthusiastically at him.

Jimmy thrust her aside. "Fuck with me, bitch... huh!? huh?!... I'll teach you
fucking..." He yanked on her long hair, forcing her to the mattress and
twisting until she cried out. "Get down there I said!"

---

Amanda turned as best she could and kissed him.

"That was lovely," she sighed. "A bit like the time we found that bottle of
tobasco in the sand..."

"Great."

"Could you do me just one more favor?"

"What?"

"Can you untie my hands?" she pouted. "I need to get up. You're starting to
drip and I can't get to the door like this..."

He chuckled. She was so polite now. Anything to get fucked, he guessed. Just
thinking about her determination was getting him harder again. With any luck
he could stretch it into the next session. "Sure. Sorry about that."

"Oh no. Nothing to feel sorry about. That was fantastic. I think I'll get tied
up every night. My lover too."

Then who'd do the fucking? he snickered. "Whatever... uh, listen. I'd... I'd
regard it as a personal favor if you NEVER mentioned this to anybody."

"Of course." Amanda tilted her head coyly while she rubbed the red away in her
wrists. "I'll tell people I had an accident... with a fishing net." She
twinkled and gave his cheek a kiss. "I won't tell them what a tiger you are...
I thought those animals were just legends but now I know better."

---

They were sitting around playing poker when it happened. A gambler who'd
washed up a hundred years earlier had crafted a deck of cards from wood chips
and explained the rules... which had been set down in the stringed volume the
ladies kept referring to.

It would have been more amusing if they hadn't also mastered the poker face
that went along with it. He couldn't tell what it meant as they flipped
through the pages and swapped for more cards. Amber giggled gleefully only to
fold what turned out to be a horrible hand. She'd found something funny about
the series of numbers on the cards.

It turned out some of the ladies were even bluffing when they flipped through
the pages and stuck with their bets, refusing new cards.

It was frustrating. They knew they didn't know the game and they knew playing
with his mind was the only thing they had going for them. *That* they did very
well.

Jimmy had a feeling he wouldn't be eating many palm nuts tonight.

Maybe Amber would share a few of hers. She was winning enough.

"Dahlia," he whispered. "You're not supposed to eat your chips."

"Oh... But they're not in the pot."

"All the same."

"It's because you always fold before you bet," Amber quipped.

"Well..." she lilted. "They're tasty."

"Linda will pick more tomorrow. She always does. Now stop being a silly girl
and bet."

"Stop picking on me. I'm trying."

Jimmy leaned over and glanced at her hand. "Could you use some help?"

"Please," she sighed pleasantly.

He scooted closer, provoking more exasperation from Amber. "We could all use
help," she gasped, "but we're not asking."

"Come on, now. Be nice." He folded his hand and pushed his cards back in the 
deck. This was the perfect excuse to avoid getting whipped. He was always a
terrible card player. And he couldn't very well refer to a book... even if it
wasn't written in ancient Greek.  "Be nice about it and I'll work with each of
you for a hand. How's that?"

How's that? They were already dividing up his chips with gleeful smiles.

"They never could keep their hands off my nuts," he whispered to Dahlia.

"Neither could I," she giggled back.

Lucia frowned at her while the rest of the table laughed politely.

"No. Keep the book out. I'll just help with the other stuff."

This was *much* more entertaining. He got to sit with each of the women and
learn how they thought.

Lucia proved particularly sharp. That way she passed her queen back into the
pot. He didn't understand it, but she went on to win the hand. Amber gave him
another cross look... and then scribbled the totals down and politely
redivided the nuts so everyone could have enough to bet with.

It was when he switched to Andrea, that Amber started bragging, "The only way
you'll win this hand is if you get naked again."

Andrea patted him on the back and began to disrobe with a huge smirk on her
face.

Then a strange woman burst into the room, panting and dripping with sweat and
rain.

"What is it, Carol?"

"My Queen..." She took a moment to catch her breath.

Lucia rose and put a hand on her shoulder. "What, Carol?"

"I've just come from the mountain," she gasped. "I thought you should know.
Here. She left this for you, Jimmy." Carol passed him an irregular piece of
bark. His finger traced the scratchings carved inside it. "I found her body in
the ravine."

He read her final words. "I died a happy woman."

"What!?"

He roared and threw it across the room. The message snapped in two as it hit
the bedpost.

The women huddled together around Carol, cringing and whispering. He returned
to their table and turned it over, scattering nuts and cards over the floor.

How could she do that? The bitch!

He ripped one of the chairs apart and kicked another into the corner.

He tore a post from the the bed, ripping away its hanging cover. With the
raised stick, he huffed at the startled women still crowded around the door.

He eyeballed the room like a madman looking for anything else to strike... any
escape... Finally he leapt through the window, landing in a crouch and stormed
off for town.

---

He spotted the Queen on the path in front of him, enjoying the bright morning
air.

Finally!

"*You'll* fight me."

She grinned and crouched. "Certainly. You will no doubt defeat me but I will
give you a good contest."

She laid hands about his shoulders and tried to trip him but he threw her off.
He slugged her and pinned her to the ground.

He held the sharpened stick to her throat.

"I yield," she rushed out.

A knot traveled down the soft, semicircular smiles of her windpipe. He drew
his weapon high in the air and hesitated a second, dangling the point above
her as he watched the mixture of calm, fear and shock in her stoic face.

He hammered it in the ground next to her ear.

He stormed off, slowly ripping the clothes from his body.

"I need a swim," he muttered.

---

He was exhausted. It was like spitting in the wind.

The sky was dark.

That light on the beach again...

He stood dripping over her.

"I'm sorry," Amber said.

He sloshed down on the towel spread beside her and glared at the white
crescents reflecting off the waves.

She pushed weakly against his firm chest. "It's not our time."

He pinned her arms to the sand and spread her legs.

"Tell me what- "

---

"You tossed and turned a lot. Did Hope finally drag you to that cliff?"

"What?" The light was too bright again. He covered his eyes. "Did I drink
something last night? More mushrooms?"

"No. Still sore? This should be the last day."

"Come here." Jimmy held his palm out for Amber until she sat at his side and
he shared his dream with her.

She listened quietly to the images pouring out of him. When he finished, she
simply stood up. "I'll call Claudia. She can interpret it for you."

"No. I don't want to share this with anyone else."

"Why? We may need to warn others."

"It's just a dream. Why are you so superstitious about it?"

"What's... 'superstitus'?"

"When you think magic and other things affect the world."

"Don't they?" Amber jabbed his squishy chest.

"Oh." So they did.

Andrea walked into the room, still working the cloth up around her chest.

"Would you fetch Claudia for us?"

She glanced up from corralling the girls. "Sure," she told the pair,
straightening one of the straps on her shoulder. "Happy to." Andrea turned and
disappeared back between the curtains, her long black hair swirling in the
cool breeze.

The palace was strangely quiet.

"Where did everyone run off to?"

"The rains broke last night. They all went home."

Outside the sun was shining for the first time in days. How could he have
missed it?

"And you?"

"I'll stay a minute," she told him, gently stroking his hairless arm. "But I
have a few things to do the next couple of days."

"Sure. I can sympathize. The chicks around here keep you busy."

Amber smiled. "It's my class, actually. They keep asking for me.... and I have
some baskets still to finish."

Jimmy propped himself up and kissed her. "You go do what you need to do. I'll
be fine without you."

"You can... you can come over while I weave if you like. Or I can do it here
tonight."

"Do you want to spend some time apart for a while?"

"If I could. I'd like to think on a few things. Oh I'd love to spend some time
with you during the day though. I just don't... I don't want to be a
distraction to you."

He cocked his eyebrow. "Why would you think that? You're my bright spot."

"And you mine." She kissed him and ran her fingers through his shaggy mane.
Their lips snapped apart, prompting her to snicker and grin at him. "So why
did you think you could beat Lucia? She's very skilled in combat, you know.
And you're hardly as strong as you used to be."

"I know," he sighed. "I looked very different in the dream. I still don't
think of myself like this..." He vented another frustrated groan. "Is it going
to be this way later?"

"You're very manly," she stated. "But no. After the moon reappears... you'll
recognize the person in the mirror."

"And the person in the dream?"

"You'll recognize him too. But he won't be the one in your dreams anymore.
He'll be like your brother, only closer."

"Like a mask I wore at a party?"

"No," she smiled. "It doesn't change who you were. You'll still be him." He
scowled. "It's hard to explain, I know. But you're still a very sexy man.
Every woman in the village wants you. That won't always be true."

"And you?"

"I know I have to share... Hello Claudia."

The tall, lanky beauty sat on the bed next to Amber. She raised a long,
graceful arm to him and ran her knuckles across his brow like a mother
checking for fever.

"I was in the library writing. You had a dream again, yes?"

"How did you know?"

"Why else would you call me to your bed in the morning? I've had my child."

"I don't know. Maybe you want two?"

She smiled and caressed his cheek. "It is yours to give, of course. But tell
me first about the dream. You said Miranda was in some danger, yes?"

"How did you know?"

"Andrea overheard a little." He didn't look happy. "She's your 'elf' for the
day. It's her job."

"He said Miranda had an accident and was found dead in a ravine," Amber
explained.

"No. She committed suicide," he corrected her.

"Suicide? What's that?" Amber asked.

"When a person takes their own life." Before she could ask, 'Take it where?',
he added "Kills themself."

"How could she kill herself?"

"If she was very unhappy. She would just walk off the cliff."

"No woman has ever done that here. I don't think it's possible."

"No one's ever been so distraught they've committed suicide?"

"A few men over the years, but I think there's something about the change.
None of us could do that."

"You wouldn't get someone else to do it for you if you were distraught
enough?"

Amber's complexion turned ashen. "How could I ever ask that of someone? That
would be a horrible thing to do to them."

Claudia finally spoke again. "It's all right, Amber. I don't think Miranda was
the focus of the dream. She's not in any danger... You had a dream about Hope,
didn't you? And in it someone also fell off a cliff?"

He nodded.

"I think it's about you Jimmy, but you're not in any danger either. As a man I
don't think you can prophesy yet. The moon must have her monthly sacrifice
first. And Rachel tells me such dreams are not uncommon. She had them once
herself so it's probably part of your mind struggling with itself. But please.
Why don't you tell me more about it?"

---

Dahlia sounded very formal this morning. She entered just as he was finishing
breakfast, dressed in a long flowing robe and stared without emotion as if
she'd memorized a message.

"The queen asks if you would like to attend a session of court. Today she will
settle disputes and thought you might have some interest in observing our
customs."

"Part of becoming an islander?"

She gave an elegant shrug. "As our guest, she thought you might wish to
observe our society more closely. The moon is full and this is the day that
court will be held. All are free to observe."

"I'd love to come. Any particular time?"

"Now, if you please. It will not last long. We will be done before lunch.
There is only one case."

"What's the dispute about?"

"I cannot say. It is for the various parties to state."

OK. This sounded like he needed a coat and tie. "What do I wear?"

She shrugged again. "Go naked if you like," she said with a hint of a smile.

Not *that* again. Any excuse to see his nuts. "Uh... give me a minute to find
my sandals."

---

He tried to listen to the two women. They argued endlessly about who had
killed someone's farm animal.

Terry borrowed Olivia's goat for a week as payment for something but the goat
had perhaps chewed through its leash, wandered away one night and died
mysteriously. It was hard to pay attention. The whole thing was rather boring
and the noon sun was warming up for its appearance. His eyes kept drifting to
the window and the hot green outside.

The pair of women argued about whether it really escaped by accident, if a
snake, which was rare on the island, really bit it or it died of old age or
someone had fed it the wrong thing or it was going to die anyway.

Sigh. Didn't either know the value of goat warranties?

Lucia peppered the two with sharp and detailed questions but they still seemed
to wind up back in the same old circle. A feeling snuck over him that
something else was under it all. A lover's spat or something? Greed wasn't the
only emotion involved.  He'd slept with one of them too, which didn't make him
a comfortable spectator.

"And Jimmy. What do you think of these problems... What to you would be an
equitable solution?"

"Huh?"

"How would you proceed? I would like an outsider's view."

"What would island law normally dictate?"

"Ah. What is the real issue, yes? I can see how that would be hard to
determine from your point of view. If I read it correctly, Olivia was promised
a week's worth of milk in return for an item she had found on the beach. 
Terry loaned her the goat out of convenience.  At issue is whose fault it is
that the goat died."

"Was it an old goat?" He tried not to crack up.

"Yes."

"No arrangements were made beforehand about whose responsibility it was to
look after the goat?"

"No," Olivia stammered, "I just assumed..."

Hm. What would one of those TV detectives do? "Did Rachel look at it to
determine a cause of death?"

"What?"

"Well sometimes doctors can look at dead bodies and determine what killed
them."

"We didn't think of that."

"So you don't know if Terry killed the goat for some reason?"

"Why would I do that?" "I'm not saying that."

"But you think it's her actions that lead to its death?"

"Yes... I guess so..." Olivia suddenly seemed less than pleased with herself.

"It seems to me a question of whose fault it was that it got away.  Whose
leash was it?"

"Mine," Olivia said. "But she could have done something to it."

"I did not!" Terry protested.

"How do I know?"

"Ladies," Dahlia chided them. "Remember your manners. You are here to argue
before the Queen, not with each other."

"Go on, Jimmy."

"Well. I guess Rachel should look at the leash as well as the dead goat.
That's not hard to do is it?"

"It's been dead two weeks. She won't be very happy with us."

"I still have the leash. Here. I brought it with me. It has tooth marks on
it."

"Was it just wandering around when it died or was it trying to get home?"

"We found it far away from both our homes."

"That rules out homesickness, so it might have chewed the leash off if it had
stayed with Olivia anyway and escaped at either home. Hm. Well, if the goat
got away on its own and it turns out it died of natural causes, I'd have to
say it's a question of the plastic crate not being paid for.  If something
else got her goat," again he had to bite his lip, "then I'm not quite sure
what to do."

"And how should she make restitution for the remaining five days of milk?
Olivia does not own any more goats or cows."

"She could buy it from someone else."

"I will *not*. I already gave the crate away and I don't have anything else to
trade. She was my only animal."

"I want my milk," Terry demanded. "You shouldn't have given it to Ashley
before you'd finished paying me!"

Jimmy sighed and shrugged yet again. "If she wants her milk that badly... I
mean the goat was female, they're both female." He gestured at the
petitioners. "I don't know. I did sleep with Olivia. Maybe in nine months
she'll be making her own, you know?"

Olivia's jaw dropped open.

"I can wait that long," Terry snickered.

"I am not a *cow*!" she yelled.

"Did I propose something illegal or something?" he asked Lucia.

"Not at all," Lucia assured him with a professional air. "It is unusual but as
you say, more facts need to be gathered. The two of you find Rachel, dig up
the goat and bring it to me and we will hear further evidence." She turned
calmly to Jimmy again. "An interesting approach. I will consider it, as I will
all sides. Go. I must now consult the law. Do this and you shall have a ruling
in the morning."

The bickering pair departed leaving Jimmy alone for the first time with the
royal couple. Dahlia brought forward an ancient tome for the two of them to
squint over and silence descended on the marble hall, save for the occassional
crinkling of parchment as the pages turned. Jimmy shuffled uneasily, sliding
his toes in and out of the leather straps.

Was he supposed to go too? Maybe this was part of what he was supposed to
watch.

"I've got a magnifying glass if that would help," he offered.

"Yes, I know. It is being put to better uses at the moment."

"Oh." Was that one of the items missing from the crate? The ones Amber alluded
to earlier? "Should I leave too?"

"Do as you wish."

"My eyes are a little stronger if- "

"It hardly matters. You do not read Greek."

"Really? I guess I should learn."

"When time permits of course."

"How do you know English?"

"Dahlia?" the Queen asked, arching a thick eyebrow to her lover before burying
herself in the volume again.

Dahlia looked up at him and smiled, kissing the desk with her soft bottom. Her
hands folded over her lap, highlighting the graceful kink in her spine. "Most
of us speak several languages. We've had to learn from the castaways over the
years... Tell me? Do they still speak Latin today?"

"Not that I know of."

"See I told you- "

The Queen waved her off. "It is part of our heritage. We will pass it down
like all the others. Some of the books are best read that way. You know that."

"If you speak all these different languages, how come I hear English
everywhere? Even from the children?"

"It is the rule. We speak only English for the month."

"Really? What if someone washes up speaking something you've never- "

"We learn," she said flatly. "Sex is fairly universal, you'll find."

He chuckled. It was at that.

Then it dawned on him.

"But I don't speak Greek like you guys. Next month- "

"Don't worry. Amber will teach you." The Queen glanced up from the dusty book.
The wrinkles smoothed out on the bridge of her nose as her eyes relaxed. "Or
whomever you chose," she added. She turned again to her companion. "Dahlia?
Would you mind, dear? Just this once?"

"Sure. Jimmy? Would you like to see our archives?"

"Oh. Listen if I'm keeping either of you- the last thing I want to do is be a
bother."

"Nonsense." Dahlia tugged suggestively at his sleeve until he found himself in
one of the corridors being led along.

"Really," he continued. "I can see you two have work to do."

"She's just looking for the pertinent histories. It's no big deal."

"Doesn't she consult you for the decisions? I saw you whispering in her ear
during the testimony."

"Yes. Something like that."

"So you share it?"

"Not quite. We almost always agree though."

"When you don't?"

"It's her decision. It's why she was chosen."

"You don't get mad?"

"Of course not. I'm just her wife. I'm only helping."

"Huh. I thought it- "

"I'm not one of those people who tries to take over when someone asks my
advice."

Why did she jump to that? "Does she ever do that to you?" The blonde was
silent as they came into a cool, dimly lit room. "I'm sorry. It's none of my
business."

"No. She never does that to me. Not with anything important."

"But she irritates you sometimes?"

"I love her very much. No one's perfect." Dahlia sighed as she slouched
against the pink, veined marble column. She could tell he wasn't ready to give
up the topic. "I irritate her too."

"Really? How?"

"She says... she says I don't always stand up for myself."

"No kidding?" Jimmy pinched her. "You got me to stand up pretty well for you."

The smiling blonde left the support of the cool pillar and with a flick of her
neck, swept her long ponytail from her bosom. She gave him a kiss that seemed
unusually frisky, letting her hand wander over his back. "Are you just
flirting," she whispered, "or are you after something more?"

"Which do you want?"

Dahlia blinked as her soft breath caressed his nose. "I just said I love her
very much... but if you want me to make you happy again I will." Her long
nails pinched him back. "I enjoyed it."

"Nah," Jimmy replied, shaking his head at himself. "It was rude of me."

"No it wasn't. I'd really- "

"You guys are too sweet to me. I can see you need to get back to work so, show
me what you're going to show me and I'll let you two get on with things."

"All right." Was she faking disappointment too? Dahlia turned and pushed back
on a tall stone door. Dark shadows seemed to creep into the hall. "Here is the
great archive. This is everything we are. Everything we  know. In it is
everyone who has been before or is here now... No. Leave the torch outside. No
spark or ember is allowed past the door."

"Hm." He peered inside at the dusty shelves. "So how many languages do you
speak?"

"There are records of more than two dozen here, including Egyptian.
Personally, I speak seven. Oh. I'm forgetting Greek again. Eight, I suppose.
Yes that's right. Some of the words I forget, though. For some reason language
has always come easily to us, particularly around men. I think Circe wanted us
to appeal to the castaways that way. So we'd be more enchanting."

"That's amazing."

She clucked her tongue. "Not really. There isn't much else to do than talk and
tell stories here. And make love, of course." She traced the outline of his
smooth chin with a nail and gave him a smile in the dusty gray light. "We were
a bit disappointed to find out you were an English speaker. It's
understandable since it's so common these days. We were hoping we'd get to
work on a new language since it provides us with something to do. I did enjoy
practicing my Spanish with Antonia." Dahlia cleared her throat and her stately
bearing returned. "Now this book here is..."

---

"Ah! I love you!" Andrea hugged Jimmy with two affectionate arms and her
enthusiastic breasts took to him like life presevers to a drowning sailor. "I
know I'm not supposed to but..." Her smile flew open. "I'm having your baby!
Thank you so much!" Sloppy kisses pelted his face.

"You're pregnant? Great."

"I know! I can be a nurse now. Isn't it wonderful? No more rotten jobs."

"Too bad you weren't a nurse before. We'd have had that fire out in no time."

A cherry glow tinged her cheeks and Andrea gushed in little giggles, clutching
up and down at the front of his robe. "I got so happy I wanted to share a
bottle of wine to celebrate... but then I remembered I'm pregnant! I can't!"
she snickered merrily.

She was doing fine without the alcohol, he thought.

But something still confused him. "How do you know that fast?" Had Rachel
cooked up some sort of test?

"I was due two days ago. Missed it completely."

"That's the only possible reason?"

"Of course. We're never late. The moon is a clock on the island. I had to run
over here as soon as I woke- what?"

His dear eyes had wandered off into the distance somewhere.

Jimmy sat down on the deserted picnic table, softly murmuring to himself.
"Hey... Hey. I'm gonna be a daddy."

He guessed he always sort of knew that, just from the odds alone. You couldn't
screw a hundred women and get away scott free.  But now it was real to him,
driven home by Andrea's overabundant bounciness.

"Not quite," she replied, sitting beside him and draping a tender arm around
his shoulder.

"Oh. I don't...?" He frowned. "I can't see the kid?"

"Well of course you can," she said, pinching his cheek with a strand of her
own black hair trapped in her fingers.

"I wouldn't want to... to feel like I was neglecting my responsibility or
anything. I'd like to help."

"That's fine."

"What... what can I do to help?"

"Why don't you think about it. You've got... oh, eight months or more to
figure it out." She perked up as her hands drifted to his hips. "Tell you
what. You talk to me again in a few weeks, OK?" Andrea wet her lips and smiled
again. "Whatever you'll be comfortable with will make me happy."

A few weeks...?

Oh.

It took that from him too?

"I won't feel the same?"

"No, Jimmy. I'm sorry... but you can feel that way now." She stood and pulled
at his tunic with renewed vigor like a clawing child.  "Come on. I sent Hope
away. Let's celebrate. At least you can be a daddy tonight."

"So you're the first? Who else knows?"

"Don't," she said, putting a discrete finger to his lips. "Don't say anything,
will you? We're not supposed to say."

"What? To me?"

"To anyone."

"Why?"

"It's uh... it's a jinx."

But she'd just told him. "So I won't feel like I have to sleep with someone a
second time?"

She looked at each corner of the forest warily before gaving him a tiny nod.
"Please. Give everyone a fair chance, Jimmy. Don't ask them- "

"Sure." But... no wine, huh? Keep it a secret, huh? His suspicions were
growing. "How exactly did you want to celebrate?"

"Rats. I can't figure out how now. I just wanted to share it with you because
you've been such a good friend and I wanted you to be happy about it."

"I am happy."

"Good." Then with a gleam in her eye, Andrea pounced. "Well..." she trilled. A
soft hand slipped into his lapel and her knuckles brushed against his supple
chest. "I have been meaning to ask you something but I was going to wait."

"What?"

"Could I ask just a little favor?... As a friend?" Her grin curved wickedly to
the left side. "I could do something personal to thank you..." she crooned in
his ear. "I wouldn't even ask if I didn't know I had such an effect on you..."

"What's that, Andrea?"

"Could we have a little intercourse one more time? Just for the hell of it? I
promise to show my gratitude," she purred. "I know you're pressed for time and
you've got others to consider but... You know I don't want it for the child,"
she giggled. "You wouldn't have to come at all, so I wouldn't be wasting- Oh
that sounds so rotten of me, doesn't it? I just- men are so hard to- "

Her brief scheme collapsed and she fumed at herself.

"I really do think you're sexy," Jimmy said with a reassuring kiss. "And I'd
love to one last time. Uh..." He thought a moment. "I could..." He sighed.
"Why don't you ask around and find a girl who wouldn't mind sharing?" Would
she be happy with that? "Would that work?"

Her eyes brightened. "I'd love it. I could put on quite a show for you," she
dripped devilishly. Jimmy started to say something. "Oh. I know you'd rather
be alone with me again but this is a smart compromise for both of us. I
wouldn't be taking anything."

"Good... I guess I need to squeeze it all in for a farewell tour."

And he'd only just met them all. Short cruises weren't supposed involve
farewells. Why had his turned into a funeral dirge?

"Oh I wouldn't say that. I'm fairly good with a pussy." Her long tongue poked
between her cheeks, waving seductively from side to side like kelp in the
ocean current. "I'd love to get together with you later, if you'd have me. To
show my appreciation, you know..."

"We'll see."

"I know it's uncomfortable to think about now. That part of the curse always
makes it that way, but things will be different. It'll get better.... and I'd
make you very happy." She backed away and winked at him, smoothing the airy
folds in her dress. "Well... I'll just go and find a young lady I can prove my
skills on."

Jimmy chuckled. "Why don't you grab Hope?" He'd like to see that. "She wanted
a taste but didn't want me to come either."

"My you do have a big appetite. Three of us, huh?"

Three?

---

"I'm... I'm, um... you may find me a bit, uh, dry in that department." Her
palm drifted to his arm and she looked shyly in his eye, nervous and
childlike. "It's not that I don't like you," she rushed out in her soft, silky
voice. "I really do and I'm looking forward to it." Her cheeks turned a rosy
pink. "It's just that sometimes- "

He kissed her. "I've... worked around the problem before. We'll take care of
it."

"I'm sorry. It's the one thing I have to do to make it work and- "

"Hey. You should try getting hard like this all day."

She giggled. Then the shadows fell across her dear face again. "I know. I've
got so little to do and I- "

"Hey." He scratched her chin until she gazed up at him. "When your belly's out
to here, you'll remember just how small my part was."

It would be small, wouldn't it?

"I hope," she whispered.

"I'll do my best," he promised. "Now prop your legs up darling and let's give
the natural way a shot."

"You're too kind..." A soft moan formed in her throat as he dragged his tongue
up one labia. "But please," she sighed, "don't exhaust yourself..."

He snorted as he worked himself inside her.

She wasn't kidding. Dry as toast.

That wouldn't last long.

He gave her pussy a moment to stop flinching from the rough touch, then put a
thumb above her clit and began a gentle massage. The rest of his fingers
pressed side to side above her forest of black curls. He hooked his pinky into
her navel, just for fun and pulled down on it.

Her smell was strengthening. She seemed a little oilier.

Linda's advice was paying off.

Or was it- ? Who's was it? Linda hadn't shown him that. It must have been Sara
or Deborah.

He rolled a globule of spittle onto his tongue for good measure and worked it
over her, hoping she wouldn't notice. Her hips leaned into him, heartening his
resolve as her probed her opening. Jimmy slobbered as noisily as possible,
smacking his lips and nibbling on the sides of her pink souffle until her
steamy snatch was coated in a shiny webbing of saliva.

He pulled back a bit and finally plunged a finger deep into her, kissing spit
onto it until she frothed up like a dog foaming at the mouth.

Yeah... she was ready all right. This was kind of fun for once. It was nice to
have a challenge

The docile woman squealed in delight, her red palms quivering helplessly at
her side.

He'd completely forgotten about the thumb. She obviously couldn't. The ribbons
of flesh contracted around him.

She lassoed his neck and yanked hard, until she reeled him in for a kiss. He
slipped his member effortlessly between her folds.

Their lips smacked loudly as he broke away.

"See. Squishy enough for you? You did fine."

"Some of it's yours," she smirked.

He winked at her. "Wait a month. It'll be more authentic."

"Awwww..." she crooned. "Well when you have a problem like that, just call...
Come on, hon. It won't last long. Let's not waste- good... ooooohhh...
gooooNNNd...."

---

"I don't know where they are. They're always running off on me like that. Why
don't you sit down and share some breakfast." He scooted his chair over to
make room for Dahlia. "So whatever happened to the goat?"

"It stank."

Milk sputtered all over the table.

"Did I say something funny?"

"Yeah." He wiped his chin. "So what happened at the great trial?"

"Trial? No one was on trial. We haven't had to do that since I can't
remember."

"What happened between Terry and Olivia?"

"Oh. Why didn't you just ask that?" He sighed. "Well, they were right. Rachel
was most unhappy with them."

"What did she find?"

"Which 'she'?"

"Rachel. What did Rachel decide after looking at the leash and the carcass?"

"Oh. It wasn't her- never mind. She thinks it died of, uh, nature?" Her head
tilted as if the earth was yanking on her long blonde hair. "I mean what else
would it die of?" she complained in a whisper. She straightened up again and
flipped her ponytail back. "Either that or a snake. She didn't think anyone
beat it." Dahlia paused. "Why would anyone do that?" she wondered out loud.

"So what did the Queen say?"

The blonde frowned. "She didn't have a chance."

"Why not?"

"They withdrew their complaint."

"What's so bad about that? You look like they did something wrong?"

"Well she very rarely gets to sit in judgement anyway... You shouldn't do that
to a person, you know."

"Why did they withdraw?"

"They knew Lucia was going to say payment wasn't delivered."

"Hah. So I gave her good advice after all?"

"Hm. I don't know if she would have recommended *that*," she smirked. "Nine
months is a long wait."

"So what was decided?"

"Lucia didn't say. They withdrew right before. I think when they heard how
drastic the decision might be they decided to kiss and make up. They worked
out something a little less harsh to the each of them, I think." She smiled.
"I think Terry realized she could wind up pregnant too after next week and I
doubt she'd want to be a milk-cow either. That's probably why she volunteered
to help Olivia trap one of the wild goats on the far side of the island."

"Are they- " He stopped himself from saying 'boyfriend-girlfriend.'

"Lovers? Yes. I think so. At one point at least. Perhaps again. Many disputes
relate to that. You'd expect people to be able to settle such things
themselves but sometimes their hearts run away with them."

"Well, they eventually came to their senses and realized how much trouble
they'd put people through and how they'd embarrassed themselves. That's all
that counts."

"Embarrassed?" She clucked her tongue. "If it was love, then there's nothing
embarrassing when you need someone else's help to work out your feelings for
another person."

"Oh." Spoken like a true woman. Oh well... He winked at her. "Care for a
little of my own milk?" He nudged his glass in her direction as she chuckled.

"If it's one thing the island has in abundance, it's milk."

"Eggs?" He offered her the plate.

"Eggs too," she laughed. "No thank you, but I've eaten already. Ugh. And you
had to go and remind me about that goat..."

---

"That was fast."

"It took a day to find someone, actually." Andrea's eyes narrowed. "Rose
wouldn't share this morning."

"Rose had good reason not to. Don't pick on her."

"I know. But I like Marla better," she said, pecking the grinning blonde on
the cheek.

Jimmy stroked Hope's shoulder until she turned and looked up with her friendly
eyes.

"You realize Hope you could get pregnant from this."

She curled a lock of hair sweetly around his fingers. "It's a very small
chance... but I know. Don't worry. It's about the worst time for it."

"Worst time?"

"Of my month."

"Famous last words."

"Last words?"

"I don't want you to end up barefoot and pregnant with no one to care for
you."

Her warm hands crept under his toga as he kissed her on the forehead. "There's
always someone," she sighed. "I'm sure I'd find her."

He caressed her neck as she nuzzled him quietly.

He turned to Marla, getting strangely excited by the headache of absorbing
three seperate sets of emotions in the bedroom.

"Sure you won't be disappointed?" he asked the blonde. "Three's a bit much,
don't you think?"

"You suggested it."

A chuckle stumbled out of his mouth. "*Andrea* suggested it."

"You want me to leave?" Andrea asked, a bit puzzled.

"No, honey." He drew Andrea's hand up for a kiss. "I'm just not sure with
three women... I could spend enough time with each to be fair."

"Oh. I only wanted a little bit," she said.

"Well I wanted a little more," he replied, pinching her plump bottom. Andrea
giggled shamelessly and cupped his face for a kiss. Her other hand roamed
light as a feather over his spine. He could feel Hope slipping through his
arms as the big beauty drew closer. "But it wouldn't be fair to the others..."
he reminded her.

"I know," Andrea whispered. "Maybe one of us should come back?" Her ebony
eyebrow curled. "Me?"

"Nooo," he protested. Marla and Hope sat diplomatically out of range, kissing
together on the bed. Their light stroking provided a feast for his growing
passion. "Please stay." His eyes felt like they would split apart. "I'd love
to... maybe... if..."

His earlobe slipped from Andrea's teeth. "I'll give you a good show..." she
trilled, "give you something to look forward to..."

"You sure there's another girl who- ?"

"I know just the one." She cupped his ear. "And Marla really likes me. I'll
keep her busy tonight when you don't... Or maybe when you do..."

"Devil!" He pinched her and giggled at her boldness with her. He leaned in and
added his own twist to her designs: "No more Hope for Marla, huh?"

"No!" she sputtered.

"Ladies!" Jimmy announced. "We have a compromise!" The girls turned and smiled
from their sweet embrace as he approached with Andrea wrapped on an arm.
JimmyĠs wink almost divided a line down their middle. "I hope you enjoyed that
kiss... because it's the last we're going to let you two steal from each
other..."

Marla smiled as Andrea pealed away from him. She rose from Hope's soft hands,
folded herself around him and leapt on his hips, dragging him into bed and
down on her warm, plush form.

"Oh." Hope's blushing voice wafted over almost immediately. "Goodness they're
big."

The lovely thing was inundated with boobs. Her delicate fingers fumbled with
Andrea's out of control bosom like that cup of juice at the schoolyard table.
Only these she couldn't spill or drive away. Marla peppered his chin with
kisses while he watched Hope push futily at the giant mammaries. It was no
use. She was trapped. Every little brushing movement only piqued Andrea's
passion for her more.

With a charming sigh, the cute teen resigned herself to fate, caressing and
cuddling the large puddles of flesh. An eye finally peaked out from between
the sisters, its lash fluttering in disbelief at his lewd smile. "These give
you a big prick?" Hope asked sheepishly, as she wrestled with the two heavy
tentacles.

Andrea's eyes rolled back in delight from the struggling fingers.

"Oh yeah," he groaned.

"Umph." Hope spit more tit flesh out. "Well what good is it, if I can't see
it?"

Jimmy chuckled. "Erections are better felt and not seen."

"Oooh." Now Marla let out that delightful sound of feminine surprise.

"Wouldn't you agree Marla?"

"Absolutely," she sighed. "Slow- slowly, please." A hand floated to his chest
and she grinned politely in her struggle past the initial discomfort. "You're
so big."

"Thank you."

"Oh?" She seemed puzzled at his response. "You're welcome, I guess."

He and Andrea chuckled at her. "It's fun being big, isn't it Andrea?"

"Yeahssss," she moaned. The mother-to-be stroked Hope's sandy hair back while
the teen lapped at her broad saucers. "Squeeze a little more, cutey." She
yelped suddenly as Hope yanked a dark spike between her teeth. "Ooo... you
know how to get a girl wet..."

Hope gurgled in laughter, tugging the warm columns back and forth over
themselves.

His eyes fell on Marla again, now grinding pleasantly against his pubic bone.
"Don't you like watching?" he teased.

She drowned him in a kiss.

Jimmy pushed her knees back farther and shoved her across the bed until her
back started to rise against one of the posts. Her lungs grabbed at the used
air in his. Their quickening breath refused to release his lips. Underneath,
lurking in the soft vibrations of her throat he could feel the trapped moans
slowly building to a crescent.

With a loud, wet smacking he turned and broke it off.

"Oh... Jimmy?" Andrea crooned. The raven haired Venus crooked her finger,
drawing in his gaze to her pouting mouth. Her ruby lips moistened mere inches
from Hope's splayed legs. The wonderfully long tongue unfurled and went to
work in the girl's paltry bush, licking and munching through her valley.

She was indeed skillful, judging from the passionate groans and whines filling
the room. Hope writhed and lunged at that luscious mouth while she tweaked her
delicate nipples, fingers turning her chest red with their plucking. Her eyes
clouded over.

The girl was gone.

And what a sexy snatch it was getting twiddled. He'd never seen a girl with
such sparse hair down there.

How old was she truly? Her bosom was plainy full and ripe but the little beige
hairs hugging her crotch were only thick enough to be visible in the middle
where they merged like vines into a line that blended with her fatty slit.

Andrea parted her open again, revealing her pink and tasty treat.

And again it disappeared buried in a loud slurping.

"Andrea's doing an lot of hard work to keep your playmate there happy."

"I know," Marla purred. "She's a wonderful lay."

Andrea glanced back with narrow eyes. Was she blushing? *That* embarrassed
her.

"Oo." Marla stroked his cheek.

"You know she'll be doing that on you in a minute, don't you?"

"Yeah," she sighed wonderfully. "Not toooo soon I hope."

"Don't you think you should work on repaying her? Maybe in advance..." he
hinted.

"Mm. Yeah... she is fun to chew on at that."

Her legs locked with expert precision around his waist while he lifted her to
a better angle. Andrea, not needing any prompting, wiggled her plump derriere
into position and buried Marla in a rich tuft of dark curls. The view of her
shadowy slit vanished as Marla covered it with the pink underside of her
tongue.

He slapped Andrea's fanny, sending wonderful ripples through her thighs. With
both hands, he steadied himself on her and kneaded each luscious cheek... but
the rocking in her hips seemed to call for a little more. Jimmy leaned on one
arm, careful not to crush the woman under him, and worked a finger into her
warm muff, letting her eagerly hump his hand along with Marla's chin.

He loved watching a woman do that. And Andrea did it with such zeal.

His elbow soon tired and her fragrance became overwhelming. He pulled out of
her snug tunnel and bent forward over Marla's juicy face, replacing his
knuckles with his tongue.  Together they kissed her bottom and wrestled over
her moist prize. Then Marla moved lower, finally nursing at the sweet pearl of
their sex. Andrea gasped in muffled harmony with Hope.

The quivering cushions of Andrea's body were wonderful in their own right, as
was her bedroom song but the acrobatics got the better of him. Jimmy pulled
out of Marla and slumped back on the bed, waiting to see how the girls would
take the initiative.

One by one he felt pairs of hands slinking up his thighs.

Marla grabbed hold of his cock and jealously took back her juices, tilting her
head to the side and wrapping her lips around him like a hotdog bun.

Andrea tapped her shoulder politely. "Let me show you."

"She does it better?" Marla asked.

"So far..." he teased. "Who knows? Maybe you'll surpass your teacher..."

Marla giggled and observed intently as Andrea clamped down and sucked him into
her lungs. She had the rhythm just right too... had since their first
encounter...

His mind wandered off as his hands played in her silky long hair.

"Not too much of that," Hope chided as she caressed one of Andrea's massive
globes. Worry of wasting 'it' was written clearly on her face.

'It.'

He chuckled.

They suddenly looked like a bunch of coeds trying to get enough money together
for one last ticket on the roller coaster. But who would go...?

"Yeah," he breathed mischievously. "Hope wants her chance to practice too."

"That's not what I- " Hope's sexual flush deepened as the grinning blonde
pushed her face first into his glistening pole.

Marla shifted lower to lick at his balls while Hope tentatively worked her
lips around the tip of his organ. She obviously wasn't going to take him all
the way in, but the slender hand she wrapped around his shaft was quite
adorable.

But her other one was getting rude.

Somehow Andrea knew enough to try to pry it away but Hope wouldn't retreat.

"Please don't, girls." He brushed away all their fingers, well-meaning or
otherwise. But Hope wouldn't let it go. He folded his arms over his hairless
chest and blushed at the small but uncomfortable amount of cleavage that
appeared. "I said *stop it*," he ordered.

Hope let him slip from her mouth and backed away.

Jimmy wanted to throw her on her belly and punch it to her mercilessly like
Amanda in heat.

But there was no wicked grin on her lovely face.

She didn't even twirl her hair.

Andrea whispered something in her ear.

"Sorry," she said.

He grabbed a wrist and plucked the limp girl up for a kiss. "Climb on, honey."

"But Marla hasn't had her practice yet."

"Marla's busy."

She turned to see Andrea climbing on top of her, battering the older woman's
hips with her huge breasts as they split apart each other pussies and happily
licked away.

"Marla was right," Hope whispered in his ear. "She does have a good tongue."

"I know." He kissed her. "So do you."

"Sorry," she said again innocently, as he felt her warm walls embrace him. "I
thought you were playing."

"It's fine."

Time to screw Hope, chuckled Jimmy quietly to himself.

---

It was the part of evening when things got quiet in the village but right
before they got busy again. Though there was still light in the sky, the
children had all gone home. The shepherdesses and fisherwomen were packing it
in. The fresh catch of the day had been distributed and now the women were
preparing dinner.

He wandered down the street poking his head in some of the houses just to say
hello. He knew most of the children by name now and they were always glad to
see him, but he tried to be careful of distracting them from their chores.

He still didn't know quite what to do with the adolescent girls. Some of them
had such stunned expressions when they laid eyes on him. He could see the fear
and lust fighting inside their eyes. And the obvious embarrassment they felt
about the strange new feelings they had.

Island law wouldn't allow them to join the 'list' until they were at least
Melissa's age, but even then most, like Hope, waited and pined away, fearful
of having a child so young.

But it didn't stop some from suggesting it. One mother, when he asked for
clarification, emphasized that his rules only applied to women old enough to
conceive and that if a young girl caught his fancy to simply ask her mother if
she'd had her first period. Donatella then went on to remark, rather proudly
(and somewhat suggestively), that her own daughter had indeed started just a
few months ago.

How did she put it exactly? "Became a woman," she said.

But then she kept referring to her "little girl."

The girl, barely fourteen, stood like a beanstalk beside her, looking at him
with such eager brown eyes.

For some reason he just couldn't bring himself. And he felt guilty for it too.

Should he think of the woman as a pervert? What did that mean here? Was she
just looking out for her daughter's happiness?

Amber simply shrugged it off when he told her about it, like it was just
another fact of life and not her business. Like it was a matter of taste.

And to think... that beanstalk could have been a boy just last year...

Why was he thinking back to that now? Was that why he was avoiding all the
older families? They liked greeting him, just the same, even if sex was off
the table.

Was it fair of him not to say hello too?

If the old boys really were new girls, wasn't he depriving them of something
too?

The family section faded in the distance and for some reason he found himself
on the road to the schoolhouse. It would be empty this time of the afternoon,
but still his mind (and feet) drifted to it.

He hadn't seen much of Amber for almost two days. She was always anxious to be
with him when they ran across one another and she clearly enjoyed his company.
But then, after a few minutes she wandered off to work on some unnamed task,
drifting away in her daily stream of duties.

Well. So what? So did all the other girls in his circle if it wasn't their
day.

He was a bit surprised to catch her sitting alone at one of the lunch tables
in the school yard, doing nothing in particular besides enjoying the sun's
warmth. Part of a date rested in her slack hand. She chewed slowly on its
other half, savoring the fruit she liked so much, then swallowed and looked
off into the shadows of the forest.

"What are you so down about?"

"Oh. Hello." Amber smoothed out her dress. "Nothing," she said, frowning at
the fabric as she remembered the juices still on her hand.

The half-finished fruit plopped to the ground as Jimmy sauntered up behind
her, rubbing her soft ivory shoulders until the stress of the day disappeared
from her limp neck.

"How about I sneak away for half an hour and cheer you up?"

"Mmmm," she moaned pleasantly, head lolling about and sweeping her warm satin
tresses over his arm. "I can't. I'm having my- " Her eyes snapped opened and
her delicate bones stiffened again.

"Period?"

"Yes."

"Well that doesn't mean we can't... oh. Oh. I'm so sorry." He freed her from
his grip neck and sat beside her, drawing her hand in his.

"No. It's OK. Really. I'm young. I have plenty of chances. It's not like it's
your fault."

"Sure it is."

"Huh?"

"I should have never put a little Helen in you. She's a jealous one I bet."

The back of her hand rubbed across her cheek but he couldn't see tears on her
face. He couldn't tell at all if she'd been crying.

"I wonder if she's pregnant," Amber whispered.

"Why don't you ask her?"

"No. It's, um... She's married."

"Is there some reason nobody wants to say?"

"Yeah. It's a... We usually wait until the new moon."

"I'd like to know now."

"It... it puts pressure on you. No one wants to do that. We want you to enjoy
yourself. Oh listen. I'm sorry I said anything to you about it."

"Hey. We've still got some time. I'll wait until the end of the month and
we'll try again, OK?"

"Thanks. I've had my chance, though. You don't have to if you- "

"Nonsense. We are going to make love again sometime... aren't we?"

"Yes." She laughed and sniffled. "I'd hoped we were. It's all up to you, of
course."

"No it's not."

She smiled but looked away at the fine pebbles on the ground.

"Hey. I just realized something. We can both get drunk now. Come on. Let's go
have us some drinks and a good old time. You want to?"

"I can't... I can't be with you in that way tonight. I'm on my- "

"Hell, I know that. Let's just go get us a bottle of wine and howl at the
moon." Amber laughed. "I've been wanting to do that since I got here." She
flicked her crimson mane back and smiled again at him. "Let's get some of the
girls together and just have some fun. Come on, you've probably got plenty of
friends we can go do that with. Let's round them up and have a party."

"But what about your, uh, girl tonight?"

"Ah, fuck her," he laughed. "What do I care?"

"Please? For me?" Her emerald eyes sparkled. "We can have a drink afterwards."

"All right," he sighed. "Don't have too much fun without me."

"I don't know who I could get besides you," Amber frowned. "I mean if it's
just for me. It's not a festival and most people have to be up at dawn...
Maybe some of your volunteers are free. Did you want I should- "

"It'll just be the two of us, then."

"Thanks."

"All you had to do was ask."

She finally snorted something back in her throat. "I know. I thought... I
wanted to just let it pass by." Her clear nails brushed the airy belly of the
dress. "It's bothering me more than usual."

"Oh..." That. He winced. "Are yours bad?"

"No. Not usually. I just didn't want to be around you and feel this way. The
wine should help, though. I was thinking of getting drunk tonight anyway."

"Good." He glanced around the bare woods and sat up, brushing the dirt from
his rear end. "Well I know you're just going to tell me you've got to run off
and do something else now- "

"Yes," she laughed lightly.

"Why don't you stop by for dinner later?"

"When are you eating?"

"Whenever you show up."

"Oh... How about sunset?"

"Sunset? That soon?" He leapt up with a smirk on his face. "Better hurry up
and round up Gail then... Sorry... gotta get to work..."

Amber chuckled as she watched him jog off.

---

"For someone who doesn't play cards very well, you do like the game."

"Yeah. You gonna give me any of my chips back?"

"No. I gave them to Dahlia. I think she's already eaten them."

"Ho hum. I'd like to keep at least two of my nuts." Amber giggled and then
stumbled over a large root in the path. "I'll have to introduce you to strip
poker. That's a game I'd try to win."

"You mean you let me win?" she pouted. "I thought you were genuinely rotten...
What kind of a gift is palm nuts to give someone you like?"

"Dahlia liked them."

"You like Dahlia?" She reached over and tickled him the dumb expression from
his face.

"The Queen's looking for any excuse to run me in... Say. You think I could
coax her into bed again? I'd like to just screw it to her one last time.
Rachel said I could with married women."

"Yes, you can."

"Oh. Sorry. I shouldn't talk about other women around you."

"No... I was just..." Her feet came to a halt and she turned to him. "What's
'strip' poker?"

"Oh. It's where you bet the clothes you're wearing instead of poker chips. The
winner winds up with everyone's clothes."

"I bet you'd lose at that game too." She sighed. "But then who wouldn't?"

He laughed and sat on a log. His legs were getting too rubbery. Amber wavered
in the air above him a moment, regained her composure and then took her place
beside him.

"You didn't mind the extra faces at dinner?" he asked.

"No. Not at all. Penelope's been a good friend to me over the years. So have
the others. Thanks for inviting them."

"I liked listening to their stories about you."

She pinched him. "It's no fair. You don't have any friends around who can
embarrass you that way."

"You could." He landed an uncoordinated kiss on her jaw. "So if you were
having so much fun, why'd you suddenly drag me out here?"

"It's getting late. We're going to fall asleep soon."

"Oh." Somehow that explanation made perfect sense under the moonlight of the
empty field.

He took another drink and passed the calfskin to her.

"Out under the night sky..." Amber hummed to herself. Was it part of some
song? He listened to the sloshing as she took a swig. "I just wanted some time
together," she explained.

"So did I."

He gazed up at the milky lunar orb as it hung large in the sky. The way it sat
on top of them reminded him of a chadelier- another one of those things he'd
never see again.

He flipped it a bird.

'It'? Flipped 'it'?

Was 'it' an 'it'? Maybe it was a 'she'-

"What's this?" Amber held her middle finger up to the moon and closed one eye,
then the other as she peered around her digit at the white disk. She looked
like she was taking one of those driver's license tests.

"It's an american symbol," he explained. "I'm telling the moon to go fuck
itself."

She laughed hysterically until she slid off the log.

"Why would you want to do anything so nice for her?"

"Nice?"

"The moon is jealous. She doesn't have any lovers. That's why she chases the
sun."

"Telling someone to go fuck themselves is considered a rude insult where I'm
from."

"Oh."

"It implies nobody else would love them. And they have to do it themselves."

"Oh."

Right? What exactly did it mean? "Don't you have... don't you refer to sex and
misfortune that way? Tell someone to go screw themselves or say 'I hope you
get screwed'?"

"No." She stroked his shin. "I like getting screwed."

Jimmy chuckled. "Well I was certainly screwed when I got here."

"No. You won't get screwed for a long time."

"Huh?"

"You need a man for that, don't you?... Sorry to bring it up."

He pinched her check. "I can still screw you..."

He finally fell into the dewy grass with her.

"Stop," she protested. "I said I can't."

"You don't want to kiss just a little?"

"That's all?"

"Honey, my dick is *so* tired, trust me... It got so small it's inside *me*
now."

Amber laughed. "Really? I'd like to see that." Jimmy fumbled with his belt.
"No," she chuckled. "I'll take your word."

"Good," he sighed. He blinked hard and turned to her again. "Now where were
we?"

As she returned his kiss, Jimmy slowly leaned over until they were both on
their sides, each with an arm slung over the log. Her soothing hands caressed
his neck and ran playfully along his spine... then to the small of his back...

Suddenly it wasn't inside him anymore.

He prodded around the unfathomable layers of fabric that wrapped her waist,
searching for a piece of warm flesh. He followed the curve in her hip to the
wiry little forest and from there to the prized pea of her sex where he began
circling her... calling her out...

"Don't," she moaned.

"It hurts?"

"No. I like it." She sighed. "Ok. Go ahead then."

Her thighs stayed welded together but she slowly rocked her hips forward until
more of her slit greeted his hand. He could feel a fleshy part of each lip
now, leading away into that incomprehensible void all women carried between
their legs.

Her glassy green eyes closed, hiding away the two white circles trapped in
them. Her exhausted head sank into his elbow and the rotting wood beneath. He
put his lips on hers and she kissed him weakly, parting her mouth and allowing
his tongue to explore while her hands limply massaged the tendons tugging in
his arm.

"A bit faster," she whispered. "Lighter too..."

Amber bit her lower lip as he complied.

She whimpered in his ear while he kissed her up stretched neck.

Her waist jerked and her clit pulled away from him, ever so subtly.

It returned from its hiding place.

She took a deep breath. Her eyes opened. Two little bits of moon smiled at him
from her dark orbs and the couple kissed a little longer, now with more
enthusiasm.

Her breathing became labored.

She turned on her back to rest, and he did the same.

They watched the night sky in silence.

"How do you do it again?"

She pointed her middle finger at the moon.

"No. Hold it like this. Vertical... no. Horizontal, then... or whatever.
Yeah... Now say 'Fuck off!'"

"Fuck off!" She fell into giggling again.

That just ruined it.

Her smile slowly faded.

Amber clutched the bag she'd brought and sat up.

"Hey! Where you going with the wine?"

"Sorry. Got to be alone a minute."

"Oh."

She waddled off to the woods.

"Take a torch with you! Don't want you getting bit like that goat..." he
mumbled. Shoot. They hadn't brought any, had they? Well the moonlight was
enough.

He sighed and draped his head against the log.

Scattered rain drops fell on the dry leaves. Soon they crinkled underfoot
again.

Amber laid down next to him.

Was she staring at him? He couldn't take his eyes off that bright globe. He
knew from the pictures brought back by men who walked on it just how cold and
lifeless it was- despite island superstitions. There was nothing feminine
about it.

Maybe that's why it was jealous...

She muttered something.

"Huh?"

"I said you're handsome. Are you deaf too?"

"You said it in Greek."

"Oh." She turned up to the sky. "I can't help it. It's what I think in."

"Does talking to me make your head hurt?"

"No. We learn English early. I can think in that too. They say it's what
everyone speaks outside."

"Have to be prepared, huh?"

"Yes. The curse might lift. Who knows?"

"Great," he groaned. "Just my luck. I'll grow tits and then we'll all get
rescued. I'll spend the rest of my life some topless dancer getting groped
when she goes shopping."

"Huh?"

"Strippers. They're, uh- "

"I know what strippers are. Some of the men ask for it, like on your first
night- "

"Hey I didn't- "

"But what's 'shopping'?"

"Oh. You need money for that. Then again, you need money for stripping too.
No. Maybe that's just to watch. Yeah." He stole another taste from the calf-
skin. "That's how it works."

"Oh... You mean we haven't been doing it right?"

"You do it too well..." He wiped his purple chin on his sleeve. "Hey. Am I
gonna have to do that?"

"Do what?"

"Strut my stuff to those flutes?" Did women actually want to do any of that?
Would he? Yuck... But then it looked sexy as hell. Especially that little
fluttering number they did with the long scarves...

"I don't know," Amber replied. "Depends on who you pick, I guess. I don't do
it."

"You don't like to dance?"

"Of course I do. I like to keep my clothes on, though."

Jimmy stood up, staggered for a moment until he regained his balance, and held
out a hand.

"Is this where we howl at the moon?"

"This is where we dance." He steadied her as she rose into his arms. "Then
we'll howl at the moon."

"Keep me awake for that part."

---

"Hi, Jimmy."

Huh?

What was Melissa doing way out here in the middle of a field?

Come to think of it, why was his bed in the middle of a field too?

Or was it just him?

No. Amber stirred under his arm, letting out one of the most heart-warming
moans a man could ever hear.

Ow. Maybe not. It rang through his ear. That and Melissa's endless prattling
made his head throb.

"You were hard to find," she informed him. "One of the cowgirls spotted you on
the way to grazing the herds."

Cows?

"Urp. I need to go to the bathroom." Why was the world spinning?

"Didn't anyone tell you not to get drunk? It'll spoil your day." Melissa knelt
and shook Amber awake while Jimmy wandered off for a tree of the appropriate
width.

Melissa's olive-skinned frown came into focus for her. "I know you like him
but how could you let him talk you into it, Amber?"

"Huh?" She burped up a foul smelling odor. "I feel fine. What's wrong?"

"You let him talk you into drinking. You know men can't handle their wine."

"Huh? He out-drank *me* last night... Oh dear. I forgot. How is he feeling?"

"See for yourself." Amber followed her long finger to Jimmy leaning against a
tall oak. He waved politely and nearly fell over. "Now he'll be sick all
morning," she complained.

"I am not," he yelled, surprising Amber. "I'll be fine. Ow. And stop
shouting."

"At least his hearing's getting better," Amber sighed.

"Yeah. You know why that is." Melissa propped a hand under her elbow to lift
her. "How do you feel?"

"A little headache. Nothing bad."

Jimmy glanced at his hand. Had he cut himself when he scraped the bark?

No. The blood was dried.

He spit on his finger and rubbed away the tiny red smudge. Some stick or
something must have poked him during the night.

"It was his idea, not mine," Amber whispered to Melissa.

"You told him, didn't you? You could get in trouble."

"He wanted to make love. What was I supposed to tell him? I lost my vagina?
I'll find it tomorrow?" Melissa frowned. "He just wanted a friend last
night... So did I." Amber sighed. "O!"

"Sneak up on you?"

"Yes."

Jimmy embraced her waist and rested his chin on her head, taking a deep breath
of the rosy aroma still in her auburn curls. "It's true. I twisted her arm."
He turned, eyed Melissa and gave Amber a peck on the cheek. "I'll still be
with her again... and last night if she would have had me." His brow arched.
"So is she screwed? You going to put her on trial?" he asked, triggering funny
smirking noises in both girls. "Do I gotta sleep with the judge to get her out
of the pokey?  The jury? Tell me what I gotta do."

"I think you already have," Amber chuckled.

"No," Melissa said faintly. "I'll be discrete."

"Or at least sympathetic," he reminded her.

"I am." It was hard to tell when her dark skin blushed, but the young woman's
eyes glanced down a moment as she batted her lashes. "I didn't mean to..." She
straightened up. "I hope you feel better. I'll return to the palace and get
breakfast ready."

"Thanks."

They watched her short skirt ride up in the wind as she trotted back to the
path.

He spun Amber around in his arms. "How about it? Join me for a bite?"

"OK."

He clutched his head, now that Melissa was out of sight.

"Feeling bad?"

"Yeah. It's the moon's turn to howl back," he chuckled. "How come you aren't
all queasy?"

"I am a little... but we don't get sick like that, remember?"

"Must be handy for all the Roman orgies."

"We don't have orgies in Latin anymore. Why? You want one?"

"Not right now. I'd settle for an aspirin."

"I can't, unfortunately."

"I know." Jimmy took a deep breath, which drew more of Amber's concern. "It's
just a hangover. I'll live."

"Sorry."

"Hell, I knew I'd have one. It's no big deal." He kissed her forehead. "I can
convince everyone I'm fine. I used to do it at work all the time."

She smiled weakly. "I had fun last night."

"Good. You going to keep avoiding me?"

"No," she laughed. "I'll stay by your side as long as you want."

"You have to teach this morning?"

"Yes."

He patted her bottom. "Why don't you run off then?" She shot him a funny look.
"Ironic, huh? I'm the one with the headache now."

"Oh. Yours will clear up. It'll just take longer."

"I know."

"So *am* I screwed?" she whispered.

"You know it."

"Promise?"

"Promise."

"Good." She grinned. "The pokey, huh?" She pinched his cheek. "I think I might
like the pokey. Let me stay in it a while longer?"

---

"What happened to Melissa? You're not helping today, are you?"

"Oh. Did you forget?" Linda nodded discretely at the girl in front of her.
"You know *Susan*, of course. You two have been very friendly with one
another."

"Of course I know Susan... OH." The one Linda had mentioned. "It's your turn
today, is it? Sorry but Melissa didn't tell me anything this morning."

"She said you might be... uh, a little out of it," Susan replied timidly.

Linda grinned wickedly at him. Her girlfriend was so coy. A perfect match for
such an aggressive woman. She reminded him of Dahlia in a way but without as
much self-confidence. Was it her shorter height?

Then Linda did something which surprised him. She stepped forward and kissed
Susan on the side of her cheek. Looking first at Jimmy, then into Susan's
hazel eyes, she said, "I'll let you two get to know each other a moment...
I'll be right outside, OK?"

"OK." Susan's voice wavered. "Thank you," she whispered.

Jimmy took the small brunette's hand and led her to bed as Linda disappeared
between the curtains. "Why don't you sit a minute and get comfortable?"

"All right."

"You've been very sweet to me during my time here. I really liked those
flowers you picked for me."

"Thank you. Amber said you would like them."

"I did." He pulled her hand up and kissed her knuckles. "I've been looking
forward to this. You're a very beautiful woman."

Susan smiled, but didn't have much luck acknowledging his compliment.
"Linda..." she started. The poor girl was terminally shy. She brushed a strand
of hair from her eyes. "Linda," she whispered, "suggested you might like her
here with me?"

"She did?" He kissed her again. "What do you suggest?"

"Do you... do you like Linda a lot? In that way I mean?"

"In what way?"

"Does she excite you?" The girl's eyes fell to the floor.

Jimmy pulled her chin back to him. "All the lovely women excite me." He kissed
her. "You most of all right now."

"Oh."ÊShe smiled again. "They say... they say you like her... um, the ways she
looks a bit. A bit more... I mean," she stuttered, "you're partial to..."

"Would you like to be alone with me?"

"Oh no. I like her too much."

"You want her to be here?"

"Yes. If it's no trouble."

"Of course not."

She smiled meekly. "I like her nipples too." Jimmy pecked her cheek. "I
said... I promised I'd share you."

"You must like the rest of her very much."

Susan turned rosy. "I do."

"You know they say she...." He looked at her, inviting the bashful thing to
complete his thought.

"She runs around?" she asked, eyes perking up. "I know. She said I'm
different. She does want to change."

"Has she told other girls that?"

She shrugged. "She has to mean it sometime. And if she has a child she will."

"Well your charity is admirable. I hope she takes good care of you."

"She will."

"I want you to know I would if I- "

"I know." Susan stroked his hand. "You're a good man. I'm sorry our joy turned
out to be your misery."

"I'm not miserable."

"Good." She fell silent, questioning him further with her doe-like eyes.

"How much of me did you want to share?"

"It's... uh, it's up to you. All if you want..."

"What do you want?"

She thought a moment. "I want us to enjoy one another. I want very much to
have a child... and I want one for her too."

"Is her time right?"

"It's still good for it."

They *were* intimate. "How long have you been together with her?"

"Since you got here."

"Has she fooled around on you?"

"Only with you," she grinned softly. "No. Not that I know of... but I really
don't care to know if she did. It's not important to me."

"You're awfully understanding."

"Some of us are," she shrugged. "It's just sex. She comes home and keeps me
warm at night. That's all that counts."

He pinched her cheek. "Sure *you* haven't been cheating on her?"

"Only with you." Susan ventured a pinch of her own, in a more intimate spot.
"And not enough..." she hinted.

Linda's wavy yellow crest poked back in. "How are things?"

"We were just talking about you." He waved her through the curtains. "It seems
Susan and I have the same tastes."

"Yeah?" Linda's robe opened and fell to the floor in one fluid motion.
"Please... do taste..."

The white pink mounds capping her breasts twinkled in the sunlight. Even
before his tongue touched them, they gleamed like oil on water.

She cradled Susan's head in her arms first, smothering the girl in her
delightful globes. Her lips curled into a wanton smile, flashing her clenched
pearly teeth as she forcefully seized her neck. The broad, puffy areola
vanished under Susan's gentle sucking lips.

Jimmy rose and tackled its ignored twin bringing Linda's fingers to a halt in
her lover's brown hair. Her white neck stretched forward sending short blonde
hair falling around her ears. She moaned and gracefully sank to the bed as his
teeth nipped at her puckering nipple. He turned and caught a glimpse of
Susan's raised eyebrows as she nipped at the hard point. Her eyes widened,
trying to read the change in mood that had overtaken her lover.

Linda reclined softly on the sheets, throwing her hands to the side. Her neck
twisted coyly, inviting him to have his way with the statuesque angel.

Susan smiled shyly at Jimmy and gently nudged him aside. Her nursing quickly
brought back Linda's cat-like scowl. Her fingers flexed and resumed their
vigorous massage of her tan skin.

Susan shot him a strange, but priceless look as Linda drew her up for a
suffocating kiss.

The tall woman suddenly relaxed under him as his lips touched her teat again.
Susan broke off and winked at him. Her lip curled upward as she took advantage
of the lull and buried Linda in pent-up affection, licking and nipping at
every inch of her neck and face. The blonde woman lay helpless to respond,
enraptured by his masculine touch.

Jimmy's tongue slipped lower, piquing her desire and exciting the back of her
throat while he lingered over her belly.

She moaned as he slipped a finger into her slick canal, but Susan quickly
muffled it. He pressed her knee back and chewed on the sparse yellow fuzz
wiggling away from him. Susan kissed the nape of her arched neck and pushed
her head farther back with her palm. Jimmy took a few last licks of her
glistening pink flower before sitting up and plungomg into her.

Susan looked back and straddled Linda's waist, offering her own set of
cushions to his hard working hips. He fell on top of her, sandwiching the
smaller woman and smiling as she cupped Linda's face and wrestled with her
accommodating tongue. Linda did her best to smile back but her confused eyes
fluttered between the pair above her.

He cupped Susan's hip and fingered her clit until her bottom moistened and
arced rhythmically against him. When she humped his hand vigorously, he
switched girls.

Linda was all over her the instant he slipped out, bathing her in forceful wet
caresses. The slack disappeared from her jaw. Limp hands danced to new life on
Susan's back and worked their way under her to tug at her nipples. Before
Jimmy could change his mind, Linda scooted strategically far away, grinding
her pelvis into Susan's face.

"Eat me, honey. Give me some of that sweet tongue... mmmmm... yeah..." she
growled in satisfaction. Then Linda winked at Jimmy like a condescending
office manager. "Isn't she sweet?"

"Yeah. She's got a sweet little pussy." He kissed her shoulder. "You're all so
tight."

"That's no surprise," Linda laughed.

Susan slurped in agreement.

Linda kicked her head back with abandon and twisted the brunette strands
around her fingers.

Yeah, baby, he thought to himself. I'll take care of that grin again in a
minute...

---

Susan sprawled on her side, legs spread wide as her hand flew faster than a
hummingbird's wings over her clit, playing its floppy lips like a rubber band.
Her eyes burned into Linda's loose form.

She sat up on her elbows, aiming her crotch squarely at Linda to tease her
with its slinging juices.

The flush on both girls deepened.

Linda gasped.

The more he made her whimper in delight and lose control, the faster Susan's
pinky fluttered.

"Come in her Jimmy... ghunh... please come in her..."

"Ahem."

There it was again.

Did dreams clear their throats?

He rubbed his eyes and squinted until the blur turned into Dahlia.

She stood before him dressed in a long white gown. Lucia was behind her,
flanked by his five volunteers.

Five? He was alone again in bed? No. Susan was supposed to be... She was gone
to. He felt around the empty sheets and pulled them to his chest. She'd
slipped out on him, that rat. After how nice he was to her? Disarming Linda
like that?

There were more female faces poking up through the far window- children
supported on someone's shoulders, he imagined. He turned. Women were at the
window behind him. They lined the walls of the room and spilled out of the
corridors.

How had they all snuck up on him like that?

It was the first morning all over again.

Wasn't this where Lucia knocked him over the head and fucked his brains out?
Was that what was happening again? Reruns, already? Or was it an ending? He
hadn't run out of pussy had he? No. Something like... hm. Maybe forty more.  A
few less.

He sat up and tried to comb his disheveled hair into place. The sheets wrapped
tighter around his bare rear end and he heard an ever-so-slight groan of
disappointment escape from the window behind him.

Dahlia cleared her golden throat once more and stepped forward with a long
scroll stretched between her hands.

"For acts of bravery toward unconscious goats and roasting sows, for acts of
charity towards fish," Dahlia struggled to keep a straight face, "for his
great strength both of character and physique, for gracing us with his keen
mind and wit and, above all, for his generosity of spirit and kindness toward
the Island, the Queen has ordained that Jim Bob of the Bakers be given a day
of rest and reflection to do with as he pleases.  No one shall make demands of
him this day, nor shall they turn down his any reasonable request. This says
our Queen. This say we all." She crumpled the rods together and dropped them
by her side. Jimmy looked at her a bit puzzled. "You can go, do what you want
with whomever you want,"Êshe declared in a whisper. "Or just take the time to
be by yourself. It's up to you." Dahlia curtsied and stepped backwards into
the arms of the queen.

He yawned, rubbed his eyes and took another look at everyone as he stretched.
"Too bad I couldn't have saved the goat that did die," he cracked. "I'd get an
extra day for sure."

The Queen and her consort chuckled.

But he could feel the hearts stopping in several of the women surrounding him.
About four, to be exact. All when he mentioned the 'extra day'...

"What about the, uh, ladies for today?"

"They have all agreed to pass," Lucia explained. "They think you are very
sweet and would like to do you this favor."

He surveyed the crowd. He could guess the ones for tomorrow. What about the
four for today? "They're willing to pass on a child?"

"There is no guarantee." She simply hunched her shoulders. "They thought you
might like to spend the day alone with someone. They are all young. There will
be other chances for them."

"That's very nice of them. I would like to spend time with someone. Perhaps
we... could make accommodations for them later in the evening."

For the only time in his life he heard the sound of a hundred hearts breaking.

Amber smiled at him most of all.

"They would of course be grateful and it is very kind of you. There is no
pressure should your disposition change."

His eye stayed on the redhead and he held out his hand for her. The Queen said
something and the crowd began to disburse. Amber walked over gracefully, the
folds in her long white dress waving at him in the breeze.

"No singing this time?" he asked as he took her hand and she sat beside him.

"No. No singing."

"Nothing else for you to do?"

"No. No other place to be."

"What would you like to do?" he asked, bracing for the inevitable return
volley of "Well, what do you want to do?"

"I know a special place on the island," she said surprisingly. "A beach on the
other side. No one lives near it. There's a waterfall inland that's easy to
get to. With all the recent rains it should be quite full." She kissed his
cheek. "What would you like to do?"

"Learn the way."

---

"I thought it was my first morning all over again. I thought Lucia for sure
was going to knock me over the head and fuck my brains out."

"No," Amber laughed. "She'd never do that to you again. Dahlia might."

He laughed back but she wasn't smiling. "What?"

"Oh. I thought you would say... you were expecting us to sing again or
something. I forgot about that other time we all gathered together. It must
have been a shock first seeing all of us."

"A dream, really."

Amber hopped into the surf, causing his end of the boat to bob unstably.

"How long did you want to stay?" she asked as she hauled the skiff ashore.

His arms were still sore from paddling. He got out beside her as the craft hit
bottom. "I don't know. What else do you want to show me today?"

She thought a moment as they dragged it into the sand. "Just myself." With a
wicked grin she pulled up her dress and threw it in the boat.

Her creamy bottom turned and flashed a hint of the red curls nestled between
her thighs before dashing off down the beach and jiggling for all its worth.

She made a sudden right angle and he watched her breasts shimmy like cafeteria
jello until she was gone, swallowed up by the greenery.

He sat there a little stunned.

Her head poked back out. "You have to pass off your baton before you can stop
running, silly..."

"What about all this stuff?" he shouted.

"Leave it." She disappeared again and the forest echoed with her voice.
"Honestly. Don't you ever think about yourself?"

That did it. He took off after her, feet sliding in the hot sands.

Damn. The crap on his chest bounced too.

He followed the narrow beach path straight back, occasionally tripping on the
roots.

He lost her around one of the bends, but quickly came to a large inland
lagoon. A crystal clear waterfall poured over low rocky cliffs at the far
side. The deep pond had a white sandy bottom like the beach still underfoot.
It was quite wide but surrounded by trees high enough so that direct sunlight
wouldn't reach in for several more hours.

It was all very beautiful, but where was Amber? It didn't seem like there was
anywhere else to run. The waterfall perhaps? She couldn't have doubled back.

"Yah!" she screamed as she threw them headlong into the cool waters.

Jimmy's toga floated up uselessly around his ears as Amber spit a narrow,
teasing stream on him.

"Finally. You're getting slow in your old age," she joked as she rubbed noses
with him.

"Things jiggle too much," he complained.

"I know."

The playful redhead backed away, battering his softening form with fluttering
currents.

"Technically you haven't caught me yet," she complained.

Amber rose, dripping wet on the shore and scooped her heavy hair back. The
sand caked to her feet as she ran for the waterfall and dove in.

He jerked the soggy fabric off and swam over to grab her shoulders before she
could surface.

"Got you now." He kissed her.

"Can you keep me?" She paddled away and crawled up on the beach again. It was
fascinating to watch her breasts drift this way and that... then the way they
sunk down further, almost sticking to the water itself as she pulled herself
up.

He swam over and sighed as he felt it ripple through the tight nipples on his
own chest. "I bet Andrea likes the water."

"Andrea doesn't like the water," she informed him.

"Why not?"

"She says she feels like seaweed." Amber's hands flailed out in front of her
like a blind woman searching for a wall. "She'd rather have them hanging...
but I do," she grinned impishly, splashing back in on the other side.

He stood on shore, sopping wet and just as depressed as a drenched puppy.

"Are you going to keep running around all day?"

"Maybe. But it doesn't seem to be doing much good." She gestured at his
crotch. "How come your thing isn't pointing up like with Andrea now that I'm
running around?"

"Maybe you should help it along..."

"Oh yeah?... What do you suggest? I grow bigger floaters?"

"Floaters?"

"Boobs."

"Oh. No," he chuckled. "Yours are my favorite set." He shook his limp weenie
at her. "Why don't you talk to him? He really is being rude, don't you think?
Maybe you can teach him some manners."

"'Punish' him, huh?" she grinned. "Or maybe just reason with him?"

"Try a little of both."

Amber sloshed back out and knelt down in front of him, sinking her knees into
the warm sand.

"Hmmm." Her lips pursed.

He made it twitch a little with his groin muscle and her emerald eyes got big.
She giggled at him, blowing a soft breeze over his wet pubic hair that made
him rise a little higher. Soon he filled out like a child blowing a balloon.
She kept giggling, even when he stood rigid in front of her, almost poking her
eye.

She sucked on her lower lip, spit in her hand and began stroking him with a
mischievous gleam.

Thank goodness she was going along. He half-expected to hear 'don't waste it,'
today of all days.

"Ooooo," he snickered. "Teacher kissed it."

Amber smirked and continued to polish his shaft.

"You know Clara's been much better," she said. "Why don't you come back and
visit?"

"Yeah?" He nodded at his crotch. "Give me some incentive there and I might."
Her hand dropped away to tickle his tight balls. She kissed his head again but
then hesitated. "Would you mind sucking on it?" She hadn't done that yet.
"Does that bother you? I know it's not as big as it was."

"I'd like to very much. Help me out if I get it wrong."

"Sure." He swept her auburn tresses out of the way for her.

She looked up at him again. "It's still very big, you know. It's only an inch
or two shorter since you got here."

"How small will it get?" She frowned at such an obviously dumb question. "As a
man, I mean."

"An inch more maybe." Amber shrugged. "It'll still be enough to please me.
Does it bother you?"

"Yes."

"Let me take your mind off it." She smiled again and pulled it against his
stomach to lick the bottom of the shaft. "But please don't let me waste it."

He chuckled. "Of course," he said, running his fingers over her neck.

"You sure you want to do this standing?"

"Absolutely. Is it bad for you?"

"It's quite comfortable.... OK. Like this?" She raised an eyebrow and
swallowed him whole.

"Perfect... Hide your teeth from me, honey. Great... that's it, sweety." He
stroked her chin. "That's it... suck just like that... faster..."

He gripped the back of her head to help her along. His second hand moved in
behind it for reinforcement. Her own fingers plucked and nipped at his ass
while the dripping saliva started tickling his balls.

He could hear the birds in the trees singing around them. They seemed to chirp
most of all in those innocent green eyes that gazed up at him. Her cheeks were
curved in such a happy, loving expression.

The hot scratchy tongue curled around his pole moved faster. He felt himself
harden.

A wonderful look of surprise crossed her face.

"No..." she gurgled. He gripped her tight and plunged himself down as far as
he could to silence her.

She coughed and something white dribbled from her nose, though she kept moving
on him until it was over.

Amber sniffled and pulled away. "It's so precious..." She eyed a blot sitting
on the tip of her tongue. "You said- "

"Please. Just swallow it... For me?" His thumb rubbed her cheek.

Amber closed her mouth and made a few tiny gulps. She brushed the rest off her
chin and tried to get rid of it in the sand without much luck. She took one
look at the droplet dangling from his penis and licked it away.

"Thank you."

He knelt down beside her and gave her a kiss.

"Why did you want me to swallow it?"

"I wanted very much for you to."

"Oh. I would have enjoyed it more if you said... But why?"

He pressed his forehead to hers and smile. "What? Why is it a waste? You'll
have all you can handle today, anywhere you want it."

"Oh."

"Want to, uh- " how had he put it to Lucia?- "go fishing in the wrong hole?"

She blushed. "If you want."

"No?"

Her fingernail and her gaze trailed down his chest. "I hadn't really thought
about it."

"What do you want?"

"We have to wait a few hours now?"

"No," he laughed, sinking back on his heals. "*I* don't have to stick." She
giggled. "Just a few minutes is all." He tried cleaning the sand from his
hands but like her quickly gave up and crawled into the water. "We need some
blankets," he observed.

"I know. Let's grab the stuff from the boat. Sorry to run off like that but I
got a little enthusiastic."

"You weren't the only one." He moved closer, sending ripples out around them
as he kissed her. "But can we eat a little first? I'm hungry."

Jimmy rescued his drowning toga from its slow journey to the bottom and
started to wring it out.

"Would you... mmmm, stay like that with me today? Please?"

"Sure." He tossed it aside. "I'll help you work on your freckles."

"Great." She giggled and pulled him into the forest again, making her way back
to the ocean. "Did you-... Could I tell you what I really want?"

"Sure."

"I mean... I'll do anything I can to please you. Just ask."

He pulled her to a stop and kissed her. "I know... All I want to be is here
with you."

She smiled and returned his tender peck. "Could I ask you a favor?"

"Sure," he whispered.

"Could you be forceful like that with me?"

"Forceful?"

"Like with Amanda?"

"Amanda? OH." He flinched. "Word gets around, huh?"

"Oh I- I don't mean to... I mean I know it's private..."

"Hey. Hey." He hugged her shoulder. "Ask me anything. I'll talk about it with
you if you want."

"Could you be like that with me?"

"You want that?"

"Just be rough once. No rope, though."

"You think I want to beat you up?"

"No. Just be, um, vigorous... Aggressive? Aggressive. Yes. Nothing else. How
could I ask that?"

He mulled it over, squinting as a ray of sunlight stabbed his face. Amber
thoughtfully put her hand up and took care of the gap in the branches.

"OK. But... there's a price."

"What?"

"I want to see you giggling and smiling tomorrow night in bed. Just once."

"I can be light about it."

"Why aren't you?"

"It's not how I usually feel."

"See," he huffed. "You spoiled it."

She frowned at him. "You asked."

"That's it. I gotta punish you for that. I never make you happy enough to
giggle, do I?" He slapped her fanny. "Do I?"

She squealed and ran for the boat with Jimmy in close tow.

"Ah!" He pinched her as she pulled out the towels. "I'm not giggling enough
right now?" She spread them out on the ground as she fought off his hands.

He searched through the stuff in the boat.  "Where's the rope?" he growled.

The laughter behind him died down. He turned to catch Amber sitting soberly on
the towel. Her eyes rose to meet his. "Please don't." She held up her bare,
crossed wrists, palms outstretched. "I promise not to break away..." she
whispered. "I just meant aggressively. I don't want us to hurt each other or-"

"I'd never hurt you."

She flipped over on her stomach and cocked her head back at him, holding her
wrists locked together in the air. "Please?" Her curvaceous thighs spread out,
exposing her thick red bush and dividing it enough for a hint of the shiny
pink within.

She rested her chin on one arm and continued to bat her long, sad lashes at
him.

Was that her he smelled or the rush of the surf? He looked out at the vast
expanse of ocean.

No one to ever watch them...

He did love her.

He knew it now.

So did the rest of him. She sighed in approval as his affection for her grew
again.

"Say stop if I- "

"No," she interrupted softly, furrowing her brow. "Just don't do anything that
hurts you."

He looked her face over, thoroughly mystified.

She pulled her hands up behind her and crossed them again over the two dimples
in her spine- the ones that seemed to almost smile at him, like the remnants
of some Cheshire cat grin that hovered over her rear.

Her hips ground into the thick towels, digging a frustratingly large hole
under the place she least wanted it.

He fell on top of her.

"Thank you," she blurted in a gust of air.

"Me, huh? Put your hands underneath you."

"What?"

He rolled over and sat up.

"Don't ask questions. Just do it. You wanted to play this game."

"OK."

"And stop talking back." He grinned devilishly. "Andrea says you talk to
much."

"Andrea?!"

He wagged a finger at her. "Shut up, I said..." He scooted to the edge of the
blanket and trapped her thigh underneath him. "Now play with yourself." She
tossed her head back, slinging her red mane over one shoulder and raised a
meek eyebrow to him. "Don't act dumb. You heard what I said." He slapped her
luscious bottom. "Don't make me spank you." Her lips pursed but then gradually
relaxed into something more indecent. "Don't smile at me," he chuckled.
"That's tomorrow night." Amber giggled. "Shut your eyes and stop that." She
turned away and rested her head on the other side. "That's the spirit... Now
play with yourself, I said... No. Keep your legs spread... farther..." He
kneaded her buttocks. "I love that nice white skin... get it good and red for
me."

Her fingers formed a V, parting the furr away. Her other hand dipped into
herself for moisture, smearing it along her slit. Slowly she stabbed at the
fleshy stub of her sex and he watched in fascination as her lips gracefully
unfolded.

"Faster," he commanded. "Come on... This is for me, not you." He slapped her
fanny. "Move those hands faster!"

She snorted.

But her hands sped up.

The palm pulled back until her finger tips just barely yanked on the top of
her mound. Her breathing finally broke into ragged gasps and her plump tush
jerked back and forth, buns quaking together.

He couldn't see anything happening in her genitals, though. Was her vagina
contracting?

"I think you faked that."

Amber snickered.

"Laugh at me, huh?" He seized her hips, bore down and trapped her hands. "I
was going to give you another chance, but forget it."

Amber sputtered again.

He rubbed his prick into her back for several long seconds tormenting her.
Amber tickled his balls as she tried in vain to grab at his shaft. Finally he
rose up, letting her chase empty air for a few seconds before allowing himself
to fall into her tender grip.

Then she started yanking on him, frustrated that she couldn't get him to go
anywhere.

The redhead chuckled again and tried to wiggle closer, only digging a deeper
hole in the sand. She finally relented and as she let him go, in he flew like
a crossbow.

She gasped and her torso twisted further to the left. She managed with one
gentle eye to look up at him. Jimmy snaked his arms around her shoulders and
hugged her tightly, kissing the side of her cheek and moving in and out of her
as quickly as he could.

"Is this what you want?"

She nodded slightly.

He kissed her glowing cheek again.

With a frisky bite on her neck, he bore down harder. Her hands finally
escaped, slipping down around her knees and pulling her thighs further back
for him.

He smoothed out the sand beneath her head to give her a better pillow.

He rested first one hand, then the second on her back. "Cross your wrists
again," he asked. "No. Above."

Amber complied, folding her arms together over her spine.

He frowned, realizing his hand almost wasn't large enough anymore to hold them
both.

He probed her puckered anus with a finger from his other hand, please to find
her clean down there.

She tensed up as she figured out what was coming.

Jimmy smiled.

No... It had to be more of a surprise.

He waited several minutes, patiently pounding at her until he felt the orgasm
surge through her again.

Jimmy brushed the hair away from her cheeks to give her another kiss,
breathing in her sweaty tang. Then without warning, he failed to return from
one particularly deep thrust and went knocking on her backdoor.

Her hands were still crossed together, but they rose up like two butterflies
and fluttered against him.

Amber bit her lip as his head slipped suddenly into her ass. Her eyes squeezed
shut.

Then just as quickly her nails scratched him forward. He pushed in a little
more. With a slight pop, he was all the way inside her.

He waited for another signal from her fingers but she just sighed deeply and
lazily turned her head again, burying her snorting chin in the sand.

Jimmy picked up his thrusting again, marveling at her tightness and the
delighted whimpers escaping her puffed up mouth. Each time his balls tickled
her vagina, a dainty little gasp floated out of her nostrils.

He collapsed on her, burying himself the rosy scent of her hair.

He let her hands slip from his sweaty palm and pulled her up with an arm slung
around her midriff. Her knees dragged the towels together and split them in
the middle, spilling sand everywhere.

She steadied herself on wobbly limbs as he pounded her yielding bottom ever
more forcefully. She moaned and sighed like a woman in labor, ample breasts
making loud slaps against her arms.

"Am I hurting you?"

"No." Her fair face was bright red. "It's wonderful," she whimpered. "Never...
ghun... felt like this..." Her shoulders fell to the ground again, leaving her
prominent ass in the air and he picked up the pace.

He could feel fingers moving between her legs again. He gave her a few seconds
to relax and then sat up, pulling her with him by her beautiful red hair. Her
moist hands slipped from her pussy, smearing his back with her juices as she
clung desperately to him in her struggle to stay vertical.

Jimmy wrapped an arm around her neck while his other hand slipped between her
slick but now ignored vaginal lips. He pumped two, then three fingers inside
her warm canal, letting the fluids trickle down where they would do her more
good.

"Play with your nipples," he whispered. "It'll help... I won't let you go," he
promised.

His palm cupped her mound and danced lazily over her hard, delicate kernel. He
could feel it retreating from him again as she loosened even more to his dual
penetrations.

He watched as she tweaked and tugged at her tender strawberry teats, which
stood out now as fine points between her fingers. Her milky breasts shook back
and forth as she repeatedly cupped them into an impressive line of impressive
cleavage before abandoning them to the mercy of gravity.

"You're wonderful," he sighed, as she contracted around his fingers. Her body
shuddered momentarily, she cried out and then kissed the arm under her neck.

Though his rhythm had slowed like this, he felt the inevitable surge building
in him again. Before it could spoil, he threw them both to the ground. Her
hands lashed out at the sand in above her as his elbows dug into her
shoulders.

"I'm gonna waste it again... grunt... I'm gonna put it up where it won't do
you any good," he said chewing her neck."What do you think about that?"

Her mouth dropped open as the blood continued to rush to her face. Her arms
tried to flip around in the sand and get behind her but he reached out and
pinned them, pressing her face to the towel just enough to force her to turn
for a kiss.

"You're wasting it again," he teased as she moaned into his throat.

Her clouded emerald eyes closed. Amber gritted her teeth as he pounded her
harder than ever now. Her bowels grabbed at him once more as the tickle in his
balls exploded, filling her warm depths with hot fluids. She gasped. The
popping from her anus turned to slush as the burning ecstasy twitched through
his rigid organ.

Her semen coated insides soon started feeling a little raw. With several long,
slow strokes, Jimmy brought things to a halt, never quite letting her up from
the kiss.

"Was it what you wanted?"

Amber blinked at him and caught her breath as focus labored to return to her
eyes. She spoke with some difficulty, still crushed under his weight.

"I think... I felt- " Fingers brushed his cheek. "I wanted to give myself to
you... to be taken. I... I didn't expect... but... I was so happy... some
place in me I didn't know before..."

"Does your bottom hurt?"

"Some. It will go away." She cleared her throat. "Could you, um... If you
want, of course," she added shyly.

"Sure."

He popped out of her tight orifice and rolled over on the sand.

Amber sat up and stretched her red, creased limbs. She turned over with him on
the crumpled, sandy towels and peered with fascination between her legs,
dabbling a disbelieving finger on the violated area she couldn't quite see.

"I never thought to use it for that," she said.

"How did it feel?"

"A bit like childbirth, I suppose."

"How do you mean?" Jimmy asked, intrigued.

"Painful and delightful."

"Sorry."

"No. Don't be." She rested a sticky hand on his shoulder and giggled. "I had
the most fabulous orgasm when you told me I was wasting it. It felt so
naughty."

He smiled. "I thought you might." He loved the way it reddened her cheeks
until they matched her curly hair.

"What am I supposed to do now? I'm not supposed to let you stick in there. I
don't think..."

He offered his hand as he sat up on his knee. "Let's go for a bath in the
ocean."

"I think salt water will sting now."

"You feel raw?"

"Yes."

"Let's go back to the lagoon then."

"It still feels so big. I didn't rip anything did I?"

"No honey. Let's wait here a few minutes. Some women say they walk a little
funny afterwards."

"Oh. I've never seen that."

He chuckled. "I don't think many women do to each other what we just did."

"No. I suppose not."

"Why didn't you say something if it hurt that much?"

"It didn't really. And if something's broken it'll be fine in a few days. I'm
just glad you... we enjoyed it together."

"Was it what you wanted?"

"Yes... I promise to giggle for you next time."

"Don't worry about it. Do what I make you feel like doing." He laid back on
the beach and took in the sun's rays with her. It looked close to ten o'clock
now. Jimmy turned toward her again, dragging his unusually long hair through
the sand. "I want you to know, I... I never have that kind of problem around
you."

"What problem?"

"Getting it up."

"What?"

"I couldn't get it up with Amanda. So Rachel... had her do things a bit
differently to take my mind off it."

"Oh. No one said anything about it."

"They wouldn't. It's *very* private for a man. No one but Rachel understood."

"What's to understand? Sometimes you just aren't in the mood. That's all. I
get like that."

"That's not what it's like." Should he even be telling her this?"

"You mean you were in the mood and couldn't- ? Oh that's terrible. That can
happen?"

"Yeah."

"It's like... a girl not getting wet, I suppose?"

"Sort of. But, uh... there's nothing you can do to work around it."

"I'm so sorry." She rested her head on his chest. "I hope I wasn't the cause."

He patted her red hair. "What makes you say that?"

"It wasn't because you didn't like her?"

He sighed. "No. It was nervousness, I think. Or a little boredom."

"Could it happen to us?"

"I don't think so." He shrugged. "It hasn't yet... I don't think we have
enough time."

"Would you? If we could spend our lives together? Would you get bored with
me?"

"That's *not* it," he groaned. "Listen. Just pretend like it never happened."

"But why?"

"Because it's the only way to avoid it. Just promise, OK?"

"OK. But why did you tell me then?"

"Because I- I wanted you to know why I was... That being rough with her was
her idea, not mine. I didn't... I don't feel that way around you."

"I'm sorry I asked."

"No. If it made you happy, that's all that counts. I liked doing it for you."

"Let's eat," she suggested. "And wash off."

"Yeah. I will need an hour or two now."

Amber laughed.

And she did walk funny.

---

"Tell me again the one about the frenchman who built a balloon and tried to
float out to sea."

"The winds kept him in the same spot all night long. He even threw a grapple
on the reef but it snapped off. I think... I think on the first night of
transformation he tossed a heavy anchor out to sea and began inching out...
but then he threw it over the reef and the rope snapped in two when he pulled
on it."

She reached into one of the leather bags.

"What are those?" He chuckled as the slabs made it into the daylight. "You
brought the cards?"

"Yeah. I did. I thought you might like to play again."

She shuffled the wooden boards awkwardly and then began tossing them out. He
suddenly realized the bits of bark on each were so unique that if he studied
them long enough he could probably get pretty good at this. That must be why
they always played at night.

"We've not got any nuts," Amber said with a spry grin, "except your pair which
I'm not letting you bet, so the game will be strip poker with a twist. Every
hand you lose, I put a piece of clothing back on. And vice-versa," she
smirked. "Let's see you let me win now."

She took another bite of dried beef, placed two pairs of sandals in the pot
and collected her cards.

She smiled as they fanned out in her hand.

What did that mean?

---

"Would you like to make love again?"

"In a minute. I feel like talking now."

"That's good too."

Jimmy watched the afternoon shadows slowly overtake their feet and gazed out
at the empty blue sky over the ocean.

It had no end. It would never have any end, as long as he lived.

Amber's silky voice finally dove into the long silence, shattering its glassy
surface like the rocks he'd been tossing into the tidal pool.

"What's it like, being a man?" she asked him.

He smiled. "What's it like being a woman?" he shot back.

She thought a moment, then shrugged. "It's mostly enjoyable."

"You have your answer."

"You mean it depends on the man?" she asked.

"Yeah..." he realized. "I guess it does." He mussed up her hair. "Or the
woman..."

"Do you like being a man?" she asked, hugging his chest tightly.

"More today than ever."

She sighed pleasantly, folded her hands under her head and rested her soft
curls on his shoulder. Jimmy stroked her far arm.

"I want to apologize for what I asked our first night together. I know it
upset you."

"Huh?... Oh." She giggled. "You know I- I only really remember one thing from
that night. I mean I remember it all but... You told me how beautiful I was
and for the first time of the evening you made me warm all over... It was... I
liked being appreciated. It was the first time of my life, really... though I
think I knew it when we stood in the pond together that first day."

"Yeah," he chuckled. "I like that pond. I liked the way you were honest with
me and didn't take it personally that I didn't trust you." He took a few deep
breaths.

"You said 'first night' and what I really think about was when we first slept
together at the palace. I remember seeing you covered in shadows and you asked
me to stay the night with you..."

"Yeah... you floated over like a dream." Her chest fell in a delightful sigh.
"You know what I remember clear as a bell? You said 'Thank you' our first
night. And then in the morning, you finally relented and said yes to me. I
remember that. Especially the way you looked at me when you said it. And then
later, in the heat of passion when you said you wanted my son. That stuck with
me all day... Mmm. I'd heard the same words a million different times since I
got here but for some reason it was the first time I ever knew what someone
was saying. You know?"

"It's sweet you remember. And I also loved what happened in your eyes each
time I said those things. You have very expressive eyes."

"I do? No one's told me that before."

"It's true."

"Maybe you just read me better than the rest."

"That's true too.... Does it bother you that we're rushing into this?"

"I don't feel rushed," he said. "Strangely I don't. Do you?"

"No."

"You could say yes if you want. I wouldn't be hurt."

"But I don't feel that way... Besides," she smirked. "I'd never be that
dishonest about something to protect you."

He pinched her cheek. "I can't think of anyone else but you all day."

"Me too."

"Good. You're learning to think of yourself, finally."

"No, silly- "

"I know." He patted her hip. "I know." He spotted a sail somewhere off in the
distance, up the coast.

"It's Melissa. She won't come any closer. She told me she might have to check
her traps today."

"She's a sweet girl."

"They all are," she sighed. "They all are in their own way."

"I guess you're right... Even Lucia has a sweet side."

"Then you know?"

"Know what?"

"It was her idea to grant us this time together. The night of the fire, I
think. It took her a while to settle on the day." Amber pulled herself up and
looked into his eyes. "Dahlia told me she heard her crying that night."

Two fingers went to his lips before he could ask why and Amber settled back
into the warm groove she'd made on his side.

"Can I ask you something else?"

"Sure," she replied.

"I'd like you to share your past with me, when you're ready. You know I'm not
particularly interested in the thing you were worried about... I realize now
it doesn't matter one way or the other. My mind's made up." His voice cracked
a moment and Jimmy swallowed. "I was still in shock when you first brought it
up. It won't affect my decision. I just want to know more about you."

"I know you're going to pick me," she said quietly. "I'm sorry I didn't have
the courage to tell you that night." Her nail traced out a circle around his
navel. "I was born a woman on the island, twenty-three years ago." She rose
and placed a firm hand between his forming breasts. "You're the only man I've
ever slept with. I have been with a few women, but I never found any of
them... satisfying." She frowned. "You know?" She kissed him on the mouth.
"I'll tell you their names if you want."

Satisfying?

What had she said out on the throwing range, that only time he'd invited her
to share in his exploits?

His eyes widened. "You told me before... you said there wasn't another woman
you liked in that way- "

"Oh no." She kissed him again. "I'll be fine with you after the change. That
wasn't what I meant. I'm sure I won't have a problem being together with you
in that way. I love you too much."

"But that... then that wasn't what upset you."

"I, um... didn't have a brother, but... I did... I was close to one of the
boys I grew up with."

"Childhood sweetheart?"

"Yes. Our mothers discouraged it as best they could. She wanted me to get
closer to one of the other girls instead. They're less affected by puberty
that way and... sure enough, when he changed... the magic was gone. It broke
my heart."

"I'm sorry. I hope it doesn't happen to us."

"Don't worry." She leaned back on the long trunk of driftwood with him. "It's
fairly rare with grown men. And it might have just been adolescence. It
happens between girls too when they grow up. People change so much at that
time of life."

"Who was it?"

"Who?"

"Your heartbreaker."

"It hardly matters now. She is who she is."

"I understand. You can share it, though, can't you?"

"Monica."

"Monica?" The one who'd married the tall blonde? "Does it bother you I had sex
with her?"

"No. In fact..." She cast her eyes at the sand and then out to the horizon.
"I'm quite happy she finally has a chance to have a child of her own."

He thought how strange the change must have been for Monica. How odd to make
love to what you once were... but there was no loss on her face. She acted
just like all the other women, shy at first about her wife but then she
enjoyed it immensely. He couldn't have told the difference. Just like Dahlia.

Was that what they'd been warning him about? There was no difference?

He looked sidelong into Amber's eyes. There was the difference. It had
mattered to her.

Those green irises that stared into the distance.

"Did you have sex with... Monica?... before she- he? changed?"

"We tried, yes."

"Good."

"Why do you say good?" She blinked and turned to him. "It didn't work."

"So? Sex isn't just conception. And you wouldn't have had me if it had
worked."

"True."

"Did you both enjoy it?"

"I suppose. He'd changed so much by then. I was low on the list, almost
last... and, well... it wasn't like those times we'd spend on the beach
playing around. He was irritable... which I more than understood. The
initiation...."

"I'm sorry your first experience was like that." Jimmy took her finger and
doodled a heart with it in the wet sand. "Would you like to hear about my
first?"

"No."

No, he didn't have to share something so private with her or no, she didn't
care to hear about any other women?

She pulled their hands from the ground. "What's that symbol?"

"It's a heart. Doesn't it look like one?"

She chuckled. "I wouldn't know. I've never seen a human heart."

"I have." He basked in the radiance of her smile as he placed their hands over
her sternum. "Don't you know what a human heart looks like?"

She blushed. Did she think he was picking on her?

"We don't have much need of doctors so... none of us ever studied anatomy. I
suppose the old butcher-woman has some idea... but no one cares to know much
about her job. Rachel probably knows."

"Take my word for it. It's a very beautiful thing."

"I believe you."

"They say it's where love resides."

"They say it here as well." She put her other hand on his chest. "You have a
beautiful heart too... metaphorically speaking."

"Not gonna cut me up to find out?"

"What?" she laughed. "No... but..." The young woman paused, sucking on her
lip. "If you ever want to tell me about... about another, I don't mind
listening. I know how you want to sometimes when you think about the past."

"Ask me what you want to know."

"I will."

"Not interested?"

She patted his chest. "Here's all I need to know right now."

Her palm shook his puffy, sagging flesh, filling its vibrations with an
unusual electricity. Jimmy craned his neck and looked down uncomfortably at
the alien intruders on his chest.

"What you know is changing."

"No it's not."

He sighed and was quiet a while.

"Do I remind you of her? Of Monica, before...?"

"I've never known a man in that way. Martin was just a boy then."

"Of what you might have had with her then, had your lives been different?"

"You remind every woman of that."

"I'm sorry."

"No. Don't be. It's a great gift to us all, however brief."

"Did you stay with him those three nights?"

"No. He was too young to marry. Seventeen is the age of consent."

"I thought we get to pick."

"You do. But it's not for islanders. Half the children are boys. They can't
all choose like that."

"Oh... That's sad."

She shrugged. "They grow up mostly as girls. They fill out with the others,
learn to be young women with the rest, learn to fall in love. It's only those
brief months they get something special. Then it's rarely spoken of again."

"Well I hope I've given you more than a taste of it. I hope I've made a real
woman of you."

"You've given me something very special." She caught herself. "Of course I'll
always feel like a woman around you..."

"Later?"

"Yes" she sighed, casting a soft breeze over him. "Does it trouble you that
you'll change, but I won't? That'll I'll still be able to love you? Does it...
make you jealous now?"

"No. It makes me very happy."

She reached out and pulled his head to her ample bosom while she stroked his
long matted strands of hair. "Do you... are you interested in what that part
of our lives will be like together? Would you like to- "

"Surprise me," he said.

"OK," she chuckled.

"Hey," Jimmy piped up, now laughing with her. "I have an idea. Why don't we
get married right now? That way you'd become a Baker and I could get my name
back..." he suggested, playfully nipping her thigh.

Why was Amber frowning? He cupped her chin and brought her eyes back down to
him.

"We don't allow men and women to marry," she whispered. "It breaks too many
hearts."

Jimmy sat up from her cozy embrace and turned to the clear blue sky again. He
tossed a shell into the ocean.

"When you think of me..." His jaw trembled. "Does it bother you at all, the
things I do with other women?"

She stroked his back. "It bothers us all."

He stared blankly at the white surf rolling just yards away now from their
feet.

Amber kissed the side of his cheek. "I love you very much and I want you to
have fun. It's the last I'll ever say of it to you, unless you want to talk
about it. Believe it or not, you make me very proud the way you're handling
it... They say Doug panicked the final week and did something horrible to
himself. His wife won't ever say." Her delicate ivory fingers caressed his
shoulder. "I couldn't imagine life without you or Rachel. If you feel that
way, come to me. I'll understand... In the meantime enjoy all the sex you can.
We'll have plenty of time for love at night... and later..." She kissed him
again. "Please?"

"OK," he sighed. "You know you can... if you ever want to you can- "

"I know. If you want me to I will. I love being with you."

She took a shell of her own and threw it into the rolling void.

"You're right that it's upsetting to us.  But it's not because we can't be
men... or that we were men and now we're not, now we're women." She sighed.
"We can't fully be either...  You know? You need both. We can be one and
sometimes we get the other, but not ever enough."

"Yeah," he whispered. "If... if you ever feel that way with me later I want
you to think back to how I am now." He stroked her thigh, puzzling over why he
didn't say 'she' instead of 'me.' "I'll always be here with you," he said
placing his hand over her heart. "Even if it's in the past... Or at least tell
me what I'm doing wrong and I'll try to be better." He smiled. "Like if you
want me to chase a rat and instead I jump on the chair with you and scream."
He chuckled.

"I'm not afraid of rats. There aren't many to chase anyway."

"You know what I mean."

"It's sweet. But it wouldn't be fair to you then."

"I want you to promise. You'll always have the memory of me to look back on if
things get hard for us."

"Of course," she pledged, kissing his hand. "You'll see it's not really like
that but... I promise." Amber sighed and turned away, beginning her own vigil
of the sky. "What do you think- what did our ancestors do to deserve this? If
we could only know... maybe we could apologize for it but...."

"The gods are cruel."

She sighed in agreement. "Enough of them are."

Jimmy reclined on the log with her hand still in his. "I feel like some love
again." He drewÊher to one of the nipples she'd avoided all day, as she always
did when they were together like this. He pinched it with her fingers and
closed his eyes right as she simpered at him. He felt her second hand soon on
him and returned the smile.

Her puckering lips gave him goose bumps in the afternoon heat.

---

Jimmy rowed as fast as his thinning arms would allow in the falling light,
still worried they wouldn't return in time.

"See." Amber pointed to a fire in the woods. "We'll be there before sunset. I
told you."

He chuckled at the bright red orb ahead of them sinking into the sea.

"I've always wanted to ride off into the sunset."

"Hm. Not tonight. I don't want to get wet again when you turn the skiff over
chasing after that stupid reef."

"Does the salt water still irritate you?"

"No. It's long gone."

"The day's not quite over, you know. We never did go for that walk on the
beach."

"We've walked on the beach many times," she reminded him.

"Not at night under the moonlight... well I guess the moon isn't quite as
romantic for me anymore.  Is there an isolated beach nearby? A place without a
lot of homes around where we could just spread out a blanket and fall asleep
together?"

"I'd love to. Yes. I know just the place."

"You sure you're going to have me home before dinner, though? I've, uh, got a
lot to squeeze in."

"You're not really going to try to make love to all four, are you?"

"I don't know about *that*. I thought... Hm. I hadn't really thought about it.
I guess I could... give all four a shot if... maybe Rachel has some advice.
I'm sure I could get them all pregnant if I put my mind to it."

Amber winced. "You think you can go four in a row? I heard it's not
comfortable for the man."

"No. I wouldn't have to if I do it right. I might be able to make enough and
then divide it up."

"Oh. We don't do that anymore. Well I guess today it's OK."

"What do you mean 'we don't do that'?"

"It's not fair to you. You should get a chance to make love to each woman and
enjoy her. We shouldn't just put you in a barn and milk you like a cow."

"Or a goat."

"Or a goat," she laughed. "It's not very human."

"Why not? It works just as well."

"No," she sighed. "They say long ago we used to do that, but it was very
cruel... and... and each woman should have even if it's tiny, that moment to
*be* a woman. I know how thin it stretches you, but we shouldn't... we
shouldn't deny ourselves to each other. Children should be conceived in love."

"OK. I guess I'll have to rethink this."

"No. If you want to- "

"Got it. I think I have a compromise." He winked at her. "Don't worry. We'll
be able to spend more time together tonight."

"Without hurting the other girls?"

"Without hurting them."

"Thank you."

---

"All right," he announced. "I'm mighty grateful for the day off. And I
understand how much you've all been looking forward for your chance to have a
child and have- " he bite his tongue before the word 'normal' popped out- "uh,
sex with a man. I talked it over with Rachel and this is how it's going to
work. I'll spend fifteen minutes with each of you. Please get yourself warmed
up ahead of time, if you know what I mean. At the end of the hour, I'll
finally pop off and we'll take and divide that up and give each of you a
share. I know it's not how things are normally done and I apologize for the
rush but, the Queen said it would be fine this once. Now. Any questions?"

Let's get those sexy butts in gear, you little fillies...

"Did you want us to all be together at once?" The brunette with the heavy
knockers sounded peppy.

"Yeah. Did you?" So was her shorter companion.

"It doesn't matter to me. What do you ladies want?"

They looked sheepishly at each other a moment, then at the floor and the walls
for a second. Finally one pair of eyes fell back on him. "I'd kind of like to
be alone," she said timidly.

"Yeah. Me too."

The other girls remained silent.

"Then it's settled. Now does anyone have a problem with the other
arrangements? I don't want to upset any of you by skimping like this. Of
course, I hate the fact none of you can spend a lifetime with a man with the
man of your dreams, like all you beauties deserve... But if you think it's not
enough time of if you want to back out of any or all of it, let me know. I'll
more than understand."

"I... I don't really want to have a child right now. You could save my share
and give it to one of the others so they could have a better chance."

"Me too." "Me too."

"That's sweet but it doesn't work that way. Even a little bit gives you a very
good chance. You're not taking anything away from somebody. Trust me."

"Oh.... well I... I'm still not ready for pregnancy, I don't think."

"Fine, sweety."

The three other girls looked at each other nervously.

"Um... you do know that just by fooling around we could still get you
pregnant?"

"Really?" she whispered.

"That's what Rachel says. The odds aren't as good but it's still possible.
Some comes out my tip whenever I have an erection. Just not a lot... Does that
bother you?"

"No I... I guess not. It's a risk I'm willing to take."

"I've heard that a lot. One of you little risk-takers is going to wind up with
the jackpot."

"Jackpot?"

"It's a poke-her term," one of the other ladies whispered.

"Oh. That's OK. I understand."

"And the rest of you want a child?"

"Please," they echoed.

"I'll try my best. Now who's first?"

They stared at each other blankly.

"We scratched the original order this morning," one of them explained.

"I guess it's up to you."

"Does it matter?"

"Well is there a girl here who's particularly picky getting another girl's
juices in her?"

They all giggled and uttered a resounding "no."

---

He sighed. Why wouldn't they just let him jerk off?

"If they'd left me even *one* of those condoms this wouldn't be such a chore,"
Rachel complained as she pumped his member. "Blasted superstitions... This is
taking a while," she huffed. "I have a feeling me and this plastic cup aren't
your favorite fantasies. Why didn't you let me tell Amber what to do and have
her do this?"

"Just stop screwing around and blow me."

"Is that why you asked me?" Rachel frowned. "Oh I'm flattered honey but I
don't want the saliva contaminating anything. It's designed to dissolve stuff,
in case you've forgotten your high school biology." She sighed again as she
felt him get a little softer. "You're more attracted to her. She'd have your
rocks off in no time, big guy."

"I don't want her to have to 'milk me.' She said it's cruel."

"No she didn't," Rachel moaned. "She wants to, you know. She's waiting
nearby."

"Oh." He brought Rachel's hand to a halt. "She wasn't- " What was all that
talk about?

"She just wanted to make sure the children were born out of love. They will
be. Don't worry." He scratched his head. "I know. I still don't get it either.
But she genuinely wants to help. She asked me to tell you. Even if it's just a
show for- "

"Oh..." He pried her hand off his flagging erection. "Is she... she unhappy I
asked you- "

"No, honey. I'll go get her."

How big was this place? He'd seen four different bedrooms tonight. Five,
counting his master chamber. Where was Amber hiding?

Come on, Rachel. It's dark out, already. He wanted dinner and a walk.

There they were.

Rachel took a gander at the inch-long protrusion from his crotch and whispered
something to Amber.

Amber stepped forward with her arms out.

Rachel lingered in the doorway to remind him. "Can you make two doses of
medicine, Dr. Jimmy?"

"Two?"

"There *are* three girls."

He sighed. "All right."

"I'll make sure it's two," Amber said simply as she embraced him and ran her
hands over his bare back. She heard the swish of curtains and whispered in his
ear. "I told you you shouldn't have wasted it this morning."

"I'm making more...  I'm making more..." he assured her.

She nibbled his ear and pinched at his nipples until his five inches pressed
proudly against her stomach.

She knelt before him, looking it square in the eye.

"What?"

"It smells funny," she remarked.

"How?"

"Kind of like a... Oh. Of course."

"What?"

"Pungent." She sighed. "One of your ladies was strong... maybe all of them."

"Sorry."

"No. Don't be. I won't have to use my own juice."

"Well wash it off and then suck on it if it bothers you."

"No. The odor's fine... besides. I can't do that. Rachel says sucking is bad."

"I thought I get everything I want today."

"If it's reasonable." She kissed the head of his phallus. "Come on. We haven't
done it this way before." He scowled at her. "I let you play with me when I
was having my period. This is special too. Let me return the favor."

"OK." She started stroking his shaft. "Grab it harder," he suggested.

"That doesn't hurt?"

"No... uf. That does." He steadied her hand. "Don't whack my balls, honey.
They're your friends."

"Yes. I know they are.... Sorry. Is this better?"

"Much." His fingers spread out in her red long red tresses, drawing her eyes
up to smile at him. But then her lips got that determined expression like she
was busy scrubbing the floor.

"Why are you kneeling?" he asked.

"Oh... I guess I don't have to... well except at the end."

"I'll warn you. Unless of course you like the view down there."

Amber giggled. "It's interesting... but I like your eyes better."

She rose with her palm still deftly wrapped around his manhood.

She was closer and closer to eye-level everyday. It troubled him, even if it
was just temporary.

Shoot. It could get worse, he realized. He could end up as short as Julia.

Amber pressed his hard prick back against him and awkwardly tugged up on it.

"What are you worried about?" she asked.

He flashed a smile at her intuition. "Will you still love me if I'm a lot
tinier than you?"

"Sure," she said, kissing him. "But you might be taller. More than half of the
women are." Amber smirked at his concern. "Maybe you should kneel in front of
*me* sometime and see if it turns you on before you start worrying."

"Tonight maybe."

"Why not." She pecked his lips. "Andrea's right, though." She kissed him
again. "Too much talk."

Her other hand caressed his shoulders while he munched on her upper lip. "I
don't know. It kind of turns me on when you act like you're milking the cows."

She spurted in laughter. "I'm *not* that kind of girl."

"Oh yeah?"

They locked lips and exchanged tongues.

"Umf." He'd bitten her. "Is it OK?" she asked.

"Yeah. Go ahead. It still surprises me, but it's nice." She wet her fingers
and twisted his puffy nipple again.

"Do you like them?" she whispered as she nuzzled her warm companions against
his shallow A-cups.

"I guess..." He pecked her forehead. "You make them fun."

"I like your old chest better." She winced. "I know I shouldn't say that.
You'll get upset later."

"I won't. I like the old me better too." Jimmy shrugged it off. "If you say
I'll be fine with it next month then I'm sure I will be... and how could I get
jealous? I could wind up being the sexiest bitch around here. You could take
one look at me and wet your pants."

She smiled politely. "I don't wear pants. They're harder to make."

They shut up and necked for a minute.

"Are you almost there?" She switched hands. "Or do you really need me to
talk?"

"No." He glanced at his stiff tips as they scraped against her own soft flesh.
"Your hands have really got me going. You, um... it's just kind of tiring
standing here."

"Well then sit down."

"You kind of got my things in your hands."

"Oh." She let him go. "Why didn't you say so earlier?"

"You're a very possessive girl."

Amber blushed.

He took a seat and she knelt in front of his wagging pole again.

"No. That wasn't what I had in mind." He leaned back on the bed. "Come on up
here where we can both have some fun." Jimmy thumped his chest.

"Oh. I'd like to. I heard it's fun but... It'll be hard for me to catch it all
that way." She frowned as she tried to find the plastic bucket Rachel had
given her. "Besides. I think my other wrist would hurt... Could I be the one
lying down?"

"Sure."

"You wouldn't get more tired that way?"

"Hardly."

She giggled as she got flat on her back. "We haven't done this either."

"Come to think of it..." he remarked as he turned over on her, "I don't think
I've done it with anyone here."

"No? I like it." She took hold of his pole again. "Don't forget to say
something, though... and make sure you don't distract me from my duties."

"I won't." Jimmy said, pulling her thighs up around his ears and diving in.

He fucked her with his two middle fingers as he chomped away at her pink clit.

"NNnn... slowly, sweety."

"Ok. But you speed up."

He pulled her wide open and peered as deep inside and the torch light would
allow. Her glistening walls were smooth and grayish pink once he stretched
them enough to see. He pinched her lippy V back and forth, enjoying the way
the leafy flaps curled up around his fingers and grew like little balloons as
he stroked them.

Amber thrashed one of his stiff nipples around again, getting it as tight and
hard as his dick.  She even stroked it the same way. Funny how it got smaller
as it got harder. His dick had that strange urge once or twice too.

The electric chill surged through his chest.

"Now baby."

"Oh."

"No! Don't stop!" Her stroking resumed as the plastic lip ground into his
stomach. She aimed him lower. "You ready?" he asked.

"Go on. Don't hold it in anymore."

Her intermittent hand was unsatisfying, but in the interest of time he let the
sticky jets of sperm fly anyway.

Amber grew very quiet under him. He could hear the faint echoes of each spurt
on the bottom of the large cup.

The shudder washed over him and Jimmy bent down to watch her finishing him
off. With a graceful pair of fingers, she tapped his prick clean against the
white plastic obscuring most of her face, then squeezed the bottom, moving
slowly forward like she was gleaning the last bit from a tube of toothpaste.

"Get it all?"

"Yeah," she sighed.

"Didn't... uh, sorry to have to make you do this."

"No, it's... it's wonderful. I've seen it before with the bulls but... it's a
lot sweeter when it's someone you love. I feel like I'm really helping."

"Bulls, huh?" What *did* she do during the day?

Amber contemplated the bucket with a confused look. "That's all? Did I do it
wrong? It tasted like a lot more this morning."

"It varies. And I'm getting worn out." She did have a small mouth.

"Oh. Of course... well let's get to the last of it."

"We need to wait a minute." He sat back and laid down beside her. "I don't
know what Rachel's so gung ho about. I won't be able to make but a few more
drops."

"Really? She told me to expect more than you think."

"Hm. We'll see. I still need a minute."

Amber swiveled toward him and bent her legs outward. "Something to keep you
busy?"

"Yeah."

He grinned and dutifully licked her to another orgasm. Returning the favor was
the only decent thing to do.  When she started to jerk off, he even pried the
bucket from her fingers and moved it back and forth between her thighs like a
baseball catcher.

He'd never seen a girl laugh through her orgasm before. Talk about redfaced.

"How was it?" He chuckled. "Unsatisfying? Like all your other girlfriends?" He
tickled her foot.

Amber took a deep breath. "Ooo. My head feels like that frenchman who tried to
float out of here." She sighed a moment before sitting back up. "Ready?" Jimmy
steadied her shoulder and lowered her back to the bed. "Ohhhh... Could *I*
wait this time? My head..." she complained, with the back of her hand pressed
to her brow.

"No. Just lay there. I'm ready... but, uh, your hand got a little rough last
time. Can I dip in here for some of that natural lubricant."

"Sure."

Now that he was out of the grip of her bony hand, he noticed how incredibly
comfortable her other parts were. He'd been spoiled all these weeks. She was
so cozy, he didn't want to leave.

Amber tapped her breast.

"I feel better now. Shouldn't you come back up here?"

"Why? Rachel tell you vaginas are bad for conception too?"

"No," she pouted.

"I'll pull out right before, OK?"

"Sure?"

"I promise. Just point the bucket at me."

"Got it right here." She patted the plastic cup by her side. "Let me know
when." She giggled. "I still feel kind of silly doing this."

"You should see what they have to do to get your eggs."

"I don't lay eggs."

"Sure you do. Little tiny ones. They just don't pop out of you like a
chicken... Didn't Rachel explain it?"

"Oh. It didn't seem relevant at the time. Is it that the thing that when it
dies inside me every month it makes me bleed?"

"Yeah. That's it."

"Why would they want to get to it?"

He loved her, but why of all the women did she end up gabbing so much with him
in bed, especially now while they fucked?

"Because sweety, they'd mix it up with my sperm and when they were sure they'd
made a baby they'd stick it back in you... before it got real big," he added.
"It takes the chance out of it," he explained. "You'd almost always get
pregnant."

"Oh. That's nice of them... but we'd have to do it separate, though, right? Or
would they let you come first and reach in there for your stuff?"

"I don't know. They might I guess."

She clamped down on a knuckle as his banging began to make her breasts shimmy.

"A bucket won't fit in me," she remarked as her head fell aside. "So how do
they get my egg? It's not very big and Rachel said I only made one a month..."

He gasped. "*Please* shut up a minute..."

---

"It wasn't fair. I was supposed to touch you."

"You did for most of the time... I just couldn't wait. You worked your end of
the bucket fine." He looked in it, somewhat surprised. "Huh. That was a fair
amount. Must be you." He pinched her navel. "You bring it out in me."

"Must be the magic," she corrected him, brushing his hand away.

"Yo!" he yelled. Amber drew the sheets over them. "Rachel! Your order's ready.
Take out to go."

She burst into the room, skirts awhirl. "All right!" she sang. "Give me those
baby makers!"

"How long were you out there, you little pervert?"

"I didn't hear a thing. I put wax in my ears."

"Yeah. Like hell. You heard that well enough."

She hungrily snatched his donations. "Well I'll be hearing a lot more than
just you two in a minute. Want to stay around and listen to the lovely
moaning?- wow." Her wide eyes stared at the cream covered bottom of the
plastic cup.

"What? Didn't they all have their, uh," he looked at Amber and turned away,
"uh, orgasms?" he whispered.

"What's one more going to hurt?" Rachel shrugged. "One of them's a screamer,
as you already know," she winked and Amber pinched his jumping thigh under the
sheet. "I didn't want you thinking I was torturing anyone back there."

"We already think that," Amber whispered to him.

"I know you do babe. These girls won't be thinking that, though."

"Is that enough?" Amber asked.

"Hell, the right three would do honey." Amber gave her a confused look. "Yes.
It's plenty. Thanks, Jimmy... It's actually a lot. Let's hope this sets a
precedent. Maybe we can do it this way more often."

He shrugged. "Doesn't matter to me. I like pussy." He pinched Amber back.

"It likes you too," she said with a kiss.

"I'll second that," Rachel added. She held the translucent bucket up to the
firelight, shifting the thick fluids slowly back and forth. "Impressive... I
wonder if I could... hum... can I, um... if there's any leftover?"

"Do what you want with it. I don't want it back."

"Thanks," she chuckled. "You probably don't."

He tickled Amber's chin. "Let's get something to eat and have that walk."

"Yes," she agreed. "It'll be strange being around you in clothes again."

Rachel's scientific curiosity suddenly snapped. She straightened up and ruined
her professional air with a playful grin. "Listen kids, I'd love to stay and
chat but for the first time in fifteen years I can knock some girls up." She
jiggled the container merrily, then turned on her heal and skipped off.

Amber tracked the faded writing on the side of the plastic can as it swung
back and forth from Rachel's side.

"Tell me again what thirty-one flavors is about..."

---

Jimmy trudged barefoot along the silvery wet sand, arm in arm with Amber.

"Can I meet your mother sometime?"

"Yes. I'd like that. How about dinner?"

"Sounds great. What about the rest of your family? Do you have any sisters?"

"No. I was an only child, like most."

"Would you like one?"

"What!?" Amber laughed and squeezed his waist. "She's forty-three."

"So? I'm offering... I'm not trying to be a pervert or anything, I just- "

"I know. It's sweet of you," she sighed, patting his shoulder. "I'm sure she'd
rather see me with a daughter of my own though."

"Should I even offer? Would it bother you?"

"Sure. If you want. I'll leave it up to you two. I have no idea when her
period is, though."

"I'm sorry you didn't grow up with a playmate in your home."

"Oh. Was that what you were asking about? I grew up with Nan, Lucinda's child.
Lucinda's married to my mother. We're family. We're just not sisters."

"You don't think of Lucinda as your other parent?"

"More like... what do you call them? Aunts? We don't have many of those
either..."

"What about your father? Do you miss him? Do you, uh, keep in touch?"

"Who? Marcia? No. I see her occasionally. It's not the same, though."

"So you missed having a man to look up to?"

"Yes. I think all children do, don't you?"

"It doesn't bother you?"

"The curse is a bother to us all." Amber was silent a moment and then
scratched at one of the beautiful lines in her neck. "At least we think
Marshall was my father. We're not sure. There were two boys who came of age."

"Would... would your child look up to me?"

"Oh, yes. Very much," she said. "I want you to be like the other parent. I'm
sure our child would have all your good qualities... Boys like Marshall...
they're just boys. If we marry, it'll be special. So much of you will still be
there... and here," she stroked her stomach, "growing inside me. We'll be more
of a family than most." She stopped, dug her toes into the beach and kissed
his cheek. "I meant what I said. I want very much to give you a son. I'll
raise him to be just like you for as long as I can." He returned the kiss and
they doubled back toward their makeshift sleeping bags.

Jimmy glanced up at the thinning half-circle of moon, now low in the sky.

"But he won't be mine then, will he?"

"Yes he will. For us he will."

"Will they all be my sons and daughters afterwards? I am the father, right?"

"Of course." She hugged him again.

"I... I want to be there for them. Even if the rest slips away- "

"They'll be well cared for. We all help." Amber sighed. "And if you want to
help more than others, no one will say anything... but put it out of your mind
for now."

"I want to be a good parent."

"You will." She kissed him. "I'm sure you'll make a fine mother."

"Oh... I won't still feel- "

"You'll understand later."

She said that about so much.

"Be who you are now. And be who you will be then."


"So where are your fish for the day? Didn't you catch any?" Lucia teased.

"Yeah." He kicked back on the dock. "But they seem to disappear shortly after
I eat them. Fish are like that, I guess."

"You're catching the wrong kind," she snickered.

"It's not my choice. They all nibble at the only bait I got."

"Come to the palace. We've caught something with a little more loyalty."

"What?"

"You'll see."

She wasn't usually this indirect.

Hm...

---

"What's going on Rachel? What's in those wet boxes?"

She tittered and handed him a plastic wrapped first issue of "Bounce."

"Skin magazines," she informed him with the biggest smirk he'd ever seen on
her face. "Tons of them are washing on shore in the south."

Melissa walked up beside him. "Skin magazines?" she chirped. "Hm." The cover
turned sideways in her olive hands and the Bouncing Babe of the Month unfolded
to the floor. "She *does* have lovely skin at that," Melissa crooned. "'Skin
magazines.' Hm. How lovely..."

"Huh?" Another woman he didn't know stopped and ogled the centerfold over
Melissa's shoulder. Melissa wandered off, mumbling to herself and the woman
was forced to grab her own copy.

He heard sporadic tearing everywhere.

"Can we?" someone asked in the distance.

"Certainly. Go ahead," the Queen said.

More seals broke, flooding the hall with popping plastic.

Rachel rescued her copy from his startled hands and opened it for her own
amusement, chuckling and sputtering as she flipped through the pages right in
front of him.

Huge, glossy close ups of pussy and tits. Simulated intercourse. Lesbians.
Breasts large and small. Smiling faces. The kind of underwear he hadn't seen
in weeks (months actually).

*Very* little writing.

Damn. She was giving him an inconvenient public erection. Fortunately it
wasn't sizeable enough to poke over his belt anymore.

And she browsed through it so casually, with almost detached interest.

Outside he could literally hear word of it spreading through the village. The
room slowly filled with every idle woman, each pretty enough to arouse the
envy of any printed model. The Queen directed them in and out of the door,
doling out the treasures as quickly as Dahlia placed them in her arms.

The cheery faces greeted one another, passed the town gossip around and then
strolled back and forth through the brightly colored paper, looking the
photographs over, looking at one another and finally eyeing themselves with a
bit of self-critical hilarity. They cooed and purred and said the strangest
things just as Melissa had.

Jimmy stood there, not knowing quite how to take it all, as Rachel lead his
divided attention on a guided tour of "Bounce".

A group started to crowd his dinner table. They stacked the plates carefully
in one corner and spread out several copies while their whispering reached a
fevered pitch.

Lucia called Hope over and dumped her stack on the poor overwhelmed girl. "You
need the exercise," she simply said.

"Yes, mam."

The Queen walked his way and paused at Jimmy's side for some practical advice.
"How many should we put in the archive do you think?" He hunched his
shoulders, trying not to laugh in her face. That was always dangerous. "How
long will they last then?"

"I don't know. Five or ten years. A lot longer in plastic. You have any
ziplock bags?"

"A few... oh. I see. To put them back in." She took Dahlia's passing arm.
"Leave about a dozen in their glass wrapper and put them in the archive,
love."

"Sure."

"Oh. And round up owners of the zipper bags for tonight."

"Ok."

Dahlia was sucked off into the bowels of the palace while Lucia went about
trying to explain rules of the long term care of their new loot. (He waited
with baited breath to see if she'd say 'booty' instead).

"I think a freighter must have capsized," Rachel whispered in his ear. "They
salvaged a few news magazines and other things but they're mostly soaked.
Here." She took his hand and led him to the bed, swatting the women from his
mattress. "Please don't sit there, Roxanne."

"Oh. Sorry." Then the blonde noticed him. "Sorry, Jimmy. Did you need for us
to, um, clear out for you?"

"No. Go ahead. I like having all the company."

She pecked him on the cheek, said "thanks for being sweet" and wandered off to
the dinner table.

Rachel put a cautious finger to his lips before pulling back the sheet,
revealing a hard wood board peppered with torn and dripping magazines. She
quickly covered them again.

"They still need a minute," she said as she took a seat beside him. He looked
with some discomfort at the dirty magazine she slapped in his lap.  "Oh I know
it'll give you a hard on. Don't worry about it, honey." Rachel gave his thigh
a reassuring pat. "This is such a wild trip. We never get magazines out-
Sweety. Don't roll them up like that... yes I know it's fun. They won't last
long if you don't treat them right."

"Oh... thanks Rachel... hey Jimmy..."

"Hey Clarissa." He rubbed a circle over his stomach as he waved at her.

"Oh I know." She pointed at the magazine and turned a bit red. "What's one
more gorgeous face around here?... gonna do, I mean?... I've, uh, I've gotta
go home now. See you." She turned and tripped out the door.

"You didn't have to embarrass her like that."

"Like what?"

"Teasing her about getting pregnant."

"Oh. No." He realized what he was doing to his belly. "I was just hungry. It's
close to lunch."

Rachel snickered as she scouted out his cook at the door. "I'm sure Hope will
get you something when she's done."

"Yeah," he moaned. "Next week maybe." Rachel laughed at his peculiar
misfortune. "So where's Amber?"

"She's staying with the children, I think."

"Oh." That made sense. Somebody had to.

"Jimmy? Rachel?  What are these series of numbers here for?"

"Those are for phones," Rachel explained. "Remember I told you about them?
Little boxes. You press the numbered buttons on them and they let you talk to
someone far away. Everyone has a number."

Her girlfriend needled the woman in the side. "I told you math was important,
but you never listened."

"I'll learn if I have to," she whined as they sauntered off. "It would be a
nice problem to have."

"Yes... we'll let's see if you can start. Hm. I know. Your number is
659283729103."

"I can't remember *that*," she frowned.

"Then I guess I won't have to come home when you call. Ow! Don't pinch me
*here*" she whispered. The pair merged with the line of departing women and
soon vanished, he could only guess where.

More kept streaming in on the other side.

"It's a phone number right?" Rachel whispered. "What's the '900' about?
International calling or something?"

"Yeah. Something. I'll explain later." She flipped through the pages looking
for the ad, but Jimmy's mind wandered off to the women around the table.

"Why don't these girls look like they like each other?"

"Mm. Don't know... Maybe they're funny that way."

Snickers.

"Do all women have such big breasts outside?"

"No. Rachel says only some of the one's men like to photograph."

"Too bad they don't take photos of the other side of the camera." "*I know*."
"Are there *any* men in this?"

"I'd have never thought *Andrea* would be such a prize in the outside world."

"What?!" Andrea grinned and gave the shorter woman a friendly shove.

"Must be." "Jimmy said as much." "She *did* win the race."

The table fell into giggles. Andrea turned red and winked at him, the chair
shaking under her knuckles.

"Imagine! So many men that NONE of the women could run off!"

Andrea snorted.

"Oooo."

"Hey!"

"What?"

"I got it. Turn to... to... Darn. I can't read numbers well. Turn to the
middle everybody. I found the one with the man in it!"

'The' man...

He smiled as he heard a hundred flipping pages. Then more subtle gulps for
air. The women glanced non-chalantly in his direction, one at a time, quite
casually as they looked the rest of the room over and gradually drew their
circle tighter, limp wrists gracing their necks. He could barely hear their
whispers.

"His thing's so big." "Is it her breasts?" "It is big." "That's why she never
puts it in." "You think?" "I wouldn't." "*I would*." "Figures..." More faded
giggles.

Rachel looked at him, a crinkle in her brow and started to walk over just as
the spell broke. The girls gazed at one another a moment, the color in one or
two faces changed subtly and then they all nervously turned back to the shots
of women.

"Hm."

Throats cleared and a few more copies of the magazines disappeared into safe
spots in togas and bags. One or two women broke away for the door with rosy
cheeks, while others joined the table from outside. The rest surveyed the room
and started talking again, doing their best to be discrete. But he could see
the two teens still blushing self-consciously around their elders.

Linda stopped by his side. Where'd she come from?

"Some of these women are quite beautiful, don't you agree?... Who's this girl?
She has such deep brown skin. Is she African?"

"I think they said a man like that washed up once," Susan said.

"Really?" he asked. "Why aren't there any black children?"

"Oh. They get changed the way you see us now," Susan explained. "At puberty.
Into Greeks and barbarians, like the crew on the ship."

"It's rare we get such fine art work. Though it's rather obvious a man did
this- "

"I think the women helped some, don't you?" Susan asked. "Some of the outfits
are interesting."

"Do you like looking at such images?" Linda prodded. "Is this something you
do? Or used to do?"

"No," he replied. "I'm much more interested in Time..." Rachel pinched him. "I
don't care if it did get hosed. Pass it over. I'll help it air out."

The pair of women looked the board over with them.

"That one looks nicer."

"Let it dry a minute, ladies," Rachel cautioned.

"Why didn't they wrap the copies of- " Linda squinted- ""Vogue" in glass?" She
pealed the damp cover back and glanced through the first few pages. "It looks
like a much more interesting book even when the colors run."

"Yes. Why did they waterproof these and not the others?" Susan shook her
"Bounce" at him, almost angrily.

"I'll explain it later," Rachel giggled. She turned to Jimmy. "They won't
believe it but I'll explain it."

"Why wouldn't we- ?"

Susan tugged diplomatically on her lover's toga. "She said later, honey.
She'll explain it, I'm sure."

"OK. OK."

The couple walked off. Susan mumbled something to her taller girlfriend. Linda
couldn't hear it either so she leaned down and asked Susan to repeated it. "I
still think that's why he likes your, uh..." Susan blushed and looked at the
passers-by somewhat self consciously.

"Oh." Both shot a quick glance back at Jimmy. "Maybe," Linda whispered and
then they left.

"Now she's pretty..."

The crowd purred in agreement and flipped to the next page.

Rachel closed her "Bounce" and set it aside. "I think I'd rather look at Time
too. I've seen enough cunts in my life. What's one more, even with makeup?"

"Pussy pussy pussy." Jimmy chuckled. "Here. A couple of pages are pretty much
ruined but it looks like next week's issue. Hey. They got the world series
results in the back. All right... You like sports, don't you?"

"Yeah," she said. "It's hard to appreciate now, though. Nothing much to
watch." She heard a commotion and quickly pulled a sheet over the wet rags.

"Come here!" someone yelled. "Come here!" One woman dragged another from the
crowd by her ear. "Cheating on me again! I knew it!"

The other girls giggled nervously.

"She's *very* jealous," Rachel informed him.

"No shit." His hand moved over his groin out of reflex.

But she wasn't the only married woman there. Julia... Sara... even Lucia. He
saw a lot of couples standing there with arms around each other.

"What about the other wives?"

"They're just looking at the pretty pictures. They don't get to see many
photographs."

"They won't get jealous?"

"I don't think. In fact I wouldn't be surprised if they all took a copy home
with them. They must have found two hundred on shore. There might be more
tomorrow."

"Circe has a sense of humor after all."

"You think?... Oh, because it's a girlie magazine, huh? No. I think it's just
the plastic wrapper. I actually kind of like it. I haven't seen such sharp
photographs in quite a while. I mean a real bed... and a kitchen, even if they
are doing that in it... A pool... A car! Imagine that! I'll have to explain
interstates and 'parking'." She giggled again. "No it's... it's very nice..."
She sighed wistfully. "I'd almost forgotten what makeup and nice underwear
looks like... if I only had some now..." She shrugged and looked him in the
eye. "So it's not the same as Vogue. Big deal. We've all seen pussy anyway."
Her eyes clouded over with a sigh. "I'll have to bring one home to Nell when
she gets back from the fields. She'll be amazed... I love it when she gets
happy like that..." He tried to pull Time back out, but Rachel grabbed his
wrist. "They're, uh..." She cupped his ear and her voice dropped to a whisper.
"They're loads of men in there. I'd wait to read it. It really will start a
fight."

"I wished they'd wrapped *it* up in plastic."

"So do I but we both know nobody jacks off over Time."

He gestured at the still awestruck crowd with a nod.

"No," one of them said. "Turn it back to the last page. She's pretty."

"They're all pretty." More giggles.

"You're prettier sweety."

"Thanks."

"She's right though. That one had very nice legs."

"How did they get the lips so red? They're... um, nice that way. I wish I
could do that."

"Rachel calls it lipstick.  Someone found a few tubes on the beach once..."

Jimmy examined the carpet of wrappers forming on the floor.

"Is that what they're going to do?" he finally asked. "Go home and jack off?"

"More like jilling off," she grinned. "Some I guess. They're just pictures,
though. Why worry when you've got the real thing?"

"Why worry when you *are* the real thing?" he laughed. "In the interest of
fairness, they going to let the boys have copies?"

"When they come of age, they might. Of course I'm sure they'll use some in the
classes to teach reading- yeah, I know it's stupid but what else do they
really have?- Of course I don't think any of the boys are old enough to be
interested sexually at least... but then like I said. Why look at pictures
when you have the real thing?"

"Oh. I forgot about that..." Then it dawned on him. "Even little boys?" he
asked incredulously. "The 'real thing'?"

"We're generous to a fault."

"I'll say... You mean when a boy starts getting horny, he can just...?"

"Uh-hunh. With anyone. I've caught a few eyes in my day."

"That's generous all right."

She hunched her shoulders. "He's got to do it while he's still got it..." She
needled him. "Don't you agree?"

"Hm." He changed his mind. "Give me one of those things before you go."

"Sure," she smiled. "You know they salvaged a Popular Mechanics, too. Want to
learn how to rewire your house?"

He laughed. "Maybe next week."

"Don't wait too long." She tapped the sports page under the covers as she
rose. "Some of this stuff's going to lose it's luster..." Rachel whispered,
"or get a weird new one."

"Really? Well I was never mechanically minded anyway."

"Keep them safe, will you? Don't let them open the pages yet or they'll tear
them up. I'm going back to the beach to see what else turns up. I'll send them
to you, OK? But watch them. Lucia knows what to do."

Lucia... "Hey."

"What?"

"She was your age, wasn't she?"

"Who?"

"The queen. Did you two, uh..." His lewd wink brought a nod from Rachel. "So
how was she in her youth."

"Stronger," Rachel chuckled. "Like a mac truck. She has terrible luck with
men, doesn't she? I think that's why she keeps having to try... but why do you
ask?" She smirked. "Those rags *are* getting you horny," she perked up. "Try
not to stand up..." she teased. "Or better yet, I'm sure they'd purr over your
pecker louder than that stud in here, even if he is twice your size now." She
thumped her "Bounce" and winked back at him. "The real thing, remember...
Later, sexy." She went over and fished an extra copy out of the box before
saying something to the Queen and leaving.

Lucia stood next to the large, soggy box, grinning along with Dahlia as they
thumbed through the photos.

Dahlia appeared pleasantly surprised by something and Lucia suddenly yelled
"Stop!", growling jealously as she slapped her lover's hand. She circled her
arms around Dahlia's waist and skipped ahead a few pages.

Dahlia relaxed slowly and smiled again.

What had irritated her?

Dahlia pointed with hesitation at another figure until Lucia kissed her cheek
and whispered "yes."

The emboldened consort leered at the Bounce girl again and grinned
seductively. "Oph," she gasped. Lucia drew away from her tender earlobe, teeth
still beared. "Stop that," Dahlia whispered.

"You stop."

"Come on. They're not alive."

"Not yet. Not until tonight."

"You're the only one I dream about..."

"Hm." Her lips pursed.

"Please Melissa?" Hope begged. "I'd like to look too."

"You're the one on palace duty for the day, not me. You know what that means."

The poor girl groaned and sank even lower under her stack. "Please?"

Jimmy smirked. "Hey, Hope! Can you round me up some lunch?!"

"Just a minute, Jimmy." She sighed and handed out another issue, cringing at
the crumpling sounds of plastic littering the floor.

"No. I'm hungry now," he whined. "Bring me lunch and come over here and keep
me company." Hope forgot her afternoon date with a broom and brightened as he
patted the bed. Melissa glared at him as the stack was tossed into her arms.
"You know what that means," he reminded her devilishly.

Lucia laughed at him. "OK, ladies. Clear off the table so Jimmy- "

"No, no. You guys stay. This is, uh," amusing? educational? cute?... erotic in
a real bizarre way? He couldn't say any of that. "I like all the company.
Please. Just give me a little space and I'll read it with you and explain
everything. I promise not to be messy... while I eat," he winked at them.
"Just stay out of my bed. I don't want you getting the wrong ideas..."

---

"Hey Renee. What can I do for you?"

She laughed. "I heard a lot of the village slept very well last night."

"Yeah. Eventually," he laughed with her. "Lucia left all the stuff they found
with me. Rachel must have told her I'd 'keep it safe.' I guess she was right.
Lucia's a clever gal, all right."

"How many visitors did you have?"

"I don't know. I tripped over five or six girls this morning. Hope says she
almost got her hands on my Time before she passed out." He'd rarely seen Amber
redder with laughter when they woke up and saw the girl, arm out-stretched,
face down on the cold marble snoring.

Renee snickered about it too. "The young ones forget that part of the curse. I
heard quite a few angry lovers discovered their beds empty in the middle of
the night and snuck over to search."

"Yeah," he sighed. "We found a few of them in the garden. No telling how many
others woke up before us and trotted off. A lot of flowers were smushed..." He
sighed again. "I guess I must be a real inspiration when you get me in bed."

"I wouldn't know." She looked to the ground.

"Is that why you came over?"

"No. I, um. I... have to do something with my wife this evening. Can I drop
Julius and Samantha off with you for a while? Amber said you two wouldn't
mind."

"Really? Hm. No, I don't mind. I'll be happy to. Amber said it was fine with
her?"

"She suggested it. She said you'd like 'baby-sitting,' as Rachel called it."
Rachel was involved? "They're not babies, though. I don't know why they say
that..."

"Sure. We'll take good care of them."

"Thanks. You know the boys all loved it when you took them hiking last week."

"I liked it too."

"He can't stop talking about it... Of course, it was nice of you to promise to
take the girls soon.  They always like to talk about men... I mean, I hope
you're comfortable again by then to talk- to talk about it," she stuttered.
"The boys liked what you had to say. They never get to talk with someone of
your experience. Neither do the girls, naturally."

"Yeah." Why did Renee always say one thing too many and stretch his patience?
"When did you want to drop them off?"

"Oh. Amber will bring them home after school... um. I have to warn you about
Sam. She'll probably try to flirt with you. She's at that age where she does
that now with everybody. She thinks you're especially cute too, but she hasn't
really got her bearings straight yet. Her hormones only just kicked in... of
course it's not- not for me to say if you want to. I mean go ahead. She'd
really love it. She's not a virgin anymore, not in that way I don't think but
Tamara won't talk to me about- "

"Good-bye Renee."

"Oh. Sorry to ramble. Um... Thank you so much again. I'll send you another pot
roast some time."

"Don't mention it." Please.

That was expensive pot roast.

Julius must get all his genes from his father.

Amber, huh? What did she have planned for tonight?

---

"They're cute kids," he whispered.

"Cute?"

"Nice. Well-behaved."

"Yes. They are. They must have had a long day. They dropped right off."

"Yeah." Finally someone he could beat at cards. Why did Amber have to go and
ruin it with a game of boys against girls? It wasn't any fair. "I didn't know
you had cots."

"They're Renee's. Her children like to sleep over at friends or have others
over. They don't like the floor."

"Who can blame them?" He stroked Amber's bare shoulder and looked over her at
the children in the firelight. "Pot roast and cots. So she's quite handy with
wood and fabric too."

"I'm sure she'd make one for you if... if you asked."

"You mean if I slept with her?"

Amber twisted and glanced up at him, furrowing her brow. "Is she that
transparent?"

"You all are..." he laughed. "What are you? Pimping me out?"

"What?"

"You want me to go screw your friend so you can have a cot?"

"Noooo." She pinched his hand. "Even *I* can make a cot. Go do what you want."

"Just keep screwing you."

"Yeah... I'll make you a cot." She sighed and let her head sink back into the
pillow. "They're so peaceful aren't they?"

"They are." He watched Sam's thin chest rise and fall as she rolled over,
stretching the fabric tight against her slender form. Julius was on his
stomach. All he could see was his thick mess of hair. "So what's Renee up to
tonight?"

"Oh... I, uh... think she and her wife are making up after a fight."

He smirked at her.

"What?"

"You 'borrowed' them, didn't you?"

"What?"

"You arranged to borrow them from Renee."

Her jaw went slack and she tucked her chin in. "What makes you say that?" She
continued to stare evasively off to the side.

"I know how you think," Jimmy said, tickling her.

"Stop," she snorted. "You'll wake them."

"I remember what I said on the beach that night. I'm not dumb you know. I can
put two and two together just like you can." Her hip jumped up as he pinched
her bottom. "Oh, Cornelia," he mocked. "I saw the way you looked at me when I
had dinner with your family."

"Did I really give it away?"

"You can't help but give it away... but I'm not picking on you," he comforted
her with a kiss. "I'm glad."

"They wanted to be here too." Jimmy chortled. "Sh." Sam snapped her wide open
mouth shut and turned over.

"Sam most of all." He tickled Amber. "I think she peed when I kissed her
goodnight."

"Zeus, I hate teenagers. You know she's mad at me because I wouldn't talk you
into sleeping with her."

"Sex or just sleep?"

"Both, I think, though she wouldn't come right out and ask about *that*... I
think she just wanted to crawl under the sheets with you and see what
happened."

"Mmm. Let's see..." He slipped a hand between her thighs and pulled her leg up
a bit.

"Now?" Amber turned and kissed his chin.

"I'm in the mood."

"I'm not ready yet, honey. Besides, we'll fall asleep in a minute. How about
the morning?"

"We have to dress the kids and get them off to school," he joked.

"Oh."

"Let's just see what happens."

"Omph."

"You are dry. Sorry. Is it uncomfortable?"

"Yes. Just try not to move for a while."

The tent of empty fabric over her crotch shifted.

"No." He stilled her hand. "Let's just stay like this for a minute."

"OK."

"Unless it hurts..."

"No. I'm fine. I need to loosen up a little but fortunately you're not as big
as that first night."

"Could you not bring that up?"

"Sure. Sorry. I forgot what Rachel said."

"You talk to her about me for advice?"

"Some. We all do. Not just about you."

"Well ask me next time, OK?"

"OK. We haven't talked for a few weeks like that, if that's what worries you."

"No. Talk to who you want. I'm just saying talk to me first, you know?"

"OK."

Sam's chest heaved gently as she breathed on her side now. The torch caught
the slight curve of her developing bosom just right.

He stiffened a little more in Amber, but still not enough.

"She used to be a boy, didn't she?"

"How'd you know?"

"The way Renee put it, I think. It bothered Julius, didn't it?"

"It... what's the word Rachel taught me? It 'freaked' him out? He knew it
would happen but then he watched it hit her. They weren't very close but she
turned out completely different. Treated him differently too."

"Yeah. I know how mean older sisters can be."

"She's not his sister."

"She's close enough."

"It was his older friend that really did it. A group of them used to play
together... and then she abandoned her younger male friends and started
associating with the girls her age... Girls can be so... cliquish. There's
something honest about a boy who just... well." Amber sighed, letting it drop.
"You know Sammy was Doug's son, don't you?"

"Really?"

"Almost all of the girls her age are Doug's."

"They're all girls now?"

"All."

"She doesn't look, what is it, sixteen?"

"No. Sammy changed at fifteen, a little over a year ago and of course... girls
have puberty much younger. Sam might pass for a young fifteen. I don't know.
Her development's just starting.

"I..." He yawned. "I can't stay awake anymore, honey."

"I know."

---

"So who's helping tomorrow?"

"That's it," Amber said. "Come on. Let's go to bed."

"What do you mean that's it?"

"Felicia was your last."

"She was? Why didn't anyone say anything?"

"Haven't you been counting the days?"

"You told me not to think about it, so I didn't."

"Oh. Sorry. Would you have done anything differently if I'd said?"

"Umm... I don't guess. But that's not the point. I- I- " He couldn't finish
his last thought. He sighed deeply as he looked at the sliver of moon rising
over the ocean. "How much longer have I got?"

"Many, many years, I hope."

"Stop it. You know what I mean."

"A day or two perhaps. There's still a finger of white in the sky. Then it
will start."

More like finish.

He stared at his tiny pecker and sank on the bed still bothered that Felicia
hadn't seemed happy with any penetration, even from that. "No more four a day,
huh?"

"No."

"I'll feel guilty, like I'm supposed to be doing something."

"Your obligations are over."

"What do you want me to do?"

"Be with me."

"You don't want me to- "

"If you do, I do."

"What should I do?"

"Be with me."

"I feel... I feel guilty." He turned to her. "Hey. Can I finally find out who
got pregnant and who didn't?"

"No. Not yet."

"But if I could... I mean if Linda didn't or someone else I'm friends with I'd
like to, you know, maybe help out again."

She stroked the hair from his shoulder. "Your obligations are over. Everyone's
had their chance. And less than half know with certainty. It wouldn't even be
a good time for most of them if they wanted. Just let it pass."

"It's frustrating. Like I can't finish a job."

"The sex was for your pleasure. They did it for family. They've fulfilled
their part. If you want more pleasure, go ahead. Andrea still lusts after
you." Amber giggled. "And apparently Susan likes watching what you do to poor
Linda... I never will understand that woman."

"Dammit. What do you do? Have play by play announcements when I'm in bed?"

"I never said a word. And I doubt... they wouldn't tell me if I weren't
sharing this bed with you." She kissed his shoulder. "I shouldn't be saying
this but... if it soothes your mind, Rachel expects you've fathered more than
forty children. That's almost more than we're prepared for. Please don't make
any more babies."

"Forty?"

"I don't know who exactly. I'm not sure how Rachel can guess it either except
that the Queen asked her to check the health of every woman on the list.
They've both been quite discrete."

"She, um... she poked and prodded you?"

"No. I just told her so she'd know... I think... I think the girls who found
out... I think she checked on them to help avoid miscarriages. It's rare but
Lucia doesn't want any happening this time."

"Andrea's pregnant."

"She is? How'd you know?"

"She was so happy about it she came up and told me."

"She's not supposed to, you know. She could get in trouble."

"Like you?" He pinched her. "I don't think so. She just wanted to make me
happy. To celebrate."

"Did you?"

"Huh? Yeah. She hopped into... uh, yeah we did."

"Oh. So those three other times... was it... was it because you liked her or
because she was doing you a favor? Did the other girls ask? I never could
figure it out."

"She's a good friend." He kissed Amber. "I've said my good-byes, I guess."

"Good-byes?" She thought a moment. "Oh... You didn't answer my question,
though. Did she make you happy? When she told you?"

"What? Yes, she did."

"I'm sorry I couldn't."

"You made me happier. I'm glad just to, um, be with you as long as I can now."
He shifted up on the bed and her arm slid from his shoulder. "So what's next,"
he sighed at the stars. "Will you sneak out on me in the morning and give me
another chorus? What's in store? An elaborate funeral? A big farewell
banquet?"

"No." Amber smiled and let out a slight laugh, turning and resting her head on
his hairless stomach. "It's too late for me to prepare anything like that...
We're, um... we're going to be left alone a lot. I know you've grown
accustomed to the attention but there's nothing big like that planned for you.
We'll even have to leave here in a few days."

"They've chewed me up and spit me out."

"No. It's not like that at all. We care very much for you. It's just... it's
not something we like watching. Or you'll like us to watch."

"We?"

"They, I mean. Sorry. I'll stay with you."

"Yeah." He sighed. "So we move out tomorrow? I start pulling my own weight?"
Slight as it was becoming...

"No. We can stay a night or two more. We have to leave when... when you wake
up and it's started. The bed is only for... for men," she stumbled. "You'll
like your new home, though. It's as nice as Rachel's." Amber kissed his hand
and smiled. "And the bed's made of calfskin."

Jimmy grinned at her. "Is that what you've been sneaking off to do?"

"We all have. We only had a month. Most of us worked very hard when we had
nothing else to do. You probably got the impression that we're busy around
here all the time but we're not, really."

"So where is our new home?"

"Can I keep it a surprise?"

"Sure." The gleam in his eye brightened a little. "Hey. Why don't you go
borrow a few more kids for the day and let's have a picnic?"

"Sounds wonderful. Which ones?"

"You chose."

"Ok." She snickered. "Would you like to organize another race? Andrea's free."

"No. I don't think I could win that way anymore.  No one would notice."

"I notice. Everyone notices."

"Yeah. Felicia noticed. She wasn't too thrilled about it, either."

"She's strange. She wanted Rachel to just use the 31 flavors but Lucia
wouldn't let her," Amber complained. "I don't think she likes men much. She
wants children but her wife told me she had to twist her arm to get her to
join the list... I'm sorry your last had to be like that. She didn't pinch
your nipples, did she, love?"

"She tried... but I saved myself for you," he joked. "I've had a few women
like that, though. If she would have just asked I'd have been happy to make it
impersonal."

"You wouldn't have minded?"

"No. It's funny how some of the last women were like some of the first ones.
Real hesitant. Like they looked in my eyes and saw something they wanted but
couldn't really have. Or couldn't yet. I don't know..." He shifted the pillow
to a more comfortable position. "How different will people end up treating
me?"

"Same as me, I guess. Why? You don't like the way islanders treat each other?"

"No. You're all very polite, I guess... it's just... some of the mothers look
at Rachel and Antonia..."

"Funny?"

"Differently."

Amber twirled a lock of his hair around her finger. "Can I ask you something?"

"What?"

"I know I said I wouldn't but... it's been bothering me. Don't say if you
don't want but did you ever... with my mother? After dinner, you remember?"

"Huh? No. It was too weird."

Amber giggled girlishly. "I know. It's hard to think of her having sex."

"Parents are like that."

"So how did you spend the time?"

"Talking about the usual. She quizzed me to make sure I was an all right guy.
She's very protective of her little girl, you know." He pinched her cheek. "Of
course, I told her not to worry. That she could depend on me.  I was normal
enough. Like every other guy I was going to knock you up and leave town and
she thought that was OK by her."

"She did not..." Amber drawled as she jabbed him.

"No. We talked mostly about you. Why?"

"Do you think she's still attractive?"

"Yes. Is that what worried you? If you really want a sister I'll go- "

"No. I just... When I start going gray, like she is I'd like to know if..."

Jimmy kissed her. "You'll always be sexy." He grimaced. "I may not be able to
get it up, but it won't be from boredom..."

She snorted. "I know," Amber sighed, sucking in her lower lip.

"Are there... are there mother's on the island who want another child? Who I
could help?"

"I suppose."

"Do me a favor tomorrow morning then. Ask around. Find out if the time is
right for anyone." He kissed her cheek again. "We'll do what we did that night
I had off. With the bucket, remember? Only maybe a blowjob this time, no
matter what Rachel says."

"I'd like that... am I getting better at it? You seem to like them more."

"Yeah," he chuckled. "You get me all the way down now. Of course, it's not
hard to know why..."

"Oh... I just thought... I did practice on a banana like Rachel said. I
thought I might-"

"No. You genuinely improved. Enthusiasm counts for so much." Jimmy gave her
eyes a wondering gaze. "Do I get it right for you?"

"Yes. You do it as well as any woman I've known... and like you said,
enthusiasm counts for so much... so I guess it's even better. Yes. You know I-
I won't be in bed with you when you wake up. The Queen has one last thing to
ask you."

"I know. She explained it to me." His fingers tapped out a little ditty on the
bedpost. "You know how I'm going to decide, don't you?"

"Yes."

"Good. Trust in your heart. The Queen and I are going to have a little fun one
last time."

"What do you mean?"

He wouldn't say anything more.

His eyes stayed focused on that fingernail in the sky.

'As good as any woman' echoed through his brain.

"It's the time that I've been trying to put out of my mind, isn't it? It's
coming..."

"Yes."

"What's going to happen?"

"You'll feel very, very strange." Amber's voice was barely a whisper now.
"Nothing will feel familiar."

"Ever?"

"For those few days."

"Not even you?"

"Maybe." Her voice cracked.

"What are we going to do?"

She straightened up in bed and put an arm around his neck. "We don't have to
go anywhere for the three days. Or two. I don't know exactly how long it will
take. You could find it... awkward, but you can venture out if you'd like.
It's all up to you." His hand drifted down to her hip. "I'll stay by your
side... if you want. Being alone is fine too. Just tell me how you feel at the
time. Someone will bring food to us if we need it... You like crab don't you?
Melissa said she'd bring some."

"No. What's going to happen?" he repeated.

"Oh. You don't want to forget about that like before? You have a day or two
left."

"No."

"OK..."

---

He scratched the back of his head. For once the light didn't seem to be that
bright. Someone had hung curtains from the windows. That's why he'd overslept.

He sat up and saw them all lined up, as promised. The five, standing behind
Lucia. Dahlia was off in a far corner, writing on something. It looked like a
roll of toilet paper, but he couldn't tell.

Claudia and her wife stepped forward, holding an unwrapped toga between them.
They reached the bed and turned away to face the Queen before Jimmy stood and
crawled into it.

Was Claudia finally his size? Or vice-versa? He hadn't been this close to her
in more than a week.

He pulled the untraditional sash tighter around his waist and stepped forward.
How long had it taken him to enjoy that airy smoothness between his legs? At
least his balls no longer got sore from hanging like they used to. They hugged
his groin too closely for that now.

"Your duties have been completed as you said, in only twenty-five days," the
Queen proclaimed. "The Island of Sirens is grateful and now your time is yours
to do with as you see fit. We have prepared gifts for you... And now we
understand you wish to exercise your right at this time to choose your future
wife."

He yawned.

"Yeah. I want Hope."

"Done!" Lucia shouted with glee.

"Huh?" said the rest of women.

Hope backed into the table, shattering one of the wooden plates.

Jimmy laughed. "Just kidding, Hope. I wanted to see if I could make you drop
something one last time."

"It worked," Lucia laughed. "By Zeus, you were right!"

Hope smiled wanly at him while the other girls giggled and turned red, Amber
most of all.

Lucia panned the room. "Who says I have no humor? Who?" Her consort beamed and
gave her a sexy wink, while she busily scribbled on her narrow scroll.

Amber put a consoling arm around the blushing teenager. Her trembling stomach
looked ready to cave in. She reminded him of that girl who'd had her panties
ripped down in the school cafeteria. Pale as death for two seconds and then
bright as a second dawn.

"Enough fun," the Queen declared. "Jimmy, this is the last we will address you
gathered here like this. What final comfort may our village offer you?"

He pointed at Amber. "If she'll have me."

Hope grew more nervous, not quite sure where his finger was going, but relaxed
as Amber stepped forward and took his hand. The couple kissed and then turned
to face the Queen.

"You have chosen well," Lucia informed him.

Amber twinkled and glanced down briefly to watch her toes wiggle in their
sandals while the other women murmured their approval.

"Thanks," Jimmy said. "I, uh... Is this the last I'll see everyone gathered
together like this? Um, as Jimmy I mean."

"Unless you wish to see us again. Yes. Our duties are fulfilled."

"When, uh, when do I have to... when does it all start?"

"Tonight or the next."

"I need to move this evening?"

"It would probably be for the best. We'll know if the moon fails to rise."

"Would... would you do me the favor of meeting here again... one last time
when... when that's the case? A dinner or something? I'd like to say good-bye
if I could."

"Of course."

"And Amber... she has something..." He cleared his throat. "If there's any
mother on the island who wants another child and... who can conceive today
then I, uh... have them talk to Amber. She and Rachel are going to make
arrangements for this afternoon."

"A generous offer."

"There's no sex involved. Sorry, but those are my conditions, island law or
not."

"We will... be happy to forward your message and, for today let the law be
suspended in accordance with your wish." Dahlia scowled and scribbled in the
bottom margin. Her paper was almost gone. "Herald. Let it be known."

"Yes... my Queen..." Dahlia's tongue poked out to the side as her hand worked
feverishly. She set her pen aside, rolled the scroll up and rushed off. He
could already hear her melodious voice flying through the halls and down the
path.

"My role as Queen this month is hereby concluded." Lucia turned and mumbled a
few other things to the remaining women.

He took Amber's other hand in his and kissed her.

"Picnic?" Amber asked.

"Yeah," he grinned. "Why not?"

"Where?"

"Pick a spot. Surprise me." He kissed her again. "Hey. Marry me? Let's be man
and wife if just for a day or two."

Lucia cleared her throat.

Amber glanced at her from the corner of her eye, then cupped his ear and
whispered, "yes. I do." She hung by him a little longer, her jaw moving as if
she was explaining something. Then the fiery young beauty straightened and
took on a more common and girlish air. "I'm very flattered, sir. But you've
not yet had time to fully sample the many other beautiful women on our island.
I must decline for now."

He pinched her cheek. "Then I guess I'll have to marry them when I can get
around to it... but today there are no other beautiful women for me." Her eyes
sparkled. "Can, um... we have some time alone for our honeymoon?"

"Ladies!" the Queen clapped.

He tickled her. "So you're my helper now?"

"Yes," she sighed.

"Who's up first this morning?"

"Mm. I am."

"And after that?"

"Me again."

"And in the afternoon."

"Mm. I think that's me too."

"You get around."

"Not very far... Can I giggle this morning? I feel like giggling."

"Sure. I'd like that very much..." He sighed in delight. "Just to help, I'll
tickle you a little."

"Aaaih!"

---

He shoved the bucket under the curtain. Rachel's long, slender thumb hooked
around the lip and snatched it up.

"There'll be one more I think," he informed her foot.

"OK."

"Really?" asked Amber, clasping the sheet to her chest.

"Must be you, love."

"Can I suck on it again?"

"I'd like that."

She pulled the third and final plastic container from the floor and set it
beside her. Jimmy reclined and thumped his breast bone, rattling the alien
jelly below.

She crouched at the foot of the bed, resisting his suggestion for more 69.
"No. I mean I... I want very much for you to give me pleasure but... could I
just concentrate on this. It's fun for me in its own way."

"Sure. I just didn't want to neglect you."

"You're not." She smirked. "Hard again already, I see."

He wished he could deep throat her again. Just once.

At least she could get her tongue around his balls.

He put his hands on her wet, kneading fingers and cupped his breasts with
them.

---

"What is it?"

"A truck grill. Don't know how it got here in one piece. It's the only thing I
could figure to do with it."

"The steaks will turn out all right?"

"Yeah. Don't worry about the black stuff. Adds flavor," Rachel winked.

He tossed the meat over with the two strips of metal. It was like trying to
cook with hot chopsticks. "You do this often?"

"Yeah. Every few months when they- uh, we slaughter a cow. This one was
getting kind of old so she'll be a little tough." Rachel shrugged. "Can't go
slaughtering the breeders," she explained. "Well, they never had a good steak
anyway. Nobody but us'll be disappointed."

"Wish we had potatoes."

"Yeah. The soil's not good for it, though." She tossed a couple of purple
roots on the grill. "As close as it gets, I'm afraid."

Amber snuck up, flattening her palm over his rear. "You sure you don't want me
to cook for you?"

"Rachel and I are fine."

"Just guy stuff," Rachel snickered. "Go on. Tell everybody they're almost
done."

"Yeah." He kissed her. "Run along."

Amber gave Rachel a rather odd look but walked back into the palace.

"You read about that guy with one hand who pitches?" Rachel asked.

"Yeah. Isn't that incredible?... Hey!" He set his ale down and she tossed the
rest of it on the fire, causing the steaks (and the fine hairs on his hand) to 
get singed.

"Trust me. You'll have plenty of time to get drunk later." Rachel giggled.
"It's a lot easier too."

Oh. It *was* his second. He didn't want to fall asleep on her tonight of all
nights.

"Is Claudia sure?"

"She's looked very hard for it. It should have risen by now." The elegant
doctor shrugged. "Maybe something will show up when the sun goes down."

"If it doesn't?"

Rachel didn't say anything.

---

"Like it?"

"Yum," Amber cooed. "You're as good a cook as Rachel."

"Thanks."

"Why'd you let Julius help with a few and not me?"

"You can help the next time."

"OK." He put his steak down and rubbed his sticky fingers on his thigh as he
looked over the twenty or so women who had gathered for the early dinner.
Outside night had begun falling and for a brief moment the moon's entire
shadow was highlighted in dim gray... just barely. Claudia said it was time,
though something within in him wanted the bright gleam on one side of the disk
to be more than it seemed. "Did you want to say something now?" Amber asked.

"No. Let everyone finish their meal." No one seemed as festive as before. Were
they no longer on their best behavior, as Amber had explained so long ago.
Would the island break out in cat-fights now? Would it overflow with PMS?

Would he?

"You're very quiet," she said.

He smiled thinly. "I can't help it. It's how I feel."

She pinched the nape of his fleshy hip. "I make you grunt a lot and you know
it," she tittered.

"I guess."

"What's wrong? Can't finish your third steak?"

He chuckled at his gluttony. "I don't know where my appetite came from."

"You, um, you need to replace what you lost," she said, hinting at this
afternoon.

"I guess I can try."

"You'll be fine for at least another night. Mostly."

"I know."

He was fairly quiet through the rest of the meal, visiting some with Amber or
Rachel and Nell. The natives asked a few questions about some of the more
mundane things they'd come across in the magazines but gradually left the
topic alone when it became clear he was letting Rachel fend them off with
answers.

"I liked the picnic at the pond, you know," Amber finally remarked to him.

"Yeah. It was nice... It was hard to get all the children out the water."

"I know. I expected to find one of them on the bottom when we left."

"You're right, though. The boys do run funny races now." Amber simply giggled.
"I don't know why I couldn't beat some of them."

"You're just tired from this morning." She tickled the back of his knee under
the table.

He watched one by one as more women cleaned their fingers in the water bowl or
folded their hands across their laps and fell silent, glancing at him. The
last of the children were being ushered out of the hall.

He suddenly felt like he could beat all of them right now, even hopping on one
leg.

Lucia cleared her throat and nodded in his direction.

Jimmy took one last look out the window behind him.

The sounds of the birds and the crickets seemed so eternal.

Why?

He stood and pushed his seat back, holding his arm out for Amber. The warmth
of her cradled against his shoulder finally gave him the strength to speak.

"Um... the moon's gone sooner than I thought, so I guess this is it." He
shuffled nervously. The greasy chunks of fat that he'd swallowed against his
better judgment were knotting up his stomach and taking longer to digest than
planned. Why had he gotten so hungry when he saw the empty sky? "First I... I
wanted to say I've enjoyed your friendship and getting to know you all. I
really have no idea what's going to happen to me but I hope we can still spend
many evenings in conversation." He pocketed the hand Amber wasn't holding as
it began to tremble. "Uh, I look forward to learning how to use all the dirty
words in Greek, though I hope I never fuck my brains out like that again. No
offense. I'd also like to encourage you to be honest and forthright with the
poor bastards who wash up here in the future. You really did scare the shit
out of me at first." He looked at the far end of the table where Lucia and
Dahlia sat surround by the four remaining volunteers. All of them smiled
politely back and did their best to laugh at his jokes. "Uh..." The words were
coming out of his mouth almost faster than he could think of what to say.
"It's kind of hard to say good-bye to each of you like this. Amber and I have
decided that I won't be going out at all the next few days so this will be the
last you see of me as, well, me. Or what's left of me," he sighed. "I've
treasured the company of each of you and wish you could all find the husbands
you so richly deserve. Since you probably can't have that, I hope you find
happiness in the years ahead and I hope I've provided you all," he burped,
"with something you can look back on fondly. In particular I'd like to thank
my five, who I guess are four now- " Someone clapped. He was rushing now and
knowing it only made it worse. "The older women- Andrea and Linda for their
companionship and sympathetic ear and the younger girls for their enthusiasm
and good humor," he said, flashing a a smile at Hope. "Rachel's been a real
friend. Dahlia, Lucia, Susan, Penelope and so many others I can't remember."
He sighed. "It was quite a ride ladies and at this point I'd have to say I'm
glad I remembered this much of my speech, I'm nervous as hell and I just want
to leave. Come on, Amber."

All twenty women stood from the table but remained silent.

He waved sheepishly and then turned for the door.

"You're forgetting your things, Jimmy," Hope said.

"Huh?" He squeezed Amber's arm to check she was still real. "Things?"

"Under the bed," Amber hinted with a whisper.

"Oh." The old crate. "What's left?"

"All of it."

"Huh?"

"It's all been returned to you. Your spyglass. Everything."

He surveyed the horseshoe of women.

"OK." He bent down and fished the beat-up old box out from under the bed.
Amber plucked it from him and propped it under her other arm. Then she tugged
at him like an anchor.

Jimmy watched with curiosity as the women slowly filed out ahead of him.

Singing drifted in through the closed curtains. Amber rest a palm on his
shoulder when he tried to open them. "You wanted a farewell," she explained.

His lip curved up a bit and he let out an abbreviated laugh. "I guess I did."

The last of the ladies exited and Amber nudged him forward, pointing to the
door with their joined hands.

Outside women lined the path into town, swaying sweetly in melancholy harmony.
A tiny candle flickered in each hand to ward off the falling darkness.

He stopped at the head of the long, meandering line and kissed Lucia on the
cheek, careful to avoid the tiny flame she cupped.

"You really do have a lovely singing voice," he told her. "And a very sweet
wife." He kissed Dahlia too. "Andrea, the champion runner." She giggled.
"Thanks for bringing that news so quickly," he whispered in her ear. "Linda.
Take good care of Susan for me..." Another kiss. "Hope. I do hope we stay out
of each other's dreams." Linda and Melissa both sputtered. "And stop dropping
things." Linda gave off a distinctly loud snicker. He leaned forward and
kissed the teen. "Thanks for being nice to Miranda. She really likes you.
Sorry about Catherine." He turned to Melissa. "It was... very special." He
pecked her on the cheek. "Susan..."

Amber pulled at his sleeve. "There isn't more time," she whispered.

"Oh." He straightened up and looked down the line. There really wasn't.

"We'll see you again in a few days," Susan said. "Go on. I can handle Linda by
myself."

"I'm sure you can," he smiled.

He strolled down the trail of lights. There were well more than a hundred
singing faces waiting to see him. Every wife of every woman he'd ever slept
with had turned out. Halfway down the path, the acoustics of the song changed. 
He turned behind him to see the column of flickers breaking up and heading
every which way, like fireflies into the night. Their songs followed them into
the woods, down into town and back to their homes until every part of the
island was filled with the same soprano voice.

He came to the end of the line.

Pinpricks lighting ghostly faces spilled around him onto the path as the
departing women passed them by.

"Hello Julius." Amber's entire class had come out.

The little boy yawned. "Good-bye," he said. "Bye," said a dozen or so others.

"Good-bye?" Amber replied, in a high voice. She crouched down and patted the
Julius on the head. "We're not going anywhere. We'll see you again."

"OK."

Jimmy ruffled the child's hair. "See you 'round, sport."

"We're happy for you." "Yeah, Jimmy. You too." "See ya." "Congratulations."
"Goodnight." "Have fun." The final comment brought a few sleepy giggles.

Light snoring came from the shoulders of one or two of the mothers. It
reminded him of the family section in the amphitheater when the whole island
had turned out for the play.

"Go on and get some sleep you guys."

The mothers turned around and waved as they headed back. Renee came up and
kissed him on the cheek (without a word, for once).

He stood by Amber at the first fork of the road watching the points of light
dance across the fields.

"Well?" he asked. "Where to? Want to hitchhike?"

"Huh? I'll show you... It's fairly isolated." Amber stopped one of the
passerbys, lit a torch and offered it to him. She shifted the box to her other
arm and took his hand.

Jimmy shook the flame at her in a mildly accusing way. "You don't want to be
my firefly for the night?"

She snickered. "Please don't call me that. You've been very nice about it up
until now."

"Now you can't run away on me."

She grumbled something.

"What?"

"If you want to call me that, say it in Greek." She repeated the weird phrase
again. He gave it a shot but she only giggled. "No thank you. I've been burned
before, but thanks for the offer." He gave it another shot. "That's better."

"Why can't I just say firefly?"

"I hate flies. And the children I grew up with know it's an insult to me."

"Why?"

"Please?"

"OK. Fine." He burped the syllables up again.

"Better." She kissed him. "But I'd prefer you call me what you always have.
It's prettier."

"OK." He pinched her bottom. "Can I call you Mrs. Baker?"

"Mrs? What's that mean?"

"You're the wife of a Baker."

"Oh. Sh. Not out here."

"How far is it?"

"Another few minutes. It's about as far from everything as Rachel's is."

"What? We're not good enough to stay close to town?"

"What?" she giggled. He wasn't joking. "Oh. Hardly. No. It was the closest
plot of land where we could build a new home. Antonia helped a great deal. She
used to do a bit of carpentry. I'm sure you'll be very pleased with it. Of
course nothing here compares to the palace, but you did say you liked
Francesca's and it's nicer than hers, I think."

"Good."

The island's song was fading in the woods all around them. He could make out
individual voices now. A woman or a girl would sing a while, becoming
conspicuous as they drifted apart from the others. He thought he recognized
one or two, but just as soon as he did they fell silent like a broken chain.
They seemed almost self-conscious about it.

"Sirens have a lovely song."

"We're not Sirens," she reminded him. "We're trapped just as much by their
song."

"I know," he said, giving her a warm kiss. "Thanks. It's... it's what I
wanted."

"Good." She rested her head on his shoulder.

"I'm sorry for what I'm about to do to you."

"It's not you... And how many times have I told you not to say 'I'm sorry?'"

Jimmy needled her ribs and they traveled the rest of the way in silence. Soon
the only sound around them was from the crickets and the tide.

They arrived on a tall bluff after fifteen or twenty minutes of walking
through the low, gentle hills that flanked the beach. The nearest home had to
be two minutes behind them. The roar of the ocean was much closer.

Amber pulled the bamboo door open and lit a fire in the hearth, revealing the
firm polished stone underfoot.

Impressive...

"It looks a little bare," he remarked.

"I know. I didn't have time to move my belongings in. When you- "

He spun her to his side like a dancing partner. "You have your most important
belonging here."

Her lips flattened. A slight rosy flush filled her cheeks before she kissed
him.  "When you need something from the island, just ask. If I don't have it,
someone will provide it."

"What about it? Can I move in?" He pushed aside the folds of her dress.

Mrs. Baker grinned. "You're not tired from this afternoon?"

"Funny, but no. I'm all ready to go again." But then she frowned. "What?"

"Nothing." She kissed him and probed his stiff crotch. "So am I..." she
breathed. "So am I."


"Good. We seem to have been wrong about last night's moon being completely
empty."

"Huh? What do you mean?" He sat up sleeping in bed. "Rats. There's at least an
extra inch around my chest."

"Good."

"Good?" he yawned.

"Unless you want to be flat chested," she laughed.

"You don't like girls like Melissa?"

"Boyish figures are quite charming... and quite in demand, of course." Her
short nails danced on the side of his smooth cheek.

"There's nothing boyish about Melissa." Her hips were very sexy.

"Her chest. She has very small boobies, like you right now." Amber needled
him.

"Small huh?" He looked down again and cupped each. There wasn't enough flesh
to sag but already they'd sprouted bigger than Melissa's. The nipples were
sticking out like little cylindrical caps more than ever. The size of
grandpa's old silver dollar.

He scratched his chin, bare now for untold weeks.

"Has my face changed?"

"Since yesterday? Not much."

Since yesterday? "Can I look yet?"

"Please don't."

He sighed. "OK."

"You know... you know it... I was just teasing. You could end up with a much
slimmer figure."

"Why's that?"

"I don't think... this is the woman you're supposed to be. You're closer to a
twin sister."

"Oh. That tide rolling out before the big wave? That thing you told me about?"

"Yes. They may... change size in the coming days. In both directions."

"Good. I don't think I like having tits. They get in the way."

"They feel good, don't they? In bed at least?"

"Yeah. Yeah they do," he sighed.

"Well, good," she smile. "This should give us another day... so how about it
then?" Amber laid back next to him and parted her legs. "You want a little?"

"Yeah. Hmmm..." He looked under the sheets between his own legs. "I don't...
it... it doesn't seem right."

"I know. It should be much bigger."

"No... that's the not right part." He straightened up and blinked at her. "I
just said that?... but it was how I felt," he whispered.

Amber sat up and pushed him back. "You talk too much," she griped. Her hands
stroked his privates, finding two small orbs the size of a young boy's hugging
him tightly in a meager pouch of hairless, almost smooth, wrinkled skin. His
thin finger gradually stirred to life between her own, filling out to the
width of two of hers, though it barely matched her tallest in height. "There,"
she purred. "I knew you had it in you."

He put a hesitant hand on her shoulder and then, as if shaking the last bit of
sleepiness, pushed her to the bed and grinned at her. She kissed him back but
put a hand on his chest. "I'm not quite ready for *that*" she hinted softly.

"Oh. I'm forgetting." He looked up and down the bed. "Well what do you
suggest?"

Amber patted her chest. "Climb up here and let me suck on you. I want to waste
it," she beamed saucily. "Just kissing it will warm me up."

"Oh yeah?" He straddled her shoulders.

"Ahem! It's a cute butt, but I don't want it in my face this morning..." Her
finger spun around.

OK. This was interesting.

He hooked his knees around her elbows and leaned forward against the wall
while she propped her head up on one of the pillows. Amber smiled and engulfed
his member between her ruby lips, sucking and slurping against his amazingly
sensitive sack. The friction of her tongue along his prick was even more
delightful than it had been last week. Something strange happened the smaller
it got... He didn't understand it, and sometimes it caused him to panic, but
at least it was just a tiny bit reassuring.

He was reassured too by the hand turning his silver dollar nipple into a
sharpened pencil tip. It sent tingling spikes shooting through his abdomen
straight into his dick, which he could barely contain now from her constant
bobbing.

She felt softer to his touch... and the world a little firmer.

For some reason everything was more sensitive this morning, even the palm
pressed against the wooden wall and the other grabbing her hair.

Especially the flesh buldging around her prodding fingers to caress the open
air... giving him a pleasurable and sensual-  if inconvenient-  reminder of
the new amount of padding on his chest.

But where was her other hand?

Yeah... he could feel it moving under his leg.

She was warming herself up all right.

Amber coughed and then smiled at him. Her cheeks pulled tight, sucking his
hot, sticky spurts down her throat. The electrical cord within him shorted out
delightfully. For a moment his breasts seemed to quiver there like vibrators.
The other nipple was deliciously tight too, though she'd never touched it. Its
puckering yanked friskily at the vibrant skin around it.

"That was fast," she chirped, smacking her lips as she tried to lick his seed
from her teeth.

"I know. It even surprised me."

"Do you want to, uh, play while you wait?"

"No. I'm ready again." Jimmy looked down and still found himself hard between
her fingers. Nothing felt tender at all. "Amazing isn't it?"

Amber frowned. "Yes. Amazing."

"If you want I'll- "

"What I want most," she moaned hungrily, "is you between my legs. Any end of
you. Come on." She pulled his shoulders down.

---

"No. We'll be fine. Breakfast should be outside the door."

Sure enough, the bamboo swung open and there was a package by her feet.

"Who brought it by?" He'd like to know exactly *when* too. It was embarrassing
to think there shouts of pleasure was why he hadn't heard anything.

"I don't know who. What am I, your volunteer again?" she smirked. "Someone
from the village, of course. They probably worked out a schedule after I
left."

"What's in it?"

"Oh." She finally rummaged through it. "Dates. My favorite... um. What do you
like? Apples, wasn't it? You asked for those a lot."

"Dates are fine. Bring some here."

"No. Put some clothes on and come over to the table. You've eaten in bed
enough. Those skins are hard to clean."

"Start acting like an adult, huh?"

"Adult? I certainly wouldn't let a child eat in bed."

"OK, OK. Short honeymoon..." he grumbled.

"Short?" She thought a moment as he got dressed. "Short? Oh... Not that
again..."

"No," he sighed as he pulled a chair out beside her.

She passed him a date, which he pounced on. But after one bite, he found
himself staring listlessly around the barren dwelling while the juices filled
his mouth. His gaze lingered over the finely woven shades that had been drawn
to provide a little privacy from whatever eyes might be wandering the outside
trail. One of the windows on the other side, behind the bed, was filled with
nothing but blue sky...

"I know. It kind of kills your appetite for a few days."

"Really? Hm." That's why he was disinterested in food? "I'm thirsty, though."

"Here. Have some fresh milk. Oh. I don't have any cups. Well, I guess we can
share."

"Are you sure you don't want to go get your things from home?"

"No. I'll be fine. It'll be over in a few days."

"Really? I know how much you love weaving."

"It would take me a few hours, you know. Would you mind me being gone, honey?"

"Oh. I can't come with you?"

"You said you didn't want to go out."

"Well, can you get someone to help?"

"I... I can get a cart from town. I'll be fine on my own, really. But you're
sure you'll be fine for an hour or two? I could send Rachel back to sit with
you."

"No. I'm OK.  It'll give me time to think. Hell, I might even go down to the
beach and catch some fish for lunch." At least they had his things, meager as
they were, tucked safely under the bed again.

"Hm. Well... if you're all right with someone seeing you. That doesn't bother
you yet does it?"

"No," he laughed. "I guess I'll be fine. In fact that dent in the beach down
there would be perfect for a little dock and a boat someday, don't you think?"

"Sure."

"I could learn how to build one for you. Would you like that?"

"Yes. That would be nice. I'd be glad to help, too. Um, why don't you check
out the fishing first, though? It might not be any good from that spot."

"Sure. It'll give me something to do."

---

"Can I come in and see him?"

"Please don't. I don't even know if he's here. He said he might wander down to
the beach." He heard kissing through the fog of his broken noonday nap. Then a
"thanks, Andrea."

She'd been here? Was here? No. He heard departing footsteps. Another set of
sandals tapped on the flat stones leading to the door.

He sat up. The world spun around his throbbing head. Was he drunk?

No. The cobwebs were clearing out.

His chest felt heavier. He looked down. It was.

"Go to sleep, honey?"

"Yeah," he yawned. "I just woke up. How is Andrea?"

"She's fine... They grew I see."

"Yeah. I didn't think I'd been asleep that long."

"It can happen when you nap. Just a little."

Speaking of little... He peered into his britches.

"Everything still there?"

"Mostly," he replied, yawning once again.

"Do you feel like helping?"

"Sure."

Jimmy stood, taking a moment to regain his balance as his new C-cups swayed
uncomfortably. He didn't like the sensation of his flesh blowing out like two
balloons and tickling the edge of his ribcage. And they moved with minds of
their own, like growing teenagers. With car keys.

"Smaller, huh?" he said with a touch of sarcasm.

"We'll know for sure tomorrow. They're pretty, if it helps."

"All the breasts on the island are pretty."

"No... don't do that. A shirt will chafe and drive you crazy. Here. Let me
show you how to wrap them."

She set a small wooden box down and kicked it under the bed before taking his
toga from one of the hanging pins.

"It's dirty," he complained.

"I'll go wash it later. There's a stream nearby," she told him as she drew a
line of fabric tightly under his bosom and wrapped it around his back.

"I'd like to help. You've done a lot today and I should learn- umph."

"Sorry. My mother did that to me sometimes. You'll have to learn to adjust it
for yourself."

"This is as good as it gets, huh? Never thought I'd miss a bra."

"You get used to it," Amber shrugged. "Though bras would be nice from the look
of them."

"You know what they are?"

"Sure. There were many in the magazine, though no one spent much time in
them," she giggled. "We've had a few bikini tops and bras wash up over the
years. Bottoms too, of course. People, uh, do things in some strange places.
You should know," she needled him. "There. How's that?"

"Better."

"It'll let you move around without getting irritated or turned on, but it's
not good for heavy work. When we know your real size I'll fashion something
with cups for you."

"You wear tops like that?"

"Sure. We, uh... we haven't in the last month sort of out of convenience and
tradition, if you know what I mean."

"Yeah. Some girls came straight in naked."

"Gowns are nice... when we snuck over here to build this place, we certainly
wore different clothes... and of course those tending the animals did too, but
it's a bit restrictive and we liked being as attractive for you as possible.
We don't have much makeup or jewelry to compete with what you're used to."

"Are you kidding? You're all more beautiful than any women I know." He kissed
Amber's cheek. "You most of all."

"Thanks."

"Did you bring that little necklace you made out of paper clips?"

"Paper clips?"

"You know..." He made a spiral with his finger.

"Oh. The long loops? I borrowed that. I have another made with something
shinier. It's still in the cart, though..."

"Well I'm ready to help," he said, running a thumb under the tight halter.
"Just point me in the right direction."

"I never did show you all my jewelry. I have another with shark's teeth... You
can help me pick something out you like."

He followed her leather soles through the door and stepped into the bright
afternoon light again. Amber took his hand and pointed to a wooden cart with
two mismatched whitewalls.

"The ice-chests- why do we still call them that? We'll never have any ice-
anyway, those have to go back. They're not mine so- well, one of them is- but
we'll unpack the rest. Come on..."

She dragged him down the shaded walkway to the cube and its two large,
unmanned chopsticks pointing down in the sandy dirt.

"Phew. Where'd you get this thing?"

"It's a fish cart. It's all there was." Amber waved her hand over it. "I know.
Four weeks of pussy and you escape to this." Her nose wrinkled up. "Kind of
appropriate, huh?"

He chuckled. "Yeah."

"Am I ever this bad?" she whispered.

"No. I like your smell." He grinned. "You haven't spoiled... not yet at
least."

The redhead giggled as a beam of sunshine crossed her face. "I know. You got
your fill of fishy girl jokes from Lucia, no doubt." Amber grunted as she
hoisted one of the containers. "No. Get the next one, love. I'm fine."

"OK." Uf. He wasn't.

"You know, she wouldn't have been so bad about it if you'd just gone hunting
more with her."

"Once was plenty."

"She hated watching you cast that line. Of course she hates fishing too, and
she's so... well... not romantic with anybody, male or female. Except Dahlia,
for some strange reason. Oh well. I think it irritated her to see you having
such success with all those women. And the fish."

"Jeez this is heavy. How'd you get it over here."

"Oh. Andrea helped me pull it. She's becoming a good friend to me."

"How is she?"

"She has a girlfriend but she won't say who."

"Good for her... Where do you want this?"

"Wherever. I brought some lunch and we need to eat it before it spoils. After
we finish carrying all this stuff in."

"Spoils? What is it?"

"It's fish." He laughed. "Yes, I know. Sorry. It was there by the docks and
they'd just cooked some."

"No... it's just that I caught some fish too."

"Really? Well I guess I can salt some of it. Did you clean it or did you leave
that to me?" She smirked. "Why am I even asking? I had the knife."

"Well," he whined. "I did kill them," he pointed out with a little guilt.
"That should count for something."

Amber chuckled. "At least you won't be able to complain about how I smell in
bed."

"Very funny. In a few days it'll probably be me and not all the fish."

She frowned at him. "Don't say things like that."

"It's true." He hauled another chest out of the cart, ignoring the jiggle it
sent through his breasts and the weakness it highlighted in his arms. "So tell
me something. Do girls... is Andrea picked on because she's so big? How does
that work? I mean I never really figured out what turns women on about other
women. People get jealous or intimidated by her?"

"I don't know what other women find sexy." Her lips pouted just a moment. "I
guess some women are intimidated or envious of her. Particularly if a man
shows up and she has a quality he finds so attractive. So sure envy's a
problem. Hades. Trisha was mad about the race even after you slept with her.
And it had everything to do with boobs... I think Andrea's pretty in her own
way. Others don't think so, not that any of us think anyone's... what's that
word? Some men wash up that way and suddenly everyone can remember it."

"Ugly?"

"That's the one. Like that dead goat. It was 'ugly.' No one here is 'ugly' but
some people find some sorts of beautiful better than others. You know?"

"So what you're saying is, you got several kinds of women. You got breast
women who maybe go for Andrea." Jimmy dropped the final container and snuck up
beside her to cup a tit. "You got thigh women who like a good pair of legs.
Mmm. Linda maybe." He hiked up her skirts to stroke her tender inner thigh.
"And you got butt women who like a good piece of ass." He pinched her bottom
and Amber's mood switched from passion to humor. "And you got those who are
suckers for a pretty face." He caressed the small of her back and kissed her.
"Which are you?" he asked, her nose about an inch from his.

"I used to get turned on by all of those things."

"Used to? What does it for you now?"

"Mmm. Bakers."

"Bakers, huh?"

"Bakers... itchy, horny Bakers... ooo! Lunch first, remember? Fish before
fish..."

---

There didn't seem to be enough time the day before. First the morning of love.
Then the picnic. Then... then the afternoon of being Amber's little sperm
factory again. Then the barbecue.

It was like time slipped through his fingers yesterday.

Now it was like a glue.

He wanted it to be glue.

He folded his hand again.

"I'm tired of cards. There's nothing to do."

"Nothing to do on your honeymoon, huh? My, you have no imagination."

He pushed her puckered lips away. "We had sex all day. Shit. You're more
insatiable than I was."

"Well, would you like to go for a walk?" Amber asked, a sliver of hurt evident
in her voice.

"I feel like a fruitcake. I don't want to go out."

---

"What happens tomorrow?"

"I don't know." Amber sighed softly. "It depends on what today was and I'm not
so sure." She watched the stars getting brighter with him as light fell on the
patio. "Do you want to know exactly or are you going to tell me to forget
about it again, like the last time you asked?"

He was silent a while, listening to the waves crash.

"Will it hurt?"

"Not... no, it won't hurt." She pried one of his arms from the railing. "Come
to bed... one more time before we sleep..."

---

"Jimmy? Jimmy?"

"Hum? What? Ohhh..." His voice cracked an octave. "I feel so weird."

"Your face has changed a lot... I guess yesterday was the first day, then."

He tried to sit up a little but something was pinning his hair.

*He* was.

He rolled over and Amber helped him carefully brush it to one side. It was
brown now, much longer than it had ever been. Shoulder length at least.

His chest seemed somehow freer.

"Your boobs shrank." Amber's smile rained down on him. "Maybe you will end up
boyish after all."

Her eyes jittered over his form, meticulously avoiding any peek under the
sheets.

He seemed to be missing some crucial equipment. He could tell even before he
looked.

His testicles.

They were gone.

Or transformed. It really didn't matter which.

He wiped the glassy skin with his fingers.

Gone. No more.

His penis was just a thumb of flesh.

At least it was erect.

Amber gently pulled the sheet away to discover for herself.

"Can I?" She gestured toward it.

"Are you sure it... I can still get you pregnant? I don't have balls anymore."

"Yes. The legends say so. As long as stuff comes out... but they'll be girls."

"A girl... a girl would probably be better for this place."

"Probably. At this point I'd be as happy either way." He frowned. "If I'm not
already pregnant, I mean. I hope you would too."

"Sure I'd be happy. It's just that... are you sure... sure I can still please
you like this? It's not very big."

"It'll get even smaller, love. And you'll always be able to please me."

"It's not wide, either."

"Wide enough... They say it's supposed to feel even better."

"For me, you mean?... So far it doesn't. It makes this pit in my stomach."

She looked there too. "It's much flatter all right." She shrugged. "It's
attractive in its own way."

"It's so damn strange... I mean I know how I'm supposed to feel... somehow I
don't know that going back is right? I don't know which direction 'going back'
is in."

"Can I?" she asked again.

"Can you what?"

"Do you feel like making love or not?"

"With what?"

"Please don't be that way."

Amber stroked his stiff little piston and bent forward, working her mouth
around his once again girlish nipples and budding breasts.

He rested his hand in her curls as her pouting mouth sucked at him, then
lifted his arm and considered pushing her away. He thought better of it and
massaged her silky tresses as her wide, sea-green eyes pored up at him.

She did look oddly sexy nursing at another woman's nipple.

He still wasn't going to smile about it.

Her lips pulled away from the broad, conical areola leaving a wet sheen. "I
won't blame you if you don't feel like giggling," she said.

He squeezed her cheek. "Don't start yourself."

"I really do love you." He was quiet. "Do you feel the same way?"

"Yeah. Just not... I'm not thrilled with... being intimate with someone right
now. I feel like I'm standing naked in front of your class."

Amber giggled and put a hand over her mouth. "Sorry. It's just that they
always did want to see that. Rachel and I never wanted to turn you into an
anatomy lesson."

"Oh yeah? How about you? You ever been an anatomy lesson?"

"My class is a little... no. Not me personally. Why? Would that cheer you up?"

"No."

"Well what do you want?"

Jimmy waffled. "Ah. Do what you want for a change. I'm out of ideas."

"OK." She licked at his nipples a little more until they were stiff, screaming
points. Her soft ivory fingers plucked at him slowly, caressing his residual
manhood. "I guess I can be on top for once," she said off-hand.

"Great." But then she swung her ass over his face. "Mupf." That wasn't what he
had in mind.

"What?" She pulled back a bit. "Is this OK? Or do you want top?"

"No. This is fine."

Her slick thumb flicked him like a lighter, sending a shiver shooting through
his spine. She took him in her fingers, pumping it through the O of her pinky
and thumb. The tiny motion surprised him with its powerful charge. The
friction building up was fantastic.

"Does it feel good?"

"Absolutely."

"Good. That's what they say. It tingles a lot more places?" She stroked his
inner thigh and lit a small bonfire on his crotch.

"Yeah," he groaned.

Even his balls prickled. Or where they should be did.

It was the last thing Amber said for a while. She kissed his tender thumb of
flesh, wrapping him up in her wonderful lips. She was so fucking fantastic
with it... the way she lapped her entire tongue against him, dragging him
against the roof of her mouth.

He couldn't stand it...

She inched back and smothered him in pussy. Musky juices poured over him as he
licked gratefully at her bright red lips. Like a mother, she pulled his daft
old fool of a hand to her own nipples for attention before reaching back to
play with his own again.

She did it all with her chin resting calmly on his stomach. That tremendous
feeling... She didn't have to move her head at all to blow him... and yet her
tongue seemed to be everywhere. She kept pinching at his nipples too, fueling
a chill through every fiber of his being. The hard little wand spasmed in her
grip... and the convulsion spread from there. Everything twitched... for the
first time in his life

He pumped something into her... a hot, sticky familiar fluid. Yes! He could
still do it! Despite the wonderful alien tingle!

His nipples wanted to do it to. They didn't have muscles did they? They ought
to... the quivering peaks wanted them... wanted to spurt...

The shiver suddenly warmed and deepened in his rosy cheeks. Glowing emotion
blanketed him as the shooting in his pint-sized cannon subsided. He kissed in
gratitude the only pair of lips he could find. He'd love to gaze into her eyes
right now...

Amber reared up, sitting back even more on his face.

"Gwer... Phf. What are you doing down there?"

He heard a liquid sound as her upper body moved again.

"Nothing..." She touched his penis. "Why? Is it sensitive now? You need to
rest?"

"No. I'm fine."

"It feels good?"

"Feels fucking fantastic."

"So I can start over again?"

He sighed. "Sure. If that's the way you want it. Waste it, why don't you?"

She giggled. "OK... I like the taste. You're actually a little sweet this
morning."

"Good."

"Want to see?"

"No."

But did he?

Forget about it.

He plunged back into her sopping groove.

He liked this taste plenty.

---

"Finally getting in?"

"Finally? You didn't like my blowjobs?"

"They were great. I thought you'd never stop."

"I don't have to if- "

"Shut up and fuck."

She straddled his hips and ran a taunting finger under his chin. "That's not
what we were doing?" Her knuckles drifted into her tawny muff, splitting open
her curls and tugging in tiny orbits at her hard pink nub. Her hips barely
budged upward as her back arched and yet they gave him such a thrill.

He tweaked the equally pink caps of her milky fair breasts. "Mmm. Come and
give me a kiss."

"You don't like watching my breasts up here?"

"They're beautiful. But I want a kiss."

She pouted. "I don't want you falling out." Jimmy scowled at her. "Well it's
true. You made me say it."

"We'll work around it." The hand playing in her bush seemed to make faces at
him with her pussy as it stretched her creamy skin back and forth. Strange,
yawning faces bearded with red curls... "You don't like doing this, do you?"

"On the contrary. I love you very much."

"Then give me a kiss."

Her spine curved down to him. Nipples grazed against nipples, creating the
most delicious friction as their warm bosoms nestled together. She felt it
too. Her eyes widened as they kissed.

She filled the room with the most wonderful fragrance this morning.

He fell out.

Jimmy broke off their thirsty embrace.

"To hell with it." He flipped her over, more slowly than he wanted. "Time to
get aggressive..."

Amber giggled. "Don't waste it," she sighed happily.

---

"No," she said. "Please don't leave."

"Huh? Why are you laying back all of the sudden?"

She propped a pillow under her hips, tilting them to the heavens.

Oh...

"It's the last day you'll ever be able to get me pregnant. I want to make
sure... Please? I'm only doing it because I love you." Her fingers stroked his
arm. "Stay by my side, like my mate."

"Fine."

"Please don't complain about nothing to do... just talk to me. Can we?"

"Keep me from falling asleep again," he grumbled.

"Don't worry. You can't nap with me here... in fact, I'm sorry I left
yesterday. I thought you'd stay busy the whole time."

He laid back down and stared at the ceiling with her as he draped a hand over
his brow. "Ah. I caught three fish right away and came back in before my tits
could get felt up." Amber snorted. "I know it's stupid. It's just... after
what I've been doing the past few weeks, I walk around with a feminine form
and get a little nervous."

The redheaded angel sighed sweetly. "It's understandable."

"Especially when I look down. I want to jump myself and drag me into the
bushes for some hanky-panky." He pinched her. "You shouldn't leave me alone
like that."

Amber chuckled sympathetically. "Did you ever just... just sneak up on a woman
you found attractive like that and have your way with her? Like you did with
Amanda, maybe?

"Yeah."

"What was she like?" Amber turned to him. "Can I ask? Do you mind?"

"Sure. Uh..." He faced the ceiling again as her soft breathing fell on his
neck. "She had... let's see if I can remember. She had shoulder length red
hair- "

"Rhoda?"

"Nipples the color of strawberries."

"What are strawberries?"

"They were pink and kind of- " He glanced down at her chest. "Like yours,
actually."

"Me?" Realization struck her blood filled cheeks. "Me! When...?" she drawled.

"That morning... That first night too... I loved the way you protested."

"Oh. I didn't think of that." She gave him an awkward peck on the cheek. "Was
I the only one?"

"You were always the only one, I think."

She simpered at him, still enamored with the profile of his nose. "Thanks,"
she said, giving his thigh a frisky prick. "And you were certainly the only
one as far as men go."

Other girls? he wondered. Nah.

"So how was it just now?" She rubbed the sticky lump at his groin. "They say
being in between like this is the best. Like you can finally stroke all the
parts of a clitoris. It usually hides so much..." she complained.

"It was great. The way you wrapped your tongue around me... Is that what it is
now? A big clit?"

She shrugged. "I don't know. It's certainly on its way." She patted his thigh.
"Don't worry. We'll have plenty of time this afternoon for love making. Unless
your mood changes. We can do something else again like play cards."

"I'm sorry I snapped at you yesterday."

"You didn't snap at me. It can get irritating, I know."

"Can I get you a little lunch?" He tickled her. "Is it all right to eat in bed
just this once?"

Her lazy arm pulled itself from the wall and fell across him.

"Sure. Thanks."

---

Someone was knocking. Very gently. Three soft taps.

Amber put a finger to his lips and rose from bed. "Just a minute," she called
out.

"Where are you going?" he whispered.

"I left my clothes in the other room."

Jimmy pulled the covers up and turned away, facing the soothing sea breeze
which had slowly turned chillier over the weeks, perhaps signaling the onset
of some mild winter.

He heard some noises in the other room. Then in a minute Amber's footsteps
shuffled along the rug behind him again, sandals flopping against the stones.

The door creaked open and she left him alone.

He thought he heard whispering. Was it the breeze?

He yawned.

They'd better hurry up or they'd all be asleep.

Who could that be this late? Had they been listening to their love making?

Why did that suddenly bother him now? Was it the shrunken state of his
manhood? Shouldn't he be proud he could still make her squeal like that?

The bamboo creaked again.

One pair of footsteps walked in, the other away.

The tone to her breathing was so familiar now.

"Who was at the door, honey?"

"Rachel. I was just giving her something. She stopped by to see how you are."

"Oh." That was kind of her. He hugged the pillow tighter. His backside was
getting cold from the empty, airy sheets. "How is she?"

"Fine. I gave her ice-chest back. One of the small ones I used yesterday and
she brought us a little food."

"That's nice of her. She shouldn't have gone out of her way at this time of
night."

"She doesn't live far for here. She and Nell were out walking and just thought
they'd pay me a visit."

Amber walked into the other room and he heard her kick her sandals off.

"Sorry I don't feel like seeing anyone else."

"She understands."

"I haven't seen her since..." He grumbled and turned over. "You know, I never
did ask," he said sleepily. "How many women did you and she, um, work on at
the palace that last day?" He stretched his arms out over head.

"Six."

"Six? That's it?"

Amber floated back in, her bare flesh turning goosey while she stoked the
fire. "There wasn't more to go around," she explained.

"Oh... was anyone disappointed?"

"Quite the contrary. They were all very happy."

"Oh." He closed his eyes and thought a moment. "Your mother?"

"No."

She moistened her lips. "Would you care to know who?"

Jimmy yawned. "Surprise me... Come back to bed." He pealed the sheet away for
her.

---

The left edge of Amber's lip drooped.

"It's gone isn't it?"

He didn't need to feel or look. He simply knew it.

He chest had flattened considerably too.

"It was beautiful last night how you fell asleep inside me again. Somehow I
knew it was the last time," she said softly as she stroked his arm.

He pulled the sheet back and looked in confusion at the smooth bald curves of
his crotch. Nothing more than a groove and a tiny dot remained.

He looked longingly at her. Why wasn't she asking what she did yesterday
morning?

He took her hand but she drew back.

"I can't... I can't touch you today. You're sexless."

"What?"

"There's no way I can bring you any joy. You're in between."

"I know it's small but- "

"It's not that." Her unsettling gaze drifted lower on his body. "It won't feel
anything." She stared directly into his eyes. "*You* won't feel anything."

"You said you'd stay with me- "

"I will."

Her fingers combed out the kinks in his long chestnut hair while she gave him
a friendly kiss on the cheek. "What would you like to do? Do you want some
breakfast?"

His lip twitched and Jimmy turned away. "Are we out of love?"

"No. We're in limbo."

"I... I want to be with you still."

"Good. It's good you feel that."

"Don't you?"

She sniffled. "Yes I do. I just- it will disappoint you. Trust me."

"It tingles," he said, touching the crumbs of flesh left between his legs.

"It's... it's not even a little girl's yet."

"Oh." She was right. There was nothing else there. Not even a valley. No hairs
had grown back.

"It will disappoint you. I don't want to be responsible for that."

"OK."

"Let me get you something to eat."

"Can I still pee right?"

"Yes. You should be able to stand up. You, uh..."

"I obviously can't aim anymore."

"No," she laughed faintly.

Jimmy rose from bed and stopped himself from disappearing out the back door.
For safe measure he pulled a toga from the rack.

He stuck his head out and surveyed the land before tiptoeing into the bushes.

Just to be cautious, he hiked the fabric all the way up instead of simply
parting it down the middle. His other hand went forward out of habit,
searching for what he knew was no longer there.

Nothing to aim.

He fingered the groove and felt the ghostly sexual prickle again. Somewhere
inside he knew nothing could come of it.

Well, at least it seemed to point in the right direction.

With a bit of trepidation over the loss in control, he gradually relaxed his
strange new arrangement of muscles. A yellow stream arced up like something
from a fountain statue.

He watched it with mild disinterest.

Odd that it didn't feel odd. That it was like it had always been this way.

Unable to tap away the last drops, he awkwardly dabbled his toga on the
peculiar new orifice.

No more control, he thought as he trudged back to his home... his little hut
near the beach. He'd finally paid for it, hadn't he?

Amber returned from the other side, having completed her morning business as
always. She planted a reassuring hand on each of his shoulders.

"I'm more of an it than a he, aren't I?"

Amber was silent.

"You're very much a person," she finally said.

"My voice is so strange. It's... it's bland."

"I know it's not what you're used to."

"I never thought..." He sank into one of the chairs. "I never thought I'd
actually want to change, but I do. I just want it finished, you know? To be a
woman and get it over with... to have anything... salvage what I can... it
hurts... so much I can't feel it..."

"I know. I wish... I want very much to be with you in that way. But there's
nothing there yet for me to make love too."

"It's OK," he sighed. "I had too much sex lately anyway."

Amber smiled a little.

He rubbed his empty crotch again. "It tingles," he repeated.

"That's all it will do," she sulked.

"Is this what it's like to be a little girl?"

"No."

"But I look more like I'm supposed to?"

"Yes. Your figure is filling out. You're even a little taller. Tomorrow you'll
be who you are."

He glanced down the neck of the fabric.

"My tits aren't terribly impressive."

"They're not finished yet," she said.

"Are they going to be big?"

"I don't know. What do you want them to be?"

He blinked at her.

"I don't know."

---

He stared at the seagulls flying out past the reef. Did any of them escape the
Siren's embrace?

"I'm not a substitute for your lost childhood love, am I?"

"What do you mean?"

"Are you trying to have me because you couldn't have Marshall? Is that what
attracts you to me?" He finished off the last of the ale. The way he put it
sounded so abstract.

"You mean Monica?"

"Yeah. Monica. Is this your way of grabbing Monica?"

"No, love. I... if anything, I wasn't sure I could take... could go through it
again when I first saw you. But I love you too much. There's nothing I love
like that about Monica... and nothing I had with her I'm trying to rekindle.
If anything, I... you made it hard..."

"You couldn't stand to go through another heartbreak?"

"I didn't say that. It hasn't happened to us yet."

"But it could."

"Probably not. But it's a price I was willing to pay."

"If, uh... if I, uh... had gotten you pregnant and picked someone else, who
would you have married?"

"You know?"

"Know what?"

"That most of us court when that happens?"

"No. It's... it's just a guess." Though he didn't really feel like it, he
pinched her shoulder and drew her warmth closer, silently cursing the itching
blank between his thighs. "Who would you have picked?"

"Well I... I hadn't... well I did think about it briefly when you arrived. How
did you know?"

"I have a feeling you plan for everything. You weren't seeing anyone at the
time though, right?"

"Yes. How did you- ?"

"You're not the kind of person to carry on with someone else."

"Carry on? Oh... you saw? But plenty of the other single girls were... uh,
carrying on with and without you. You thought they were unattached."

"You're different." He sighed and looked out the window. "Some of them are
different too, I suppose." Jimmy massaged her neck, like he knew he was
supposed to right about now. "I bet you had a list in your head you were
working on. Eligible women you could approach discretely. Kind of like my
list..."

"Do you want me to tell you about my old lovers? Is that what you want?"

"No."

"Are you... are you not loving me anymore?"

"I... I don't think so. But then I... I can't get very emotional about
anything right now."

"Do you want me to leave?"

"No. You feel comfortable," he admitted.

Amber sighed pleasantly, though it was still tinged with some apprehension.
"Did you want to know who I had in mind?" She leaned forward and folded her
arms on the window sill, blocking his view of the sea. His hand slipped from
her back.

"Yes. If you like." He slouched and spread a disinterested arm across the
bench.

"I gave some serious thought to being a spinster, but then I figured like most
women who tried it, I wouldn't like it in the end... that settling for just a
little sex and companionship would be worth doing without the love. And I had
to do it earlier rather than later. A lot of other single women would be
making the rounds with me." She sighed. "It's harder, you know, to convince
younger women to marry you when you're raising a child, particularly if they
aren't ready for one themselves. It can be an uncomfortable reminder if they
don't want the responsibility... though they'll sleep with you easily enough.
I didn't want to have to explain why I had so much company to a child, though.
And I didn't want a new lover every month. Sometimes that's just as lonely."
She gave him a backward glance, just to check that he was paying attention. "I
suppose you realized Hope and Melissa were out of contention? I really don't
have a romantic interest in teenagers. They giggle and fawn all over you and
tell you things and try to ingratiate themselves. They're not serious about
any of it yet."

"I liked Melissa," he said flatly. "I wouldn't want to marry her... yet... but
she was fun."

"Yeah. If you get lonely enough, they do have a peculiar enthusiasm." She
sighed and shifted her chin to a better angle. "It rarely becomes steady. The
mature ones usually go after girls their own age for stuff like that.
Something about growing up together, sharing experiences... I've always felt I
missed out at that age, not connecting again with someone else I could grow
with like that..." Her neck twisted again and she looked out at a different
part of the sea. Her hair fluttered away from him as the breeze picked up. "I
thought about Andrea. She's nice but... she's told me to shut up once or
twice, which I didn't like. She's not subtle when she wants things and,
frankly, I was afraid I'd get squashed in bed." She giggled. "Though I've
heard it's a delightful squashing." Amber snorted. "The same with Linda. We've
played a few good duets together actually... but I figure either my odds with
her were too poor because of Susan or, if my odds were good, then I really
didn't want her. Again because of Susan. I couldn't trust someone for
promising that to her and then doing that with me. Of course, that would leave
Susan if she found out soon enough, but she's mousy, so I put her on the back
burner. I don't know. If Linda was going to cat around, I guess I could have
still enjoyed her and put up with it. It beat spinsterhood and as long as she
was in my bed every night..." Her shoulders hunched and she let out a grunt.
"A lesser pain for a greater." She cleared her throat. "Those are the two you
know the best. I guess the one I would have zeroed in on first was Clarissa.
She's pretty and been really sweet over the years. I guess the best thing
she's got going for her is I don't know her very well and she just broke up
with somebody... There's Rose, too. And then Amanda. She's a bit odd, though.
Pretty much everybody was involved to some degree with someone else or, like
me looking around so I didn't think much beyond those. It's hard to watch your
belly swell up, work all day and go courting. I figured if at the end of a
couple of months nothing much happened, I'd draw up another list." She
shrugged. "And if that didn't work, I could go after one of the handful of
spinsters still left around. I guess I could get used to being like that with
someone who reminded me of my mother. I don't know." Her neck twisted a little
and she eyed him from the side. "Aren't you going to make a joke about the old
butcher woman or something?"

"No," he replied rather drably. "I'm not feeling like that today."

"I know." She patted his knee and faced the sea again. "I wished Penelope
hadn't married. She was always a good friend... It's strange how you can want
to undo someone else's happiness when you start worrying about your own. I
even thought of asking to move in with them. I get along with her wife fine...
but arrangements like that rarely work out. I couldn't bear doing that to
someone..." She took a deep huff. "If none of that worked, I'd thought about
taking one of the teenage classes and finding a young girl I could work on,
maybe mold... but mothers usually don't like it when you do that. It's like
you're taking over their role... though sometimes..."

No wonder she kicked his ass in poker.

---

He took a survey around the house again. Three rooms was quite a lot for the
island, he realized.

At least it looked lived in now. Unpacking and rearranging the furniture
(sparse as it was) provided a modicum of entertainment.

He wanted to help her with the laundry, but he felt like... he felt like a
mannequin that'd just been through surgery. He didn't want to chance running
into someone. He felt so helpless and unanchored in the world. If he stayed
outside too long he might drift away.

So he sat inside, admiring the well-ordered construction of the house from a
strange distance. He appreciated the aesthetics of the view. It looked a lot
like Francesca's- had she done something special to earn it, like he had? Been
another stud of the month?

He knew it was a funny remark, but he didn't feel much like laughing.

Shouldn't he feel more appreciative of the way Amber was giggling around him
today?

Was it the comment he'd dropped at Francesca's about liking the view that
inspired them to build here?

No. Of course not. The place had been in the works since he arrived.

It was kind of big, like Rachel's was. It had a lot of room.

Would people be calling on them a lot? he wondered.

Of course Rachel had much more stuff. Mostly things from the beach given to
her by others for assorted reasons, either because she was the only one who
knew how to use it or they were returning some sort of favor.

Would he have a lot of favors returning to him when he was a her?

He appreciated the hard work that went into the stone floor. It couldn't be
easy to haul those slabs in that far. The quarry was at least a mile away.

Falling on it wouldn't be much fun, especially in this body. He somehow knew
he would bruise more easily. Or even shatter like a plaster cast.

But then, what feelings could a mannequin have?

Amber had already covered the spot next to the bed with a nice brown rug and
scattered others around the place like improvised carpeting.

Funny. He didn't remember seeing many rugs in her old home.

More gifts?

He made a note to find out who helped and thank them when he was feeling
better...

Would he be able to do that?

Rachel usually talked about Doug in the third person. Would he not be around
to thank people? Should he ask Amber to do it before he forgot?

Would he forget? They said he wouldn't. Rachel remembered Doug... in a
peculiar sort of way. He tried to ask her on several occasions but it always
boiled down to 'Just wait.'

That was fine by him. He didn't want to go anywhere (at least until last
night).

So why did they say that?

Maybe he should leave a note for the stranger on her way.

 Pot roast in the fridge.
 Look after the kids.
 Died at work today.
 Thank the construction crew.

He finally noticed the ceiling he'd been staring at.

The thatch roof was well-done too. The weaving was nice. Had Amber done that?
She assured him it was waterproof. They'd even dug drainage ditches outside
the path, leading down to the sea.

Sigh. No more staying at the palace, even during the monsoons.

Would he... she ever want to go back there? Rachel hadn't missed that big bed.
In fact she avoided it.

Would his new self want to bury him? Avoid all the things that reminded her of
her dear departed?

Would he be dear?

She'd already stolen all his emotion. What good were memories without feeling?
They provided no refuge. Even yesterday, filled with sex and love at the time,
new seemed gray and joyless, like a black and white photo of an image in a
silver mirror.

Antonia had done a good job with the carpentry... especially the doors...

He sighed.

If time was ever like glue, it was today.

He folded again.

Amber collected her winnings while he looked at the setting sun.

He had no purpose in life.

Was this what it was like to be a woman on an island of women?

Useless?

There was nothing to do.

At least if he'd been castrated, he would have *had* something.

He felt like he'd never had anything.

"Tomorrow?" he asked.

"Tomorrow."


Someone roused her from slumber. They usually couldn't do that.

How would she know?

"Do you feel all right?"

Amber.

"Strangely I do. But..." Part of her felt invisible. As if she was supposed to
have memories but didn't... didn't yet...

"You remember what it felt like the last month? Remember who you were?"

She blinked in the dim rosy light. "Yeah. I remember how it felt... who I
am... am still mostly..." Her lip twitched downward. "Something's wrong."

"What?"

"I think I need to go... but I can't." She looked at Amber with frustration.
"I don't know how." It upset her. "I thought you said-"

Amber put a calming hand on her bosom and lifted her from bed. "There are some
things you haven't done yet. They'll feel normal but they'll still be firsts."

She clutched the waist of her nightshirt. "That's not much practical help."

"Oh. You've never seen- ? Take your shirt off just in case."

Her breasts bounced free of the fabric. She'd felt them hanging there earlier,
much heavier than last night. She knew now why the tips brushed more
sensitively against the sliding cloth. They'd grown wide and finally flattened
while she slept. And now the crisp dawn air made little dimples of them.

The two mounds felt just like they'd always been there, though she knew in her
mind they hadn't. And though they were much larger again, they were still
smaller than Amber's and bit firmer for it. They bulged at the bottom more
than hers did too, but they were still quite broad and level, in fact. Boyish?
Not really. Not buxom, either. Slender to match her tall frame.

She frowned and glanced up.

"Do they look all right?"

"They're lovely... *You're* lovely."

Her lips crinkled shyly.

But she couldn't ignore the pressure in her bladder. It was worse than
yesterday morning.

"What do I do?" she whispered, glancing around the cold stone floor.

Amber took her hand. "I go in back. Here..." She led her outside to a little
enclosure where the bushes protected them from the vulnerability of the
footpath.

The area smelled.

"Sometimes I go here when I can't make it to the shore. Many women prefer the
ocean so it all drifts away... but the leaves from this tree work fairly well-
Oh." The distress, almost panic was plainly evident on her damp brow... "You
might be able to go right now standing up. Some women can. Spread your legs a
little."

She chewed her lower lip, half from a fear that wanted to extend the torturous
wait and delay making the new unknown real, half from anticipation of being
released from the inevitable... just wanting to get it over with and let
loose...

She took a first glimpse of the nothingness between her legs, wrapped in downy
chestnut hair. How odd not to feel odd that something was no longer there...

Or *was* there. She didn't know what was lurking in that forest, and yet knew
it would be familiar...

"You might have to pull yourself open..."

Too late. It sputtered and ran down her leg.

She had to stop again. No! She gasped.

"Please help..." she pleaded.

"Here. I need to go too. Just squat and aim with your bottom... see?"

She mirrored her naked companion and felt everything relax inside with a sigh.
It was such a relief she didn't even mind the spray splashing back on her
thighs as it hit the dirt.

With a concerned eye, Amber made a brief study of her opened knees.

"You might need to hold yourself open if your lips get in the way."

She probed the unknown between her legs but didn't find anything she didn't
already know somehow... the sensitive tip above the circular ring of flesh. It
secretly sent a thrill through her when she touched it... like the alien penis
she remembered Jimmy stroking, now a long bit of cordwood tucked away... How
it wanted more... more than she could provide... She wished she could touch
all of it under there, though she knew better than to try. It was a slightly
different organ to handle... but the tingle... the hungry tingle was still the
same. Wasn't it?

How did she know already?

There was something warm on one of those leafy flaps. Liquid splattered on her
hand until she could push it back.

As soon as the clear stream had come it was gone.

She was empty. So fast.

So fast? Wasn't that always it? She knew the man had gone longer... could
store more... so why didn't it seem so little?

"No. Wipe the other way, honey... That's it. Come here..." Amber hoisted her
up and rubbed a cloth on her thighs, eventually brushing against her two
collapsed holes.

That was nice too... but in a different way than the nub...

"You'll get used to it. Most complain that it's not as convenient."

"No," she murmured. "I know in the abstract it isn't. But I wouldn't know
different, either. You know?"

"Yes. It's the funny paradox kicking in. They say you notice the difference
but that it's not really different. It's normal."

"And the old person. He felt normal too. Is normal when I remember him. When I
am him. Am I him?" The mother and father hugging that young boy didn't seem a
million miles away in her thoughts. They were hers too, right?

"You have his thoughts?"

"As long as I don't think about sex. Then it's weird." Very weird... "So are a
few other things... are those sexual too?"

"I don't know."

She sighed. There was a large gap within her. A shadow more than a gap.
Something that should be very familiar but wasn't. It was there, but it wasn't
something she could just reach out and touch to resolve-

"Do I have a name? I hear 'Jimmy' in my mind and... and it doesn't... I don't
know. It doesn't feel right. I mean I know I'm supposed to be-"

"Jessica."

"What?" she responded casually. Her eyes opened wide in surprise. "I'm
Jessica! I have a name!" She bit her lip. "How did I know that?"

"I whispered it to you during the night."

"Ooooohhhh, thank you. It's so lovely. Thank everyone for me, will you?" She
kissed Amber's cheek. "I still wish mine was as pretty as yours is- What?"

Amber held her back.

"You really are a woman now."

"You think so? Thank you." She looked her fleshy thighs over and twisted for a
view of her rear. "I... I... You like me, don't you?"

"Very much." She wiped a tear away.

"You're upset by it?"

"No." She sniffled. "I'm happy it went so well."

Jessica sank from the weight of it, falling against one of the trees as she
finally understood. "I think I... I feel like I robbed him of his life."

"I know."

"Of my life? How could I rob myself?... It's like it's all still there in the
past... but he's not... someone else is moving forward." Her limp wrist roamed
to Amber's arm for a hug. "Isn't this where you tell me to just put it out of
my mind?"

"No," she gulped, pulling back from the embrace.  "You have a lot of time
left. And I don't want you to ever put him out of your mind."

A lone tear rolled down Jessica's cheek. She kissed Amber and shared its salty
taste. "I won't," she promised, pressing her nose to the shorter woman and
peering down into her piercing green irises.

Amber choked back a sob, setting free a rather wet laugh. "Your eyes. They're
blue now, but they still say the same things to me."

"Good." Jessica smiled and cleared away the crystal stream.

"We do have mirrors on the island, you know," she said wryly.

"Really?" she chuckled. "I'd like to see."

"I know."

Jessica laughed at her perceptiveness. "Your eyes say the same things too." It
was like her first day all over again and Amber was offering another swim.

*Her*...?

This wasn't it?

Amber brightened and stood on her toes for another kiss, then spun around and
took the slender hand into their home.

Her lovely pink bottom swung to the sky as the redhead rummaged under the bed
for one of her boxes.

Out came a small black square.

She stood from her haunches and the fake mossy plastic unfolded.

"Ooooh. Where'd you find it?" Jessica asked, cradling the treasure.

"It washed up several years ago. I know it's not much. Try to ignore the holes
of rust."

"No. It's wonderful." Jessica stepped to the window's red glow and gazed in
fascination at the spotted silver.

"We can keep it as long as you need."

The shadow inside her had features now. She had a face. A beautiful one.

Of course it was hers. It had always been hers. Who else could it be?

But knowing it filled her with such confidence, like an extra leg to stand on
in this strange new world.

Strange?

Nothing seemed strange about the young woman staring back at her.

The crystal blue eyes. The delicate long lashes. The high cheeks.

Were they too high? No. Amber's were perky too.

The perfectly shaped O pouted with lips a tad narrower than Amber's. She
wished they were fuller but somewhere inside her Jimmy spoke in defense of
their own pretty charms. He could be so nice about such things. His tastes
really were democratic.

Her skin was slightly darker than Amber's, but was still quite fair. She
wasn't olive like Melissa and so many others. Would she freckle too? She hoped
so.

And there was that long, rather plain but shiny flowing mane that waved behind
her delicate ears-

"My hair's just like Hope's!" she yipped.

"Yes," Amber giggled. "It's lovely, isn't it?" She pinched her lover. "Sorry
you didn't marry her?" she teased.

"Who? Hope?" Jessica pried her eyes away and smirked. "I'd be dead for sure.
By her own hand if not by nature's."

"No you wouldn't. She'd have taken good care of you." Jessica prodded the soft
lines of flesh under her throat. "She'd have made you happy."

"Nah. You talk like we're interchangeable or something."

"We?"

"Women, of course." She looked her cheeks over again. "We're not. How could I
live with someone I trapped like that?" Jessica sighed. "It's kind of
insulting to Jimmy too."

She puckered her lips, tracing them with a long, gracefully pointed tongue.

Curse Jimmy. She knew exactly what lipstick was. And she wanted some. She'd
never be able to use the tiny mirror for its real purpose.

But one of the ghosts within her was gone, thank goodness. Light flooded that
particular shadow, plastering it with her face.

"I'm sorry it's so small. There's a quiet spot in the stream we can go to
later, if you like." Amber sighed. "It's hard to keep your hair from getting
wet, I know, but it's very clear and it's the best we can do without going to
the large mirror in the palace." Amber stroked her arm. "We'll stop by the
next time we're in town and you can see how lovely your figure is..."

"Do you think I'm pretty?" asked Jessica.

"Yes."

"Would..." She swallowed. "Would others, do you think?"

"Very much."

"Then your opinion's the only mirror I need." She tossed her head and grinned
coyly before Amber could kiss her again, running fingers through her silken
tresses. "I guess I *finally* need to learn to do something with this hair."

Amber backed away. "Would you like me to cut it now?"

"No. I like it long like this." She turned side to side, examining each
profile with her eyes glued to the mirror. "Do you? What do you think? I'll
cut it if- "

"I think it's lovely." Amber swept aside her light brown mane and stole a long
soulful kiss.

Jessica worked an arm around her and closed the compact, sliding it on the
table.

For some reason the insecurity returned.

Was it the mirror? There was another shadow within her.

She broke off their embrace and nudged Amber away, blinking timidly down at
her.

"There's something else you need to relearn," Amber whispered.

"Like what?"

"Like love."

"I know." Jessica curled a sheepish hazel lock.

Her fingers grazed the tender skin of her throat before taking Amber's hand.

"Do you honestly love me?" Amber asked, putting a finger to Jessica's lips.
"Think hard about it. There's no shame if the curse has changed that part of
you too. We need to know or we'll both be unhappy."

Amber's plain face remained perfectly still, her gaze making no demands.
Jessica probed the recesses of her mind, carefully studying Amber's delicate
features and playing back her soft voice.

The things she said still rang true.

There was nothing lurking in the fog.

"I... I think so. But I'm not sure... How do I know? I mean, I feel something
special when I see you but... is it enough?"

"Are you still attracted to me?"

"Oh yes..." Amber broke out in cheerful smiles. "I just... I just don't know
what's supposed to happen about it." Jessica frowned. "I feel like I don't
have the parts even though I know I do."

"We don't, really," Amber sighed, knowing it was the heart of the curse. "But
there are plenty of ways around that. I'll show you."

"OK. Thanks. But I'm still not sure- I hate myself for it too. I don't want to
hurt you."

"It's a common reaction." Amber grinned again, sucking on a lip as she brushed
the small of her hand along the curve in Jessica's breast.  "We'll have to
find a new way together. Jimmy and I had one. You and I share enough of that.
We just have to build on it."

"You don't want to put off the wedding do you?"

"Did you want one? We can if you'd like. Either way. I'll even vanish for a
while if you need me to."

"Oh no." Jessica squeezed her speckled ivory shoulder. "I'm sure there's no
one else I look at and feel this way about."

She quickly rattled through the other faces in her mind. Each had shadows
clinging to them, but the emotions clouded over were different.

"I guess I'm just nervous," she confided.

"If your mind changes, let me know."

Amber locked her in another penetrating kiss but then withdrew, severing it
long before completion. She blushed and batted her lashes at the tall stranger
in awkward silence.

Jessica stuttered a moment. The prickling from Amber's fingers still made her
warm and moist inside. "I know you were worried but Jimmy..." she gulped.
"Jimmy would be very happy you're treating me this way. He..." Her jaw
quivered. "We?... *I* don't think any less of you. He loves you very much...
and I am too..." She cupped the redhead's cheek to quiet her shaking hand.

Amber's lip curled, reminding Jessica of that night at the window when Jimmy
confessed to wanting some singing. She had such a funny expression then too.
She was fighting to hide her true emotions. Jessica could see that now.

Why couldn't Jimmy?

No.

no....

Was there something Jimmy saw in her that Jessica couldn't? Please no... Could
she wrestle it from him?... Would he let it go?...

Amber lost the struggle and let the smile out for all its glory, showering
Jessica with affectionate arms and lips. "You knew exactly what I was worried
about!" She backed the startled woman into bed until her knees buckled and her
bare bottom plopped into its silky calfskin grip.

Jessica gave a carefree laugh, heart aflutter with the rekindled love being
chewed up in Amber's unrelenting kisses. She'd never seen her with such an
assaulting enthusiasm. And those emeralds eyes swarming over her...

As they warmed the dawn mists, Jessica slowly regained her composure and
tugged at one of her strawberry nipples, picking at it with the nail of her
thumb the way she loved.

Amber abruptly retreated again, catching her sharp breath and turning a bit
scarlet as she digested the familiarity of the touch.

"I still love you," Jessica confessed.

"I know you do... it's just that... you'll feel something different from it
now."

"I realize that," she answered, flickering her bashful eyelids.

"Come on." Amber brightened and pulled her lover up. "All the former guys say
they like this part."

"Really?" Jessica raised an eyebrow. "Former- ?" She knitted her brow. "*New*
women, you mean."

"Yes." Amber's smile diminished a bit as she leaned over to fumble with yet
another box under the bed.

Hm. What mystical feminine treasure was next?

A lid clattered open on the stone and she brought up a long spiraled sea
shell.

Jessica cocked her head in curiosity as she spread her hair out on the pillow.

"It's not the real thing but it's much better than a finger..."

"Oph." Jessica blushed deeply, and put a hand over her mouth, trying to
protect Amber from the liquid sputtering out with her incredulous giggles. "I
thought it was jewelry," she whispered.

Amber grinned shamefully. "I've a bit of pipe too if you prefer."

"White pipe?" she snickered. "Plastic pipe?"

"Yes. How do you know? They were forbidden last month."

"I saw them at the foot of your bed when I woke up. You remember. Um, three
weeks ago, I think."

Amber stared at her sky blue eyes a moment as Jessica twirled a strand of
hair. The girl sat up slightly and studied the red beauty perched quietly
between her knees.

"Oh. Yes."

"Well it was Jimmy, really. Not me, I guess. He thought it was jewelry. *I*
know better," she snickered girlishly. "Now I know what all that white pipe's
laying around for... those batons..." A little bubble of spit escaped her
smirking lips. "What? Did I say something wrong?"

"No I... I can't... I don't have you and Jimmy linked like that in my head
yet." Amber let out a deep breath. "I guess your face is something of a
stranger to me... they told me about it. Warned me you might look more
familiar to yourself than me at first but... but I didn't worry about it. What
you'd go through seemed so much bigger, you know? So what when it came to me?
But they were right..."

"Is your love still familiar?"

"I think." Amber gave her an inviting grin. "Let's make sure..."

Jessica propped her succulent thigh up and combed through her silky chestnut
bush.

"Going to inspect me? It's all there isn't it? Finally?"

Amber giggled as she parted Jessica's muff in two. "Nothing's missing," she
smiled. "Of course I'll have to check..."

A long pink tongue unfurled and brushed up and down against Jessica's thin
lips. A familiar shiver ran through her, opening the creases within like it
was old times.

"How's the taste?" she asked.

"Delicious... but then you should know. You've tasted more than I."

"You!" She slapped her on the noggin. "Stop teasing me about it!"

Amber offered a wet finger. "Want to taste one more? Your own?"

Jessica cracked her mouth open.

The gleam was musky with a faint tang. Not terribly strong. She'd tasted
plenty like it before.

She wished she could forget that.

Why was that?

She closed her eyes.

Something seemed more subtle about the flavor now. More intimate.

Did it taste differently than the others because it was hers? Or did *she*
have a different sense of taste?

How could it be 'different' if it was hers?

Was she different than all those other women?

How would Amber be?

"Mm." Jessica smacked her lips. "Nice but... you know the one I'd really
like...?" she hinted, patting the bed by her chest.

"Not yet." Jessica cracked her eyelids. "I'd like to watch your face if I
could."

"OK... Is it really that pretty?"

"I love it. You're a very beautiful woman."

The sandy brunette floated back into the pillow's soft care, gushing with her
unspoken thanks.

Amber lapped at the thin ridge of skin ringing her pussy like a castle wall,
drinking in her juices and tracing out the oblong O of her lips. She wet the
long shell in her mouth and kissed Jessica's smaller o, snaking her tongue
inside for a taste of the wrinkled pink cavern before working the long cone
into its depths.

She felt a twinge of regret this couldn't be Jessica's first time. Was the
memory of Jimmy's first sweet enough for her?

The shell cranked into her slowly, spinning her open with its coiled grooves
while Amber massaged her furry mound.

"Ahhhh..." Jessica sighed with delight. "I'm getting screwed," she giggled.
Amber giggled back, then stopped halfway and rotated the shell several times
to tease her. "I'm fucking a barbershop pole," she yelped, flopping her hands
over her head with a big grin.

The ridges moved in her like a giant drill bit, creating a delicious friction
that stirred up that itch in her clitoris. It was all so wonderful and so
fantastic and normal... and yet so fresh and so unknown... Jimmy'd never known
anything like this... but she always had, even if this was the first...

Jessica's cheek fell against the pillow and she bit her knuckle, just as she
remembered Dahlia doing in bed. Her body filled with the warm chilling flush.

An ache within her hungered for someone on top of her.

She knew somehow in some unknown part of her mind that no man could beat the
sensations of the intricately designed shell now twisting with in her.... and
yet... no man could ever lose to it either...

She thought of Amber as a man for a moment and felt guilty at the spike of
erotic pleasure it brought her.

Then Jimmy's reflection covered Amber's freckled cheeks... and it didn't move
like a mirror...

No.

She gasped and clamped her eyes shut as Amber's thumb grazed the tiny seed of
her sex.

The march of passion in her lower body was unbearable. Where had that
wonderful tongue gone? She thrust herself at Amber, but the wench knocked her
back down, pinning her with the delightfully stabbing shaft and abusing it
like a swinging conductor's wand.

Her burning dot of flesh yearned for more contact... to feed that friction
within her and set it aflame... But the rat kept running away like a teasing
feather, making her parts sweat in frustration. It only aggravated the hungry
pang, forcing her to offer up her writhing pelvis like a worshipping servant
seeking affection.

Amber wanted her to beg for it, that torturous little vixen.

"Stop!" Jessica yelled, seizing her lover's fiery red head and plunging its
indecent smile into darkness.

She trapped the pretty face between her thighs, smothering it in her fluids as
she rocked back and forth with the steely determination of bringing herself
off on that hard chin. The splendid crescendo ripened and after several
grueling seconds, Jessica managed at last to punch that tiny, trembling pearl
back within her and ignite the explosive prickle.

Heat flooded from her tingling, stiff nipples down to her toes. Her stomach
undulated and she dug into Amber's scalp, hanging on to the slurping anchor
for dear life.

The moan of her body reached a sharp climax and Jessica cried out in the
fading dawn light.

Spasms wracked her. Hidden muscles clenched for the first time.

Her hips twitched. Once. Then a second rocking.

Her nails slipped from Amber's mane. Auburn curls fell free of her viselike
thighs.

The last contraction died within her.

Amber tugged the dildo gradually out of her slick canal, carefully kissing the
tender white flesh beside it to spread the warm, relaxing contentment nestled
between her legs.

Jessica sighed as the ants of passion marched faintly away and left a deep,
satisfied glow that swept her up.

She wanted to be held.

She breathed in the strangely familiar intimacy and felt her love burning
again.

That sudden coyness returned.

For several long seconds she stared at nothing, wondering about the feminine
weakness within her. The one she could never overcome alone.

Amber sat above her crotch, just gazing into her eyes.

Jessica eventually snapped to attention and with renewed confidence, stretched
her arms over head. "Uuuunhhh," she drawled. "Well am I hiding anything?" she
asked, dripping with sarcasm among other things.

"No," Amber smirked. "You taste very nice if it's a consolation."

"Why is it a consolation? I liked it very much."

"How was it... different I mean? Was it good?"

"It was beautiful, darling. It was..." Jessica rattled her brain, "more
complete... but I had less control." She sighed. How could it be different,
though? It was supposed to feel that way.

"Does that worry you?"

"Not around you... It was wonderful." She sat up and they met for a kiss.
"Mmm. That's the first time I've ever tasted that flavor on your lips..." She
kissed her again. "I like it." Amber smiled demurely. "Let me return the
favor..." she purred, trying to roll her to the side.

Amber gripped her arm and fended her off politely. "Later, perhaps..."

Jessica slouched against the headboard, strangely stung.

"I'm sorry I can't be a man for you."

"Huh? What's to be sorry about? We rarely have men on the island." Did Amber
sniffle? Maybe it was it the nectar still on her face. She leaned in and gave
Jessica a kiss on the cheek. "It was very sweet while it lasted. I was
grateful for the gift." Jessica turned away but she couldn't escape the
forceful finger on her chin. "All right..." Amber murmured. "Show me how happy
you can make me." She tickled the sparse hair under Jessica's arm. "Top or
bottom?" she lilted.

"Mmm." Jessica answered with a knowing gleam. "Bottom, please."

Amber straddled her hips and caressed the girl's flowing tresses, bathing her
in kisses. Jessica's thigh rose up between her lover's legs and Amber warmed
it with her slick, furry lips while she breathed reassuring affections into
her ear.

Their hands cupped one another's breasts and Amber slipped lower to suckle on
a tender spike. She smiled and nipped at the bosom as Jessica gently stroked
her fiery curls back and forth.

The sandy brunette felt her flesh opening again... the desire within her
reborn. With a smack of her lips, she tore Amber from her glistening nipples.

Holding the redhead's sides, Jessica sank lower until her face was craddled
between the scythelike curves of her creamy mounds. She tugged and nursed at
their spirited strawberry caps, finding her lover's sweat like honey to her
tongue. The fair skin had to be even softer and more tender than her own, she
thought as her mouth watered at the slow puckering of the areolas.

A knowing odor greeted her nose, definite and well-remembered. Jessica inhaled
and savored this new source of feminine excitement in their home. Her frisky
fingers tiptoed down the sensitive white of Amber's tummy and tickled her
auburn bush, playfully searching for the second bubbling geyser.

She stumbled across a musky lip and Amber reared up, snapping away the nipple
trapped in Jessica's teeth. Her legs swung around like a gymnast, granting her
far more intimate access.

Jessica kissed the well-rounded bottom and kneaded its cushions while she felt
that delicious, familiar tongue parting her in two... sneaking once more into
her crevice...

She returned the favor and sampled her lover's ragged pink flower, lapping
gently at each blossoming lip as she stroked and flattened them under her
thumb. She reveled in the richer taste until Amber's skilled and distracting
touch unleashed another torrent of musk in her own loins.

Jessica paused to savor the friction and, for a moment, started doubting her
own technique. Then she remembered how happy Jimmy seemed to make her feel and
relaxed.

She smiled as she chewed one of the flaps.

Women really weren't interchangeable.

She tossed her guilt aside and enjoyed the pleasurable licks Amber stole from
her split open mound.

With a deep breath, Jessica drank in the tangy fragrance before her and
finally gobbled up the wet glimmer hidden away in her folds, scooping away as
much as she could. She poked a finger inside the rusty beard and slowly drew
sweet circles around her clit, wondering briefly where the shell had slipped
to.

The flavor rolled over on her tongue and stirred up such a mixture of
memories, especially as she felt and heard the same lapping at her own groin.

Amber's aroma was a little different now. Fuller somehow? Deeper? It wasn't
just taste per se. Something else... that invisible thing it stirred within
her. Not taste, not touch, not even sight, though all three seemed much
clearer.

The bloom in front of her seemed fresher, as if it had changed in some fashion
even though it hadn't.

Did things just get dull in the past? Was that it? She couldn't remember Jimmy
well?

No. She remembered him quite well sometimes. *Was* him sometimes. Was him now,
if it weren't for the strange tingles surging through the gap in her legs.
This view of her lover was his too. Hers. Both.

But her world was sharper that way. The odors, the sights, the feeling, the
emotion (though a certain strength, if not potency was lacking in the later;
something new about its range, perhaps?).

She liked it.

And yet it all felt less important than what was in her heart now.

She was more connected to the world though her senses. And even if she
couldn't move it as easily as he had, she still liked it.

She'd probably change her mind in a fist-fight with Lucia, but for now she
liked it...

She chuckled.

"What?" Amber asked, bringing the tingles in Jessica's sex to a stop.

"I love you," she said.

A shudder shot through the redhead and bands of flesh contracted around
Jessica's finger.

"That's obvious," Amber panted.

---

"Your tongue's a little more skilled," Amber smiled.

"Is it?" Jessica kissed her cheek. "Yours is perfect. Of course how would I
know otherwise?"

Jessica sighed and cuddled her, continuing to stroke Amber's crimson hair. She
wondered what it would be like to have curls like the ones twisting in her
fingers. Too bad there were no permanents on the island.

Maybe a few bottles would wash her way.

She thought about how she'd spend the rest of her days now that time had come
unstuck again. She had no doubts about growing old with Amber but would it be
comfortable?  It was always reassuring, at least, when Jimmy was told what
things to do and when to do them. And with whom.

She couldn't forget that last part.

And now it was gone. The days ahead, once inevitable and unpleasant and
avoided by Jimmy, were now completely invisible to her. The shadows surrounded
her again. Ones she couldn't totally dispell.

Her mind wandered like a newborn foal through the future and all the
friendships waiting to be rekindled.

What did she want out of life?

"So is this it?" she whispered. "No horde of singing beauties waiting to greet
me when I wake up?"

"No. Just me. I'll sing if you like."

Jessica swallowed. "Will you teach me some of the songs? They're lovely. I
think I could- "

"They'd sound very beautiful from your lips. I can even teach you the lyre, if
you'd like. Or Linda could show you the flute."

"Really?" Jessica gave her a light tickle. "You wouldn't worry if I was alone
with her?"

"No," Amber grinned shyly.

"This is it? No more volunteers waiting on me? No big ceremony? No *list*?"
She chuckled through the last part.

"No. No one wants to crowd you." Amber patted the tender skin under her bosom.
"They know it can be intimidating. You're very vulnerable right now... and you
probably won't like that kind of attention anymore. Not like Jimmy did,
anyway." Amber scratched away a feminine itch. "Why? You want to catch the
public eye again? You could learn a performing art if you like... acting or
dancing, perhaps..."

"No, I... Not right now... at least. I feel strangely shy at times." She
kissed the red head's temple. "Thanks for staying with me." Jessica bathed her
parched lips. "I was... I was just wondering." She giggled timidly. "Maybe you
had a schedule planned out for me? Jimmy got so used to it. He was kind of
aimless with his life. I suppose that's how he wound up here- what?"

The soft lines disappeared from Amber's face. She shot up in bed, tugging at
her companion. "Oh sweety. I forgot. We do need to hurry this morning. We have
to go to the grotto before the sun gets very high." She hopped into her
sandals. "Do you feel like going out?"

"Why? I think I do. I guess..."

"We're meeting Rachel."

"Oh." Jessica thought a moment. "That makes sense. Sure."

"No, love." With a grin, Amber kicked the enormous shoes away from her
flummoxed lover. "Wear one of these." She pried open a container by the
bedpost. "I brought a couple of different sizes. They should all be narrow
enough. One of them will fit."

"Thanks, honey. I guess I'll need a new wardrobe too."

"That's the nice thing about togas. What's Rachel's funny expression? 'One
size fits all.' She said to wear something loose anyway."

Oh. Like a hospital gown. "Yeah. She's probably right... Will you... will you
come with me. I'm a little nervous."

"Of course. I have to show you the way. I'll stay with you too."

"Thanks."

"No. Jessica. Here, sweety. Let me show you again how to wrap them. I know.
This pair's a little smaller than before, but you'll still appreciate the
support..." Amber pulled a strip of fabric from a peg on the wall and slung it
like a muffler over one of her partner's shoulders. "Raise your arms."

"Sorry I forgot."

"It's OK. With Jimmy around the last few weeks, I've been forgetting too. I
guess if my period comes along, I'll remember quickly enough."

"Why's that?"

"Mine get a little tender like most people's... Here. No. Raise your- good."
She tucked the fabric in like a bandage. "Is it snug?"

"Yes." It wasn't terribly comfortable.

"Good. Can you help with mine and then we'll get you dressed?" Amber passed
her something that resembled a leather bikini top. She ran the sensuous
material over her palm, just blinking at it. "Hey." Amber cupped her cheek.
"I'll make you one as soon as I have time. I promise."

"I don't need..." She looked down below. "I don't need something lower?"

"Why? Are you uncomfortable?"

"Am I... Do I need to?" What were all those ads about that Jimmy always
skipped? "Will I smell or anything?"

"No honey." Amber chuckled delicately. "If you do, no one will notice. Go
naked if you like."

Naked around Rachel?

Why did modesty suddenly creep up on her?

She thought of the beach outside and things suddenly changed again.

"Would you... would you mind if I do that on occasion? Go natural?"

"If you want to, go right ahead. I'll join you, if you'd like." Amber
positioned the cups across her large, milky breasts and turned her back to
Jessica, offering the dangling strips to tie.

"I thought you had more discretion."

"When I first met Jimmy, I did," she said, combing her auburn hair aside. 
"I'm no longer single so it doesn't matter. Besides, there's no one really to
tempt right now. None of the boys are old enough... and it can be quite
pleasant during the hot hours, provided you stay in the shade and don't burn
yourself... or bounce around much."

"I don't feel like doing it around Rachel, though... alone..."

"I know," Amber sighed. "It can't be helped." She perked up and winked at her
lover. "Go on, silly. It goes on just like before."

Jessica stared at the toga in her hand. It still smelled vaguely of that
intriguing male scent.

"I guess it does."

---

"Why do we need a boat to meet her?" And who dragged one on shore last night?

"We're meeting her on the far side of the island."

"Why?"

"I'll explain when we get there."

"OK." At least it was something to do.

"Here's an oar, honey. Go on... take it."

Jessica sniffed the cool salty breeze. "I think I like the ocean," she said
softly.

"Good. Because we have plenty of it," Amber joked, tiptoeing out on the balls
of her feet. She prodded her lover into the shallows with a playful nip.

Jessica hiked her skirt up even higher and took a seat behind Amber in the
canoe.

"I still can't get used to how lovely your voice has become," Amber remarked.

"Really?" she replied, a bit dumbfounded. "It's always been- oh. From Jimmy's
you mean?"

Amber simply nodded as she started to paddle.

Jessica pouted a bit. "Would you like me to be deeper? Higher maybe? What?"

"No. Your voice is perfect."

"I.... I forgot to thank you for staying up with me during the night to teach
me my name." She kissed one of the boney lumps on Amber's neck. "I suppose I
owe you who I am. It fits so well..." Amber twisted around and acknowledged
her gratitude with a strained smile. "How were you able to stay awake?"

She turned and continued rowing. "The spell released you sometime after
midnight. Rachel came by and woke me."

"Why didn't I wake too?"

"We put something in your ale. It goes more easily that way..." Her eyes
glazed over at the sea reflected in them. "I wish someone had done that for
poor Miranda..." Then she smiled and sighed something beautiful, as if
whispering a song.

"Yes?" Jessica responded, giggling softly again. That was her too. Her Greek
name. She could even say it back.

Amber sobered and set her mind to the oar.

"What's it mean?" Jessica asked.

"Nothing," Amber replied, the curve of her smile still evident from the side.
"It's just a name. It's considered quite pretty. Moreso than mine."

"I still like 'firefly,'" she hummed.

"Because you're still you."

Amber blew her a kiss.

---

It was hard to talk while they both paddled. There seemed to be so much to
say, but they couldn't hug very easily in order to properly say it.

And so they rowed on, surrounded in a silence that spoke volumes.

Jessica closed her eyes and thought back to the reflection in the mirror. It
was so easy to remember, like she'd seen it all her life. Jimmy was easy to
remember too. She hoped it would always be that way.

Her face was so much younger than his though. She looked barely twenty. Not
young enough to be confused with an awkward girl... but not quite old enough
for the face of a mother or wife. But then neither was Amber's.

She was just the right age where maturity was in doubt, perhaps even blooming.
A shift one way in her mannerisms and she could easily be confused with a
schoolgirl fantasy... though inside... inside she still felt much older than
Amber, even if she moved without all the certainty she should.

And it was her, not some spectral Jimmy. Those years were hers. The weight of
those three decades rested on her shoulders, only heightening her appreciation
for her youthful appearance. Indeed. It was more than appearance, it was youth
itself. She did feel young again. And having lived that much longer made the
ageless curves of her face all the more precious.

They were right. Youth was wasted on the young. It was far sweeter when you
knew it for the gift it was.

And Amber had it too...

---

Jessica gazed at the calm peaks in the sea, infinitely deep into the horizon
and suddenly realized she was one of the few islanders who knew what a steel
ship looked like.

She would never see one of the lumbering giants again, even in the distance.
No airplanes, either. No lights at the night flying through the sky.

She stroked Amber's arm, enjoying the impression her lover made on her
breasts.

"If we... if it... if we were rescued," Jessica finally managed, "would you
still love me?"

"I'll stay with you forever." Amber kissed her hand as their boat drifted with
the current. "Who knows, you might even be a man again on the outside. Who
knows how the curse works?" Jessica leaned back and stared at the featureless
blue sky. "Do you want to be a man again?" Amber looked up at the white curve
of her chin.

"I don't know. I have these memories... I was this person... I still am this
person..." She sighed. "But it would feel so strange. I can't imagine myself
that way without..." The words slowed from her trembling lips. "Without
some... embarrassment... or insecurity."

"Jimmy probably couldn't have imagined himself as you either."

"I know. I'm Jimmy still somewhere in here."

But wouldn't Jimmy have been the first to ask Amber if she wanted him to be a
man again?

Goodness...

Would she want Amber if she could escape? A world half filled with men...

Though she'd never spent much time admiring herself in the mirror when she was
Jimmy, the more distant he became in her mind the more attractive he seemed...
Was it that? No. She'd never known him from the outside. How could she? She'd
only been him.

But the prospect of getting to know him was enticing...

"What if we left and I... I fell in love with a man? I'd hate to do that to
you but I haven't ever met one. I hope I never do if we stay on this wretched
island, but what if I did leave and I found I was attracted to them? There's
this dark blob in myself I can't see."

Amber put a soothing hand on her thigh. "There's nothing wrong in feeling that
way. You may have to learn to love me again in your own way if it's changed
too."

"I do love you. But what if... what if I found there was this part of myself-"

Amber rose and tapped her lover on the sternum with a wry smile.

"Now Jimmy knows how hard it was on some of the women he had sex with."

"Yes. Now Jimmy knows." Jessica frowned. "He sort of always knew... And you
knew he knew too."

"Yes. Yes, I did." Amber blinked and settled back into Jessica's arms.
"There... there was never an easy way to talk with him about it... but I
always loved the emotions I could see fighting inside him when he did."

"Did the other women? Did they see it too?"

"Some. The ones he's- you're close to. Yes. They did their best to make him
happy... they enjoyed themself too, if that bothers you."

"Did... did the married women ever go home afterwards... and cry about it? Did
it cause them- "

"No, honey. Most wives are quite happy. I will be for you if you have a chance
like that. You should know what it's like to be a complete woman."

"But it's difficult?"

"It doesn't strain anything. The guilt is Circe's really, not ours. If you
want to love a man for a few hours, I won't mind. I loved one a whole month. I
hope you'll never hold it against me."

Jessica kissed her forehead. "That was me, you dope."

Amber pinched her fleshy thigh back. "You've certainly changed."

"Not there, I haven't," Jessica said, thumping her breastbone.

"No. Not there." A flock of birds took off from the palms and flew out past
the whitecaps on the reef. "Do you find men sexy?" Amber asked, her green eyes
still lost in the distance. "Most women do."

She sighed. "I don't know if I'm attracted to guys or not. I think about them
and maybe..." Jessica's voice wavered and she trailed off.

"It's a natural instinct. There's still a gap in you. I'm sure the more time
we spend together... once we give you some new memories of how we can be
together that way, things will be fine. Don't worry." She gave her arm a
reassuring caress. "You would have known right away if you wanted to reject
me. They say it builds in you those three days until it erupts on the final
morning."

"There's nothing like that in me. I have very warm feelings for you." She
brushed Amber's cheek. "I just don't have my bearings yet."

"I know... Being lost at sea is a good way to describe it. I'll help point you
in the right direction. Even if you found out you were attracted to men, it's
not a problem you can have on the island... you can't allow it..." she
whispered to herself.

"It must have hurt you with Jimmy."

"Yes," she confessed, her eyes growing watery. "It's always hard." Her nose
wrinkled as Amber brushed away a sniff. "We'll get past it. Like most Greeks,
I'm bisexual. You probably are too." She placed a hand over hers and kissed
them. "But you can't split your love..."

"I know. It doesn't bother me." Jessica sighed. "If Jimmy gets between us in
bed..." Her expression turned naughty. "Well it's a place I'd be happy to have
him..."

Both ladies laughed, their breasts shaking delicately on one another's limbs.

Then Jessica let out a long, deep gust. "It will be different, though." She
sighed timidly to herself. "I... I feel like now we'll argue over who does the
cooking and cleaning."

Amber chuckled. "We'll both do it and we'll both argue."

"I meant Jimmy would have- "

"I know what Jimmy expected. I would have argued with him- "

"No. I mean I want to do it all. He wouldn't want to do any of it."

"Oh. Well..." Amber was confused. Would Jimmy have really been that way? Come
to think of it... she liked waiting on him like that, those days they spent
together. Scaling his catch. Cooking and serving it. She still felt hostile
toward that outdoor grill he wouldn't let her near. She'd always thought it
would be a boon finding someone to do all those things, but she realized she
did like sewing and all the rest of it. "Well I've always wanted someone to do
them together with. Would you mind someone standing beside you, stirring the
pot at dinner?"

Jessica thought a moment. "No. That would be sweet, I think... of course I
need to learn how to cook first," she groaned under her breath.

"Still want to be a great hunter like the Queen?"

"I don't know," she told her after some silence. "I think I may be more suited
to fishing now."

Amber laughed. "You certainly smell that way." Her girlfriend blushed. "It's
nothing to be embarrassed about. It is a lovely odor. You'll adjust to it."

"It's always been familiar. It's just... I feel yucky 'down there'..."

"You get used to it. Just don't scratch yourself in public and you'll get
through it fine."

Jessica giggled as she remembered the woman she'd spied desperately rubbing
herself on that tree. The sight had gotten Jimmy so stiff.

Now it stifled her giggles.

That could be her.

"What do you do?" she asked soberly. "For discomfort?"

"Bathe or dry off. There are some herbs and other things. I'll show you...
Sometimes it helps to dress that area too, like you wanted to do earlier..."

The boat started to spin.

"I think we're out of the current."

"Yes. Time to row again." Amber sat up.

"How much longer?"

"Mmm. Ten minutes, I think."

Ten minutes. Sigh. They always said that. It was the same thing every woman in
a shopping mall ever said.

Why didn't they ever say, "Not much longer but I don't know"?

It still drove Jessica nuts. (Even if she'd have the same urge in a mall
herself now).

She'd give anything for her old watch back.

The ride remained fairly quiet until an outcropping of rocks came into view on
the beach, shaded by trees.

The grotto.

Amber pulled closer to shore, steering the boat toward its opening and they
passed into the cool, morning shade of the mountain.

Melissa had been with Jimmy the last time she'd seen it. She suggested it for
sex but he decided on a bit of beach a little farther along.

His choice had made Michelle happier for some reason.

It did look nice, though. Kind of cozy and inviting. She almost wished Jimmy
had listened to her.

But who was she to interfere. It wasn't her sex life.

Oh well...

Was that why Amber'd brought her?

No. Not if Rachel was involved. At least she hoped not.

Maybe there was something else special about it.

Her companion finally spoke again.

"Did you... did you want to have a family, Jessica? I know Jimmy did. Is that
desire still within you?"

Men again. Why did she feel so guilty about that topic?

She thought about Julius and all the young boys in Amber's class. She loved
the time she'd spent with them. She? He, maybe. He'd enjoyed different things
about it.

But enough was the same. She'd be delighted to pick one of them up and carry
him by her side again. Even one of the little girls.

Could she? Was she still strong enough?

"Yes I... I'd love too. Of course I'll help with yours if you... you're
pregnant, you know. I hope you are. Can I really be a mother to it?"

"Um..."

"I know Jimmy would... would want to be the father. I can't do that for him
and... I don't want to take anything from you two."

"Do you feel like it's yours?"

Jessica's lip trembled. She cocked her head and wandered out over the waters
as she remembered all the things Jimmy wanted her to know. Yesterday's macabre
note. The promises she'd sworn even before she knew she could. Even before she
was.

And yet... it wasn't just a promise to Amber. It was love. She was family. If
she was pregnant then, peculiarly enough, their flesh and blood had mixed,
however impossibly...

"Sort of," Jessica sighed to the back of Amber's head. "Yes... yes, I do, I
guess. I want us to be a family."

"I love you very much. I loved Jimmy very much." She continued rowing straight
on. "And I wouldn't mind at all letting you be a parent.... be a mother with
me if... if in fact I am carrying his child. I want us to be a very close
family. But..." Sorrow touched Amber's voice.

Should she have said what she did? Jessica wondered. What was the cost of
hurting her?

"No matter what I do, I can't... I can't share the joy of childbirth or
nursing. You have to experience that on your own." She could sense Amber
biting her lip now behind the red curtain stirred up by the wind. "I'm sorry.
I wish it weren't so lonely. I've shared my body with you every way I can. If
I could share myself with you that way too I would but I can't. That path of
life, everyone walks alone." She pulled the oar into her lap, turned and
kissed Jessica. "Is it... a path you think you'd like to walk someday?"

Jessica stuttered.

The redhead dipped her wooden pole back in the water to keep from capsizing.
"I'd walk it by your side," she promised. "I'd help you travel it as best
anyone could."

The clouds cleared from Jessica's mind and though the boat rocked in the surf,
her world was suddenly firmer. "Yes. I'd like very much to be a mother and...
and I guess..." A tooth dug into her cheek. "I would want you to be... to be
just as much a mother to my child. Someday." Then a whimsical grin romped
across her face as she remembered the way Jimmy had needled Melissa. "But
fortunately," she lilted, "we can fool around all we want now without getting
knocked up."

Amber giggled a little.

Just like being a guy again. What a freedom there was in that.

Really?

Jimmy's little joke about pregnancy and teenage sex had confused Melissa.

And now it was confusing her, the more she thought about it.

What would life be like... be like with real men if... when sex could result
in conception? When she'd have to worry if he'd take care of her? If the
person in her arms would walk off?

She put it out of her mind. As she looked at Amber's rusty curls blazing in
the sunlight she knew she'd never have to worry about either possibility.

But was she losing something too because of it? Would it... would the sense of
danger quicken her pleasure? At that sparkling moment of union when both souls
merged? The dependency? Would she ever have that... that element of trust?
Would she and Amber ever leap off that cliff together?

Hm.

Now she understood Melissa's odd expression. The simpering ex-virgin knew more
about sex than Jimmy realized: she knew enough to be confused.

It was fun not being careless.

And even for Jimmy. None of the past four weeks had been careless for him.
Indeed, he'd been rather proud of it. Particularly with Andrea.

And deeply saddened.

Jessica rowed on in silence, her long thin arms awkwardly plowing the water.

Was there something she wasn't doing right? They tired so much faster than the
last time she made the trip. The constant strokes had her narrow strips of
muscle trembling now.

She hoped it wouldn't always be as bad as this. Perhaps she just needed to
condition her body.

But something within her knew it was right, that it fit. That she'd wake up
every morning soft and weak. How could it ever be otherwise? It sent her
stomach to the bottom of the boat.

Though she was tall, her frame was too slight to ever be much of a match for
Lucia. She was such a thick and sturdy woman.

For some reason Amber seemed sturdy too.

Why didn't that kind of strength fit her? Would it, as the years wore on? As
perhaps a child filled out her hips? Would she put some meat on these bones
(other than in front of her ribs)?

Did she really want any more around these thighs?

Jimmy's memories consoled her. There were no fat women on the island. Not even
Andrea. *Especially* Andrea.

So why had she thought that?

The opening to the grotto was plainly visible now.

Amber turned for another backward glance.

"What?" Jessica asked, somewhat apologetically.

"I said I'm sorry I can't get you pregnant when you want."

"WWWhat!?" Jessica roared. "*You* want to be a man!?" she laughed.

"Noooo," Amber drawled, dropping her oar to tickle the other woman and make
her pay.

"Ah!" Jessica fought her off. "Oo! Do that again," she hurried. "Mmmm. I like
those fingers! They know right where to go... Ah!" she yipped.  "No matter
what I say you're going to pinch me!"

Amber retreated, still chuckling. "No... well, yes," she admitted, "but
probably not for that."

Jessica cackled.

Amber's nipping fingers lunged forward again and Jessica managed to slapped
her back. "You!"

"It's no fair! You're still bigger than me!" Amber pouted.

The snickering quickly subsided before they turned the boat over.

"Oh, honey," Jessica sighed. "Don't be jealous. What you stuck me with stays
up so much longer."

Both girls gushed in laughter.

---

"Rachel?"

"You two are *late*." She thumped her foot. "Hello Jessica. My, you turned out
lovely." Rachel pinched her with a knowing wink. "Guess I can understand what
kept you..."

Jessica blushed and dropped her eyes. An image flashed in her mind of Rachel
stroking Jimmy's privates... looking up from his waist with a lewd grin... and
it deepened her redness.

The doctor's giggling only made it worse.

It was so confusing. Jimmy would be getting hard right now and having sex with
the woman. He'd 'throw her down and stick her,' making her jiggling, cherubic
dimples pay a dividend. He wouldn't mind the mocking tone. It turned him on.

But she couldn't do that anymore.

Was that the problem? Was that why she felt so bashful about it?

But couldn't she? She'd just had sex, hadn't she? That was 'sex,' wasn't it?
It felt normal. Yes, she could have sex now. It wasn't like yesterday, the
darkest day of their life.

Why was Amber unfazed by all the sexual innuendo? In fact she even apologized
to Rachel about it. "I hope it won't go bad because of- "

"Nah. It's quite cold in the ground. I just wished you'd said something so I
could have slept in. I hate getting up at the crack of dawn... though a little
crack is always fun, ay girls? Dawn's or otherwise?"

"Cold?" asked Jessica. "There's cold on the island?"

"Yes, sweety." Rachel turned to Amber. "Have you explained it to her yet?"

"No," Amber sighed. "Sorry."

"It's OK." Rachel winked again. "I didn't start without you. It was the least
I could do." She gripped Jessica's shoulder reassuringly and moved her over to
one of the rocks. "Now... you know I'm something of the town gynecologist,
right baby?"

She nodded meekly. "Is that why I'm here? For an exam?"

"No, honey." Rachel smiled at the relief washing over her features. "I can do
that later. I'm sure you're fine right now anyway. I just wanted to make sure
you understood the concept."

"Yes. I'm not happy with it, but I understand it."

"Spoken like a true woman."

"You won't, um..." Jessica covered her crotch as another of Jimmy's memories
resurfaced. "Later. You won't take advantage of me for your own fun, will
you?"

Amber giggled.

"No honey. You know that's not how it works."

"Just making sure. Your only checkup on Jimmy involved a prescription of
fellatio, if I recall."

"What's that?" Amber asked.

"Nothing," both women replied.

"A blowjob?"

She'd figured it out.

"Yeah," Jessica admitted, a little self-consciously.

"You don't have to worry about me doing that to you ever again," Rachel vowed.

Jessica snickered shyly.

"By the way..." Rachel leaned forward and planted a friendly kiss on each
cheek. "I've been late for five days now. I wanted to say thank you." She
blinked a moment, seemed to remember something and gave Amber a polite hug
too. "I guess I'm not in much of a position then to ask you for a favor
but..." The lines in Jessica's smile crawled timidly away. "I thought on the
way over here that, uh... well, I'll be raising a child soon- with a little
luck- and I realize I'm getting older of course so I wanted you to think about
something. You're about twenty years younger than I am and, well, I still
remember a lot about medicine. I want you to consider being an apprentice of
sorts. I know the idea won't thrill you right now but Antonia was a farmhand
and you're the most educated person to wash up in quite a while. I'll be glad
to take someone else under my wing but I thought you should have the first
crack at it, so to speak." The doctor grinned a little. "Don't reply right
away. Take a year or two if you want. I doubt any of us are going anywhere."
Rachel stood up and walked back over to her knapsack, rattling some kind of
metal around in the shadows of the torch light.

Jessica faced Amber coyly and gave her hip a squeeze. "Would you mind?" she
asked. "You told Jimmy she did strange things to you. Would you still feel
that way?"

The redhead shrugged. "In all seriousness, I don't understand what she does...
But she has saved several babies. She has an honored place in the village."
Amber pecked her the cheek. "We'll talk when we get home. We really must
hurry."

Rachel pushed two short wooden shovels in their direction. "Come on, ladies.
There's a lot of digging to do. There's no particular rush, but let's get to
it."

"Why do I need to dig? Is there buried treasure or something?"

"Yeah, honey," Rachel chuckled. "Something like that."

The trio walked to a freshly churned hill of soggy sand. Without further
explanation, they knelt and began digging.

Jessica was the only one who seemed bothered with the dirt getting on her
toga. She hiked it up, but to no avail.

For some reason she didn't want to have to wash it.

Was she still as nervous about doing laundry as she had been yesterday? She
wasn't sexless anymore...

Was that why Rachel sounded a bit condescending? Her tone hadn't changed since
Jimmy knew her. Indeed, he'd found her flippancy kind of cute and attractive
in an unusual way. Now it interacted bizarrely with her matronly age and aloof
cinematic beauty.

Had the power shifted in their relationship? Something had. She still liked
Rachel as a friend. But the off-hand way she flirted seemed almost taunting or
competitive.

No. There was something else that disturbed her. In the real world, what
would-

Jessica nearly fell over.

"You OK, love?" Amber steadied her with a caring hand.

"Yeah. I'm fine." The world came to a rest again and she gave Rachel a
combative smile. "I was just wondering how Jimmy and Doug would have gotten
along together." Rachel cocked a curious eyebrow. "I think he would have
punched Doug out. He hated hippies."

"What's a hippy?" Amber asked.

"I was hardly a hippy," Rachel drawled as she tossed another bit of wet sand
behind her. "I was a highly educated beach bum."

"You still are a beach bum," Jessica quipped.

"Yeah. It's paradise," she grinned, driving the wooden lip into the earth with
a thunk. "I know what Doug would have done. He'd slip some acid in Jimmy's
coffee to loosen him up. He hated accountants."

"It's a little late. Jimmy's already tripping."

"Don't I know it," Rachel confessed. "Like I said. What a weird way to go cold
turkey."

"Honey?" Amber stuck her shovel in the crunchy sand while she paused to wipe
the sweat from her clammy brow. "Will I always be so confused by your
conversations when you two get together?" Wasn't Jimmy plenty 'loose' anyway?
It's how he'd described himself to Melissa.

Rachel snickered. "You should listen to me with Antonia.  I still don't know
if we worked out all the right Spanish words. We still get mixedup. Ever since
I talked about pot, she puts out the fire whenever I come into her home. I
have no idea what that's about and that was three years ago."

"What honey?" Jessica prodded demurely. "Aren't you going to ask me what
coffee is?"

"No. I've had coffee before. Some beans washed up once. It was quite nice."
Amber kissed her. "So is the accountant."

"Well," Rachel purred. "You two are in love, all right. That's nice to see. It
will make everyone very happy to hear."

Her goodwill seemed genuine enough. Amber certainly took it that way and
thanked her.

So why wouldn't anyone tell her what all the digging was about?

And why did she feel like just going along?

Hadn't Jimmy? Wouldn't he be doing that now too? But why would he feel more in
control? And why didn't it bother her at all?

She snickered. Jimmy knew at the end of all the commotion, no matter what,
he'd still be getting his rod whacked.

"Why are we walking up the mountain to have lunch?" "Don't worry. You'll get
your brains fucked out." "Mm. OK."

Didn't she know that too? Jessica paused and glanced at Amber.

Yeah. She'd have sex too.

But it wouldn't regain control of the situation for her.

Was that quite it? No. It-

Rachel finally brought it up on her own.

"You're probably wondering why you're digging."

Jessica nodded. Surprisingly Amber did too.

"Well I saved some of your stuff in this grotto. Jimmy's stuff, really. I
guess you inherit it..." She tossed another shower of sand behind her. They
were more than a foot deep in the beach now. "It gets very cool here on the
far side this time of year. I don't know why but... Anyway, I wanted to offer
it to you two. It won't last much longer... Sorry I don't remember. Do you
know when her period starts?"

"It's a good time for it," Amber said.

"Huh? How do you know?" Jessica asked.

Amber cupped her ear. "We share more than a bed now," she whispered. "We're
both due in two weeks."

"I'm on your cycle? More magic?"

"I guess... If you moved in with another woman, you'd synchronize too. It
would take longer, but it's perfectly natural."

"She's right," Rachel confirmed. "It happens for biological reasons. She
hasn't been looking up your skirt or anything... well," she smirked, "I bet
she has, but not for that..."

Amber shot her a conspiratorial grin.

"So you didn't do anything to me?" Jessica's hand went over her mouth. "You
mean I've already ovulated? Periods..." she gasped. "I haven't even thought
about periods and now I'm going to have one... Oh... I hate them already. That
must be me because Jimmy never even thought much about them... and I don't
even know what mine will be like yet..." Her voice died off in a whisper.

"Yeah. It's you," Amber assured her. Certainly not Jimmy.

"Well I can stop them for about a year if we're lucky," Rachel explained. "You
just need to make a decision here, sweety. I can promise you, you're not
Jimmy's twin sister anymore, so the girl won't be deformed. We've done this
before."

Girl?

Jessica wiped some sweat away with a sandy hand. "You planned this?"

"Sometimes when the weather and tides are right it's possible... If you don't
want a child now, don't worry. I'll take it to someone who does. For some it's
simply too strange or not the right time. Every woman has her own schedule."

"How long do I have to decide?"

"Oh, I stuck it down past my arm, honey. Take your time. 10 minutes at least."
Jessica sighed and gave her a frown. "If you decide to pass... you can rest
assured that Jim Bob Baker lives on now in many others... besides the largest
part of him still residing in you..." Rachel tore herself out of the grainy
soil and regarded her coolly. "You'll have many other chances. It's no sin to
decline. I'll pass the opportunity to someone else. Or you can. It'll be good
a few more hours." The older woman put a hand over Jessica's shovel. "Why
don't you go think about it a while? Amber and I can handle it."

"OK."

Jessica stood and wandered off to the salt water pool to wash her hands and
shins. She sat on one of the rocks in silence and watched the two women dig by
the firelight.

They were mostly silent too.

Bits of the torch dropped into the wet sand, where their embers were quickly
quenched.

In a few minutes, there was a dull hollow thud. Rachel set aside her shovel
and edged Amber away before reaching deep into the hole. Jessica walked up
while she scooped away the cold wet grains with her fingers.

A red and white cylinder dented with age slowly appeared in the middle of the
crater's shadows like the nose of a missle.

Rachel traced along its border, then got a grip and heaved it out with a loud,
sucking pop. "What a mess," she whispered. "Here, Jessica. Hold onto this
while we go wash off..." She snatched the chilly thermos back. "No. Better
wash it off too."

Rachel brushed with frustration at the sand on the front of her dress and then
watched reluctantly as Amber unraveled her toga and stepped into the frigid
waters.

"Yeah," Rachel sighed into the echoing darkness. "We might as well get naked."
She lifted the skirts above her head, revealing her sparse and, Jessica now
realized, well-fertilized bush.

Her blue eyes lingered over the older woman's navel. That charming curve in
her belly would soon ripen with Jimmy's seed. Like so many others.

Would hers?

Rachel caught her staring. "You too, honey," she reminded Jessica. "It is
'yes,' isn't it?"

Jessica nodded.

"Good." She tossed her clothes at her with a sly grin. "Who gives a fuck about
professional distance when you grow your own pussy, huh?" she cracked while
she combed out her pubes.

"Spoken like a true doctor." Jessica laughed softly. "Don't worry. I won't
sue. Who'd believe me?"

Jessica carefully removed her toga and flapped out the grime before folding it
on one of the rocks.

"Wrapping your breasts again, I see," Rachel noted.

Jessica looked at the calfskin embracing Amber's chest and then down at the
rather crude bandage guarding her own. Out of some unknown habit, she draped a
long, spindly arm across her bosom, a bit less gracefully then she'd like. Her
other drifted modestly between her legs where her hips rocked slightly back.

The doctor shrugged. "Leave it on if you like. This isn't a mammography." She
sighed to herself. "I suppose I'll have to remember to start doing that again
myself. Got used to jiggling everywhere with Jimmy around. Wore the kind of
fabric that turns your nipples on, you know? Anyway...  Nell can get away with
it but I'll be filling out soon." She rubbed her flat stomach with a motherly
smile, creating little streams that ran back into the pool. "Always wondered
what it would be like to be a dairy..." Rachel mused. She plucked the glassy
tube from shore and dipped it in the cool waters, scraping the last of the
beach from it.

Amber emerged from the water again, sweeping her wet hair back. She stepped
over to Jessica, still dripping, and brushed away the bits of caked sand from
her lover's elbows and rump.

"You really did this just for me?" Jessica whispered. "It's not just coffee in
there?"

"We really did this for you," Amber replied with a kiss, deftly plying the
slender arm from her crotch.

"Thank you." Jessica batted her lashes innocently, dropping her gaze to the
floor as Amber peeled her other hand away. She guided both limbs gently to her
shoulders for an embrace and then covered Jessica with her warmth. "Why... why
didn't you tell Jimmy you were doing this?" She sucked in her lower lip. "You
told him it would be a few years before I could get pregnant..."

"He would... might have found it a bit strange, love." Amber pulled her chin
down for another kiss. "He had too much on his mind and none of us wanted to
add to it." She paused. "Was it the right thing to do? Are you upset with me?"

Her mossy green eyes sparkled in the cave.

"No. No I'm... I understand. I'm still very happy."

"We're not rushing you are we? You can wait. You shouldn't do it if it's just
to appease Jimmy."

"No. It's for me." She craned her neck and met Amber's ruby lips again. "It's
for us."

"Good."

"It's... it's been in there a day and a half. Is it still good?"

Is he still good? Am I?

How to say it?

"Yeah," Rachel announced in a loud, clinical voice, shaking the water off her
body. "I think so. It worked for Antonia, although I passed on it. It gets
quite cold here for some reason. The archives say they've been doing this for
hundreds of years." She paused and observed the torch with an odd glimmer.
"Funny isn't it? We didn't learn about it until just recently. I guess it's
easy to understand why they'd need to be so inventive."

"Some kind of magic, perhaps?" Amber offered. "They say the island has special
places."

"Well this is one of them."

"Part of him's in there, isn't it?" Jessica whispered. "Why wasn't it changed
too?"

Amber shrugged. "Part of him's still in Rachel. That wasn't changed. If it
was... we'd all be doomed," she replied quietly. "It's not you in there
anymore," she reminded her. "It's him."

Still in the distance, Rachel removed the well-worn plastic cup from the
weathered bottle and cranked the inner cap open. A twinge of panic hit Jessica
as sludge flopped into the water.

It was just sand.

Something smaller and solid landed in Rachel's hand. She cleaned it off too,
this time with more care and walked back to the girls.

Perched between her fingers was a black capped, white-filled vial.

"What's that?"

"Sperm, silly."

"I know *that*. I've seen it before. Hell I made it two nights ago. Or Jimmy
did- "

"Come on, honey..." "She's getting dizzy again."

"I'm fine." Jessica brushed the hands off. "I'm fine. I just meant where'd you
get the little glass bottle."

"Oh. It washed up in one of my pockets. Used to hold... uh, shall we say mind
altering substances." Amber cocked an eyebrow but Jessica just nodded. "I
guess it still does," Rachel joked. "Nothing more mind altering than having
kids."

Amber laughed, finally getting it, though it didn't seem as funny to her as it
was to Jessica. Another code, perhaps?

"Don't eat it," Amber joked, pinching her lover.

"What!?" Jessica roared, shocked out of her sandals.

"Weeellll..." Amber twirled a lock of hair. "You wanted me to." Rachel doubled
over in laughter. "I know," she complained to the doctor. "I couldn't
understand it either."

"I'm *not* going to eat it," Jessica growled, reddening at the thought of it.

Though she was a bit interested in the taste...

Why hadn't Jimmy ever tasted it? He'd made so much. And come to think of it...
she really didn't know what that much of it would feel like, either...

Did she want to? No. Even a little was sticky. That much she remembered. He
always got rid of it as soon as it left his loins.

Rachel clutched her side and straightened up, doing her best to shake off
giggles. "Ooooh-kay. I'll leave you two alone now. Jimmy always did prefer a
little privacy when it came to the ladies."

Amber let loose her own giggle.

"What?" Jessica asked. "What's the matter with that?"

"Nothing. Just the way she said it..."

"Well, you both know where it goes, though I guess it's a bit theoretical for
Jessica. I'll leave it in your capable hands so to speak. Oh. Make sure you
warm it up first. I hear it's not much fun served cold."

Rachel stepped forward and whispered something in Amber's ear.

"OK," she replied.

Jessica looked around, worried about the hasty way Rachel was preparing to
leave.

That was all?

They should clean up after themselves, right? So someone could do this again.

Or do something.

"Do we have to put the sand back?" Jessica asked.

Rachel snorted. "No, honey. The sand replenishes itself... But that torch will
go out. Scoot closer to the opening where there's some sunlight, why don't
you?"

"OK."

Jessica bent down to collect her clothes and realized how brisk the cave was
when she brushed her nipples. They scraped like tiny needles, even through the
fabric.

Amber cupped her lean arm and led her to the bright oval where the sea lapped
gently in. The fingers squeezing her tired, delicate bicep reminded her of the
weakness within her again.

It wasn't loneliness.

She felt somehow frail or vulnerable... almost powerless as the cave
brightened around her... though the thought of a child nursing suddenly made
her feel full inside. And strangely stronger.

Weakness could be a strength. How about that.

She could be protective too... even if she couldn't protect her-

"Oh," Amber said, remembering something herself. "Could you- ?"

She obviously needed to ask Rachel something, but in her polite way she was
almost too embarrassed to impose.

"What do you want, honey?"

"Do you have anything to eat? Sorry. I was in such a hurry I forgot," she
admitted, casting a sheepish look at her sandy haired lover.

"Oh. It'll be a while, you know? I wished you'd have said something. I don't
think I can make it back out here in time." Rachel rummaged around her bag
with a sigh. "Here. It's not much." She tossed two dates to Jessica. "They're
kind of old, but they're still good I think."

Jessica turned the soggy egg-shapes over a few times, checking them out, and
handed one to Amber.

They didn't taste very good. At least she'd removed the seeds.

The way they were wrinkled sort of reminded her of-

Ugh.

She swallowed and thanked the doctor politely. It was better than nothing.

Rachel stopped again and glanced at her other hand, now balled up in a fist by
her side. Like the sunshine radiating around her face, it finally dawned on
her. She turned and casually lobbed the glass vial into Jessica's startled
palms.

Her thighs shot forward, trying to form a lap before she dropped it. The darn
thing tangled in her hair.

"Remember. Get it warm first. I'll never forget how many times they reminded
us to do that in school..."

Rachel's voice grew to a pounding echo as she neared the mouth, then faded
completely away. She rounded the corner and with a sexy swing of her hips she
was gone.

Amber stretched two blankets along a narrow strip of shore with the most
light, reminding her worried lover that the tide was going out.

Then she dropped a pillow smack in the middle of one of the rectangles.

Jessica smirked.

The whole setup was all too familiar. That irritating ritual of "letting him
stick."

It was hers to perform now.

And she'd run out on him like all the rest to do it, hadn't she? Only he'd
never gotten to see her pretty little rump jiggling out the door.

It was pretty right? She'd have to check again. Maybe down at the creek...

She watched Amber's rump as she tapped the ground expectantly. Was it as sexy
as it had been to Jimmy?

Yeah. It was, thank goodness. Those darling double u's pranced around from the
ripples made by her foot.

She *had* to sink her fingers in.

"Ahem?" Amber gestured at the towel.

Had Rachel really left all this stuff?

Jessica took a seat on the cushions, folding her unwieldy long legs and
pulling them tight to her chest. She held the cool little cylinder up to the
sun's rays and gazed into the pearly fluid.

It didn't look like much at all.

She turned to Amber. "Would you share it with me? We don't know about you
yet."

"No, honey. I've had my chance. You take yours." Amber pushed the flask away.
"Use it all."

Jessica didn't have much of a reaction at first. After all, it wasn't her job
to get anyone pregnant.

But something within her wouldn't leave it at that. Something... maybe
someone?... kept tugging at her love for Amber.

"Please? I'd like you too. This is the last part of me... of Jimmy? We both
love you very much." She frowned not quite knowing how to put it. "Don't I
have a say?"

"All right." Amber kissed her. "It'll be a girl though, if- "

"I know."

The redhead sighed. "You also know if it works... I'm sorry but if it works
you might... you might never have a man. Have a chance to sleep with one, I
mean. Unless he wants you." Amber stroked a lock of Jessica's hazel hair
behind her ear. "You're very beautiful and I'm sure one would find you
attractive but... by law you wouldn't be permitted otherwise... and there are
so many other beautiful women to distract their eyes..."

"I know," Jessica quipped, puffing her cheeks. "Jimmy was plenty distracted."

She looked at the tiny bottle. So that was that? She wouldn't ever have real
sex?

'Real'?

She loved Amber didn't she?

The glass trembled in her fingers.

"Were there- were there women like that who Jimmy never slept with?"

"No honey. Even Antonia's had sex once."

"Oh," she replied softly. "I guess it's OK, then. I had more of him than
anyone else... still have..."

She had the best part of all in her hand.

And no one could get closer to a man than she had been... right?

She started to turn the cap but hesitated.

"Lie back first," Amber suggested.

"Oh... ok." She did. "It's not... not very comfortable. The blood's rushing to
my head."

"You'll get used to it." Amber shifted the cushion so her hips rose higher.

"Do you have a pillow?"

"Yes, love. Rachel left us with several."

"Can I see?"

"Yes," Amber chuckled. "Here." She pulled one out. "Is this one big enough for
my bottom or do you want me to sit on your arm as well?"

"No," she snickered. Jessica rolled on her side, trying her best to face Amber
but she was right. It wasn't very comfortable lying on your side like this.

She unscrewed the top like an ordinary jar of cold cream and took a sniff.

It was still a little chilly.

She held it between her hands a few moments.

Amber didn't say anything at all. She just laid there propped up one elbow as
she gazed back at Jessica like a reflection.

It seemed warm enough now. Either that or her hands had gotten cold. She
thought about dipping a finger in but she didn't want to waste it.  Instead
she pressed it to her temple.

Satisfied with the temperature, Jessica rolled on her back again.

Damn.

She surveyed her crotch anxiously, as if there were some hidden lever she had
to pull to make things work.

She glanced over at Amber. "How am I supposed to stick it in?"

Amber laughed hysterically.

"You mean you don't remember? After all those hours of practice?"

"Well," Jessica huffed, lips twitching. "Not from this end." She pinched her
redheaded wife. "I wish Rachel had stayed."

"I'll do it," Amber offered, rising on her haunches.

"Mmm. OK. But I'll get really mad at you if you put it all in."

"You know I won't do that, love."

"You mean you loved Jimmy more than me?" she teased.

Amber sank back against one of the rocks, crunching the sand underfoot, and
stared blankly at the cave wall.

"Come here." Jessica tugged at her arm. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to be mean."
She gave her knuckles a wet kiss. "Forgive me?"

"Sure. I- I know how you meant it. Sorry."

"Don't be. It's my fault."

Amber blinked and knelt over her companion again. She gave the light brunette
a deep kiss, locking their jaws together at the perfect angle.

"Mmm. We can do that later," Jessica said coyly. "Can we get to business?"

"That is business." Amber sat up. "Here. Open your legs a little."

Amber's hands pulled her farther apart, then there were fingers in her sex,
spreading her tender lips as the shorter woman crouched above her furry muff.
Amber's salivating tongue poked out and its wet coarseness sent a shiver
through her sensitive nub.

"What are you doing, honey?" Jessica pulled her up by the hair.

"I need to give you an orgasm, sweety. Don't worry. I'll put it in before
then."

"Why? I had plenty this morning," she giggled.

"Rachel says it's better for conception for some reason. It has to do with the
magic of the place."

"Conceived in love, huh?"

"Yes. She said it's better when the womb spasms."

"Oh. Yeah." Jessica chuckled. "I think Jimmy told one woman that." Just to get
her legs spread. Did Amber have the same lewd mind or were Jimmy's instincts
that well-tuned to reality? "You're not..." Jessica's hand hovered over her
chest. "You're not thinking of having another woman lick at the two of us
while we lie back like this, are you?"

"Do you..." Amber paused a moment. "Do you want to know what it's like making
love to a different woman?"

Getting her pussy licked was 'love-making' now?

It seemed so foreign.

And she said it like it was the pinnacle of the act.

'Being licked'...

It sounded so... incomplete. Preliminary.

Did she want to?

"No. Jimmy knows," she whispered. "But if you want me to I will."

"Do you want to?"

She shook her head. "Not really." Jessica managed a weak smile. "Jimmy says to
tell you no too. He would have been very faithful to you."

"I know." Amber cleared her throat.

It suddenly hit her how good at not crying the woman was. She *was* sturdy,
like she'd told Jimmy when he first limped into the village.

She brushed Amber's cheek with her thumb. "I will be too," she promised.

Amber smiled a little, then resumed lapping at her lover.

"Nnnnnnn," she moaned. "Who'd have thought getting pregnant could be such
fun...?"

Amber grabbed her hand before she could stretch her arms out. "Sorry, love.
Try not to move around much. There's sand everywhere."

"MMm. I can't help it. It's how you make me feel."

"I know," the red head smiled. "Be a good girl and I'll giggle for you
tonight."

"Mm. OK." She offered up her crossed wrists. "I won't go anywhere."

Amber chuckled. "You want me to be that way now?"

"Um..." It was more of a joke really. "I don't know. Sometime maybe." She
cocked her head demurely. "There's a little tiger in you I think... Mmm. But
not now. You're right," she decided. "Let's not make a mess."

Amber's loyal finger, which hadn't departed, moved aside again for her tongue.
A palm gently caressed Jessica's patch of curly ringlets, doing a peculiar
little dance over her mons. The gentle motion of muscle across bone gradually
illicited a deep relaxation within the girl. All while Amber's expert tongue
fluttered paradoxically across her feminine cusp.

How could tingling make such a wonderful looseness?

That slack? How could it be so firm?

Two more fingers worked their way inside her, stretching ever father apart
like a child trying to make a face. It was a bit distracting from all the
other wonderful sensations.

"Amber?" she called sweetly, combing nails through her auburn hair. "What are
the fingers for?"

"I need to get your vagina opened on its own, love. Or else it will smear on
my finger."

"You don't have one of those little pipes, do you?"

"No. It would stick to the insides of that too. I want to get it all in."

Jessica sighed. Life was so hard without a penis.

"Didn't you plan for any of this?"

"We planned on putting this little bottle in you, but you changed half your
mind."

"Isn't that just like a woman," she complained. "Typical."

"Huh?" The redhead's fingers slowed down.

"They tell you they're going to do one thing and then they do something
completely unexpected. Ha! Just like a woman." Jessica winked.

"Lovers are that way, I suppose." She kissed the top of Jessica's tuft. "I'm
glad you didn't change your mind about the rest of us."

Us?

Hm.

Jessica reclined on the shore's forgiving contours again and let Amber lick a
minute longer, giving herself up to the gentle moans rolling out of her
throat. She stroked lovingly at the long red hair and tender flesh of Amber's
back, spreading her fingers out like a spider to enjoy the delicate way the
bones tugged at one another as Amber ministered her affection.

She wanted to return the attention... but they'd both be stuck like this for
several hours.

Finally a fourth finger managed to fit its way into her, though not terribly
deep. The palm left her mound and Jessica felt the side of the vial press into
her thigh. Amber's tongue fluttered even faster, driving her shivering clit
back between its lips.

The glass container jerked awkwardly closer.

Unnnhhh... Wait, honey... NNNNnnnnnhhh... yeah... no! just a... Anh!

The coarse drag of Amber's moist tentacle caused the tingle to explode yet
again, washing her skin in hot prickling ants. She grabbed Amber's arm, trying
not to shake it as her delicate feminine moans puffed into the cavern.

She pulsed around the many digits inside her, getting a bit sore.

"Whaa..." she whispered, "wait... darling... just a min... minute." She caught
her breath.

"You're ready, I think."

All but one of Amber's fingers left her birth canal. The last stayed behind
like a hook in a fish but didn't do any good. She could feel herself already
closing around it, no matter how much she tried to loosen up.

Her partner's knuckles wavered tentatively on her pinched open vulva. The vial
started to tilt.

"Wait," Jessica sighed. Amber's spine went slack and she started to breath
again. "I think I know what will do it. Sit back... No. A little farther out
of the way... that's it. Now Rachel showed me this. Hold my leg so I don't
kick you or fall over... Yeah. Could you set the jar- thanks."

The bottle went to rest on a distant rock and Amber lent a ginger arm to her
efforts. Jessica propped two hands under her hips and threw her feet over her
head, digging her elbows even further into the sand as Amber steadied her
back.

How did Rachel manage this particular trick? Her neck was going to break any
minute.

Carefully and ever so slowly, she snuck around her bottom and snagged her hole
open with her middle fingers, doing her best to pull them wide and make the
face Amber wanted.

Yeah. She must have succeeded. Amber had the same delighted reaction a child
might have, like she'd snarl back and run away tittering.

"Is that a big enough target for you?" she joked. "What? Something wrong?"

"No," Amber laughed, angling her head around. "I was just thinking how... um,
strangely beautiful you look."

"You mean I make your clit itch," she said baldly.

"Yeah," Amber giggled. "How'd you know?"

"It gave Jimmy a hard on."

"Really?..." Amber pouted. "Well I would've done it for him if I knew..."

Jessica smirked at her thoughtfulness. "You'll have your chance soon enough...
and yes. I checked. I find most of the same things sexy about you Jimmy did."
She pulled her fingers out a moment and watched in fascination how her
gleaming lips closed together. Being doubled over like this gave her such a
great view... and that unusual way her dangling legs split her snatch open...
her clit itched too. If she could just pinch her lips together and rub them
over it... "Go on, Amber." She slipped her sticky fingers back in. "Pour my
half of the little wigglers in there."

"Wigglers?" Amber giggled again as she picked up the vial.

"Yeah. There are millions of tiny creatures in that white stuff that swim
around and... oh, never mind. Just- Ooohp!" Jessica snickered. "I guess I'm
more used to stuff dripping out!"

"Yeah." Amber smiled as she flinched again, and her pussy drew momentarily
tight around her fingers. The white liquid oozed into her like detergent going
into a washing machine. "It was always refreshing at first... kind of like a
douche," Amber laughed. "Then it got messy later... Sorry you can't feel it
spurting in you when it's hot. It's a sweet feeling."

The darn stuff was still a tad cold. And it slid down like molasses in winter,
giving her the most colossal fucking tickle.

But then Jimmy always did have a sense of humor about the unavoidable things
on the island. Was it his last joke on her? His only joke?

Wow...

It dropped off the farther inside it poured, disappearing into the yawning
void exposed by her fingers. There was a vague sensation of being open or full
but after that... nothing at all.  As a woman, she expected it to happen in
the back of her mind. She knew vaginas lost feeling like that but...  that
wasn't it.

There was something special about this time. It wasn't supposed to be an
ordinary occurrence.

She couldn't feel anything touching her deep in there...

Maybe because it *was* her?

Well, whatever the strange feelings, it was the sweetest thing she'd ever
felt.

Jessica stroked Amber's arm and squeezed off a friendly reminder.

The flask tilted back and Amber did her best not to get the stream on the side
of the glass. She soon gave up and like a connoisseur ran a pinky along the
lip collecting every drop. She rubbed the leftovers on Jessica's clean rear
wall as any chef would with a spatula.

Amber drew even closer and with a flicker of concern peered into Jessica's
chasm.

"Hiding anything?" she gasped.

Amber grinned. "Hopefully in a month or two." The curl in her lip faded while
she peeked around like an auto mechanic under the hood. "It looks OK. You
might want to stay that way a while just to be sure."

Jessica let herself fall shut with a sigh of relief. Her tits were great
bunched up like this- it was the deepest cleavage she'd shown all day- but the
blood rushing to her head was too much. And her arms still shook from the
rowing.

"Help me down, sweety. It's all in there."

"All right." Amber set the flask aside and laid out an extra pillow or two for
good measure.

Jessica felt another slip under her shoulders to blunt the angle and thanked
her lover for the added back support. Then a firm hand sank into the
brunette's bottom and returned her carefully to the cave floor.

"So this is it? It won't drip out?" Jessica asked.  She giggled uncontrollably
the instant she recognized what she'd just said. She sounded like all the
other girls.

And it still irritated Jimmy.

"It'll stay," Amber assured her, stroking her quaking side until she was
still. "You may feel it move around a little, though."

"Good."

"Good?"

"I like feeling something alive in there."

"Oh. I suppose... I suppose it is." She smiled. "That's a nice way of thinking
about it."

Amber hovered over her chestnut bush again.

"No, sweety. Why don't you- " Amber ignored her and put her tongue to work
again on the helpless girl's clit. "Noooooo salivaaaa..." Jessica chided with
a wagging finger.

"Hm." Amber popped back up with a scowl on her face. She knew she was being
taunted as much as anything but Rachel clearly wasn't around to have the final
word. And she didn't want to take any chances.

Jessica wiggled her magic fingers in the air. "Come lie with me. Come on. Put
your dose in and lie down." Her hand slithered intoÊAmber's carroty foliage,
tracked by perky emerald eyes that flashed with mild indignation. "Well at
least do me the honor of sitting on my face so I can return the favor."

"Hm."

"What are you so pissed about?" She pinched her bottom and a conservative
smile slipped away from Amber. "Come on. You used to always ask Jimmy, 'Well
what do you want to do?'" she parroted, bobbing her head side to side. "Well
this is what I want to do." Jessica put hands on her hips. "I want to kiss
that pretty ass of yours."

"Hmm... hey!"

Jessica snatched the vial for safekeeping. "You'll get it back after I come...
but then I want it going right in you, young lady. Deal?"

"OK." Amber smacked her lips. "I guess I better shut you up then."

She hoisted her smirking rear into the air and slung it over Jessica's yapping
maw. But then instead of reciprocating on the girl, she sat up and buried her
up to her eyeballs in red thatch, giggling something about "getting open too."

Jessica smiled as best she could and licked away at the luscious cheeks that
filled her view, clothing her tongue with Amber's quivering crevice. It was so
strangely... complete being in another woman this way... offering her tongue
like this.  It *was* the act of love. The way Amber moaned up at the ceiling
and rocked her hips in gentle rhythm from the attention. How could it not be?
They were kissing intimately. How could it be otherwise?

But she still wasn't letting the flask go.

She chuckled at herself. Amber would never do anything sneaky with it. That's
what she was pissed at her for thinking, wasn't it?

Well... she was doing a good job making it up to her.

After a minute, Jessica pulled back on the flesh around her tiny red button
and lightly flicked over it. Almost immediately Amber's lush white bottom
scooted back and forth above her, blotting out the heavens, shivering as it
ground into her face... and wedged her nose into its butt.

The odor wasn't the best but Jessica snickered as she realized it was the only
way she'd be getting in the wrong hole.

'Again'?

Why hadn't she thought 'again?'

She snickered a second time.

As she started to suckle her lover's slender needle, Amber's shuddering torso
came down between her thighs like a felled tree. Trembling hands wrapped her
ankles, weakly nudging them wider as the orgasm surged through the short woman
and rattled the cave with her soft soprano cries.

A gust of sand splattered the redhead's face as she sighed and caught her
breath. Her drained knuckles brushed the clumpy granules away and she finally
started to work on her lover, licking cautiously while her strength returned,
ever mindful of the invisible perimeter formed by Jimmy's sweet fluids.

The fleshy vaginal ring fenced the bulk of its creamy depths from view, save
for a shiny, narrow hint that vanished into her whispy pubes. But she could
smell him... the totality of his strong, tall essence tucked safely away and
it seemed to weld her love for Jessica into one mind.

Jessica sighed and did her best to drowned her own moans in Amber's wet folds.
In an act of repentance more than trust, the sandy brunette set the bottle
away and filled her hands with Amber's luscious rear, slowly plying it
together and apart. Her companion purred in approval as Jessica hooked two
digits into her warm, moist chamber and slowly stretched it.

Amber's own delicate fingers drifted up and spread aside more of her lips and
bronzed fur. She clamped down on Jessica's frail bud and tenderly nursed,
bringing her to almost instant ecstasy.

The shivers rolled through her once more, taking their own sweet time.

She knew she would never understand the clock. It was more complicated, though
Jimmy's had sometimes mystified even him. The feminine variety was all the
more finicky.

Jessica sighed happy in her ignorance as Amber's warmth departed her again,
leaving her wet fingers flopping out like abandoned children on her chest.

The orgasm was sweet like they all were, but it was a tad lonelier without
penetration.

Jessica sighed again and watched Amber kick back just as she'd done herself.
She grinned at the blood flooding her lover's torso and carefully passed the
half-filled vial to her waiting hand. Her blue eyes lingered affectionately on
her while Amber positioned the cup over her split-open thighs and let the last
earthly bits of Jim Bob Baker drool into her.

Amber tapped it out against one of her lips and examined with some frustration
the white still coating the bottom of the flask.

"Why don't you just put the whole thing in?" Jessica suggested.

Amber chewed her lip thinking about it.

"No," she finally replied. "Most of it's in, anyway. It might make the bottom
of my vagina bigger than the rest and I don't think that would be good... I
wish there was some cap, though, don't you?" Her neck turned with some
discomfort and she glanced at Jessica seriously. "You know? Something you
could twist on your pussy to make it hold stuff in."

Jessica shrugged. "Even babies don't stay in forever," she reminded her with a
touch of irony.

Both girls laughed.

Amber's flushed breasts shook around her chin like charms on a necklace,
getting Jessica more than a little aroused with their fleshy joviality.

Hers had felt nice in that position too. The undersides kind of itched
sweetly...

And of course the view between her lover's legs was priceless, now that she
finally thought about it... that dark shadowed curve...

"Your breasts look sexy like that. Especially the way they get red. Just like
two ripe pears."

"Good." Amber smiled. "It's nice when they kind of move around like this too."
She waved her bottom back and forth and her boobs followed loyally, making the
nipples shrivel just a bit. "But what are pears?"

"Fruit. Like apples, but softer and sweeter."

"Really? I wish we had some then."

"I guess your breasts will have to do." Amber laughed. "Go on and get
comfortable again. Trust me. It's not going anywhere except into you now...
Jimmy never did miss a chance to get into some pussy."

Jessica snickered back at her and pinched one of the fatty folds in her
lover's side. Then she straightened out the towel and did her best to fluff
the pillows. The wool in them was still fairly lumpy and hard to direct, but
it beat leaving an impression in the hard wet sand.

With a bit of awkwardness, Amber lowered herself back to the earth and settled
into their care. Her curls took a moment to soak up the redness from her fair
skin. And suddenly, quick as a wink it was gone, evaporated like vapors.

Jessica gave her head a chance to clear and then wiggled her magic fingers
again. "Want to?" she asked quietly.

"Sure."

Amber glided her hand into Jessica's chestnut bush and she reciprocated.

They spread one another's folds and lightly wheedled the tender nub they
uncovered at the peak. Each cupped her own breast, ardently fondling a nipple.
Then both women turned together, hips still anchored to the sky and gazed
longingly into the other's doelike eyes, wishing they could reach out and
touch their lover more.

They kissed each other with their delighted expressions, bashfully sucking
first one lip, then the other whenever the pleasurable tingles diverted their
attention.

---

Jessica scratched her pussy.

Was the itch this bad for all of Jimmy's list?

"So how long do we lie here? I never really found that out."

"It takes a few hours to get all the way in and dry. Some of it will still
stay in if you get up but- "

"Why take chances?"

"Yes."

"Jimmy always did lose at poker." Amber snickered. "I suppose I will too."

"Poke-her was more his game."

"Not today," Jessica frowned. "Not today..."

She flipped the empty vial over a few times with her thumb, carefully avoiding
the residue.

It looked like an ordinary item you'd find in any science lab... which made it
a real prize here. Funny. You always expected to stumble across gold or silver
buried on an island but even if you did, so what? It was the most common
things that ended up having the most value.

She peered in the bottom.

Get rid of the grooves around the lip and it was just the right size for a
shot glass. The end of it was thick enough to distort things just right.

Then Jessica did the strangest thing.

She licked it.

"How is it?"

"A bit salty." She hoped it wasn't from seawater leaking in. "I like the odor
for some reason." She offered Amber the flask. "Something's not right,
though." How would she know that? "It has a sweet aftertaste."

"I know." Amber responded with a soft smile. "It was just for that day." She
refused it, pushing back on Jessica's hand. "You go on and enjoy it. It's
close enough. I want to remember the musky way he was supposed to be."

Jessica held it to her mouth again. Her tongue pressed flat against the base
and burgeoned along the clear walls as she rotated the cup. In two or three
seconds it was all gone.

She tried, but she couldn't quite swallow all of the slimy coating. It stuck
to her tongue for some reason, though it didn't affect her speech noticeably.

"Besides," Amber continued with a keen eye of her lover's expression, "it's
more of a thrill when it's hot and moving... spurting out, you know? It's...
it's really kind of wonderful when a man does that. Special. It's the seeds of
life..." She sighed. "We're just some little field they plow... But a man's
passion makes something... and when he gives it up to you..." Amber stopped
but the wistful tone still lingered on her breath.

Jessica shrugged. "I don't know. With any luck we'll both make something."

"Yes... yes, I forgot. Sorry to wander off on you."

"No. It's... I like it. I always said you could tell me about others whenever
you needed to. I'd still like you to."

She gave up a distant laugh. "I forgot that... I think I will. Thank you." She
sucked on a lip. "I think I was wrong about blow jobs... I'm sorry I acted
that way about them..."

"He knew."

"Really?" Amber glanced across at her. "Good. It's nice to know."

Jessica looked the empty container over.

"Um. My stuff from that day. His stuff. Our stuff. Hell, this stuff." Jessica
tapped the drained vial. "Did you... was this the only use you made of it? I
made an awful lot that day and..."

"Yeah. You got suspicious from me sucking you off didn't you?"

"Well... it was a lot." She still couldn't believe it. It was almost
disgusting to see that stuff shooting out of her groin... Odd. It wasn't when
she reviewed Jimmy's memories of sex. "What really got to me was... Well, I
got kind of depressed... maybe it was Jimmy... because I thought you didn't
think penetration was good enough for you or something..."

"No," Amber moaned. "I'm so sorry. I was putting it in a can under the bed.
It's, um... quite valuable. Don't take offense." She placed a caring hand on
Jessica's chest. "Plenty of women wanted boys, more than you'll ever know
but... some women want girls too and... it's the only time you can be sure
about that sort of thing."

"Why didn't you just ask?" Jessica said, taking stock of the lichen covered
rocks on the ceiling.

"I didn't want you getting suspicious about the grotto or... having to worry
about other women. I didn't want it on your mind. I thought if... Jimmy
figured it out he might get lonely and think we only wanted girl babies..."

"No... He wasn't happy that day for a lot of reasons... but he would have
given you what you wanted. You know that. He always did."

"Yes. He had a big heart."

"Even if he didn't have a big pecker in the end."

"I know," Amber whispered. "I hated seeing that happen to him... it eats away
at every proud body... it's so horrible..." She sighed. "Was it very bad for
him? He hid some of his emotions so well from me."

"Yes."

Amber was good at hiding those things too.

Jessica closed her eyes and focused on more immediate sensations.

In addition to greatly warming her loins, the ecstatic spasms seemed to cough
a little more of him forward, oddly enough.

Or was it just her imagination?

She could feel the little fellows moving around, slowly sliding back into the
darkness until they were nothing more than a tickle deep inside her. A
comforting brook...

They knew where to go, right? Jimmy never worried about that part.

She kept wondering if there wasn't something more she was supposed to do. Was
Amber right about just being some field? She felt useless right now.

And strangely loved.

She listened a little longer to the sluggish stream of life flowing within
her.

"What's it- " Jessica was quite a moment. "What's it- " She stopped again and
faced Amber. "Can I ask you a question?"

"Sure, love."

"It's kind of intimate."

"We're intimate, aren't we?"

"I guess. I just..."

"What is it?"

She let out a long sigh and turned a bit more, shifting in the sand. "What's
it like making love with a man?"

"Hm." Amber thought a moment as she scanned the dark rocks above. "I can't
speak for others, but... for me, it was the most beautiful thing in the
world." She stroked Jessica's cheek.

"I.... I can't compare?"

"That *was* you, love."

"I know." Her lip pouted down. "I don't make you feel the same things?"

"I feel the same joy and love... but not in the same way."

"Am I missing anything?"

Amber stared at her a moment trying to understand how she meant it.

"Not being with a man?"

"Yes."

"We both are, I think."

"Jimmy always said you could... could close your eyes and he'd still be there
for you. He made you promise."

"What do you want me to do?"

"I'd... like it if you did. Then at least one of us could."

"Can't you look back on the joy you had with me as a man?"

"Jimmy's?... Yeah. It's still there." She kissed Amber's hand. "It's why I
asked, I suppose."

"I'm very happy. Then and now. Does that count?"

"Of course."

"You know..." Amber caressed her arm. "Jimmy used to ask a lot of questions he
knew he wouldn't like the answers to."

"And you always said the right thing. It's why I'm here."

She cracked a smile. "So what's it like being a man?" They both giggled. Amber
prodded her with a nail. "So?" she demanded. "Will you ever tell me? Or are
you just going to get me back by making *me* jealous *too*?"

"No. I'll tell you... but it'll have to be an even trade."

"What?"

"Mmmmmm how about... you tell me what you loved about him and I'll tell you
what he loved?"

"Perfect."


"I'm still dribbling a bit."

"You will," Amber said.

She'd first noticed it in the boat as home came into sight. A spot between her
legs. A little wetter than the others. She almost mistaked it for sweat until
she took a peek in her brownish curls.

There it was. A thin pearly stream slowly made its way for the crack in her
ass. Some last bit of maleness trying to escape her.

And Jimmy would want it to get away. He always wiped the stuff off. The sight
of it on his stomach hairs or lower made him antsy, like the leftovers of a
wet sneeze. She could still remember his disgust that beautiful melodic
morning as he looked down at himself and backed away from the window.

She'd probably be the same on a day to day basis if she'd married him.

But not today.

"So what did you want to do?" asked the redhead.

"Do? Oh. I hadn't thought about it. Could we eat first? I'm starved."

"Sure." Amber peeked out the front door.

"That was kind of her." Rachel had left a basket of treats on the step.

"Yes it was. I think she wants us to rest today... or you at least. I guess it
applies to me now too."

Amber pulled a stick of bread out and brought the rest of it in, setting it on
the table. Jessica sat beside her, uncomfortably eyeing her lap.

"Um... He's on the move again... only slower now. You sure that's all right?"
It was making a slight stain on her toga, not that she minded that for some
reason.

"Sure." Amber bit into the bread and offered some to Jessica, then thought a
moment as she chewed. "We'll, uh... let's lay down a minute. Would you like
to?"

"Eat in bed?"

"Just this once. I don't see it will hurt anything." She smirked and shook the
loaf of bread in her direction. "Just don't wiggle your fingers at me."

Jessica giggled as she took her robe off. "I hope you don't take this the
wrong way but... I *really* don't want to have sex four times a day anymore."

"*You* don't want?" Amber chuckled at her and swallowed her mouthful.

"Yeah." Jessica pulled the bed sheet back. "It made Jimmy irritable. Me too I
think... It's strange that we'd both have that in common."

"What about what *I* want?"

Jessica frowned as she adjusted the pillows. "*You'd* better not want it
either."

"My tongue would get tired," Amber complained. "Men are so much easier to
please."

"Yeah," Jessica sighed, crawling on the luscious hides. "But there's never one
around when you want him."

They burst out in giggles.

Jessica shook a disapproving finger at the crumbs Amber sputtered on the
mattress and brushed them away. "Come on." She patted the pillow beside her
and then parted her legs to chase some of the fluids back inside. "Mm." The
tall girl licked her pinky. "He's starting to ferment."

"Well you better enjoy it. Last night was the last ale you'll have for a
while."

"I know." Amber's bare bottom climbed in next to her and as her thighs briefly
spread, Jessica caught a hint of the same milky droplets nestled in her
lover's bush. "I'd rather be sober than drunk and spayed."

"What's 'spayed' mean?" Amber hauled the basket up and rested it on their
stomachs.

"Don't worry about it."

"Sexless, you mean?"

"Sort of." Jessica took out an apple. No more old dates, thank goodness.

"That was so horrible."

"I know. The worst part of it was how much I didn't know how horrible it was
at the time."

Amber pinched her. "I told you my tongue is good."

"No. That- " She dropped the subject. "It's very good. I knew talking wasn't
the only thing you could do with it." Her blowjobs had been exquisite too, but
so much of that had to do with her enthusiasm.

Something else about Jimmy was still hanging around, though. Not just memories
of Amber's mouth.

Jessica reached over again for a strip of beef and felt another tickle under
her arm.

Jimmy was still there.

She rested the dark morsel between her breasts and tugged at the unsightly
nest of wires.

"I *have* to get rid of this stuff under my arms. It's so ugly... What? It'll
magically regrow or something?"

"No, not at all. It certainly grows on its own, but... it's not that ugly, I
don't think. I've always liked a natural woman."

"You do?"

"Yes. I think you're pretty. Why? What do you like?"

It suddenly occurred to her that she'd never shaved her armpits. Shaved
anything for that matter. Of course, thanks to Jimmy she could guide a blade
easily enough across her chin... if she *had* to...

And now she'd inherited his tastes in femininity. She didn't like body hair.

Had she 'inherited' that? Was that his fault? Should she blame him?

Plenty of women didn't like it. She could be one of those, couldn't she? For
independent reasons? She couldn't always be dragging him in when she wasn't
sure of herself. Some of her faults had to be her own... No, that wasn't it.
Not liking hair wasn't a fault. They could share tastes too, couldn't they? He
didn't have to be like one of those husbands who stole everything from her.
They could be hers too.

Why was she thinking this way? Thinking about fishing or other hobbies
certainly didn't force her to draw a division. She could be Jimmy then too...

The world had another one of its aftershocks.

"Are you OK?"

"Yeah."

Amber giggled. "I don't have to like hair if it makes you that sick. I can
keep shaving."

"No. It's not that. I- "

Amber patted her arm. "I know what it was." She kissed her cheek. "Sometimes
you and Jimmy bump into each other. I understand."

"Is that what it is?"

"So would it be OK with you if I stopped shaving my legs? The hairs wouldn't
get very long." Her lip twitched. "Unless you wanted to shave yours too. I
think they're nice as they are."

Jessica took a bite of the juicy red apple and scanned her thighs. They *were*
covered in thin hairs. Not much, but enough to bother her. Had the part of
Jimmy inside her not noticed until now? Or were they just so busy with
everything else? "Don't all of you shave?"

"*Us*? Some of *us*?" She needled Jessica. "Some of us do, yes. The rest did
it for Jimmy, really. Rachel said he'd prefer us that way. Of course she's one
of the ones who likes to shave anyway... but was she right? Is that what you
prefer?"

"He did. I don't know." She thought about the lesson with Michelle and her
knife. "Can you do it for me?"

"Sure. If you want me to."

"I want to see if I like it first before deciding."

"Oh. On you? That's perfectly understandable. I'll show you. Sure." Some
trepidation appeared in Amber's voice. "Would you... If you like I guess you
can practice on me too if you want. Or did you want me to grow it out?"

"It's funny." Jessica laughed and sank her teeth into the fruit. "I know in
the back of my mind it's something Jimmy would want to do for you. And for
some reason I want to do it even more than he did, only strangely... it's not
as sexual, you know?"

"Yes. I- " Amber stuttered a moment as she munched on the chewy beef, then
quietly cupped Jessica's jaw while it pounced up and down. "I- ." She
swallowed again and brushed her thumb along the brunette's cheek as the apple
traveled down her fair throat. "I always wanted to shave Jimmy's beard."

"Really? He wanted you to, you know. He didn't trust Michelle and he knew you
of all people wouldn't cut him." She sighed and took Amber's hand into her
own. "You should have asked. I'm sorry I can't give you the same thing now."

"I know." They kissed briefly.

Jessica tasted the beef on her tongue and finally remembered what she'd set on
her chest.

Ironically, Amber reached in the basket for an apple of her own.

Jessica pinched the redhead and shot her a risque grin. "You can shave my
crotch if you like... That's one thing he wouldn't let you do."

"Really? You wouldn't mind missing the hair? They say it itches."

"No. Go ahead. Jimmy always liked it."

"You want me to shave mine too?"

Jessica gnawed at the beef a moment before pointing the half-eaten stem in her
direction. "You know... For some reason I don't... I mean unless you want to.
It just... It just doesn't matter a whole lot to me. At least down there...
although I don't know. I could get used to you having hairy legs if you want."

"No. It's no trouble to shave them for you. I want to be attractive to you."

"Me too." Jessica sighed and knitted her brow while she gazed at a plank in
the wall. "Of course I'd like to shave first... just to try it, you
understand."

"Sure."

"But what do you prefer?"

"Whatever you like."

Jessica groaned.

Amber rolled her eyes as she tore off another piece of bread.

"*Don't* say," Jessica griped, shifting to a squeaky voice, "'You're going to
pinch me no matter what.'"

"Honestly. None of it matters to me. It's just hair." She shook one of her
flaming curls at her. "Cut these if you like. All I want is to be with you."

"OH! I'd never cut those! They're too beautiful..." She kissed her on the
forehead.

Amber brushed the wet crumbs off her brow. "Love is messy," she complained.

"Hm. Must be love. You bitched about the same thing to Jimmy."

"You!"

---

"Huh?... Wha- Amber." Jessica yawned. "Don't go." She squeezed her arm.

"I have to pee." She gave her sleepy lover a kiss and broke away. "I'll be
back in a minute."

"Don't let him drip," she said groggily.

Jessica yawned again and stretched until her elbows shook.

But the images were still in her mind.

How long was Amber gone?

She was doing something at the table now. Had she gone out? Yeah. She could
remember the door swinging open a second time.

"Mm. Just lie with me some? Don't complain about nothing to do."

Amber chuckled. "Sure." She stopped cleaning the basket, plopped back down on
her warm pillow, and resumed staring at the ceiling that had put her to sleep
an hour ago.

Jessica yawned again. "It's the first nap I've had where nothing has
changed... well, assuming I didn't conceive. I guess that's a change I'd
really look forward to." She sighed and let her hand fall back to her head,
palm up. Her eyes darted to Amber and then back to the wooden nothing above
them.

"Is something troubling you?" She didn't seem as jovial as lunch.

"A dream I had. A lot of dreams. I don't know."

"What was it?"

"I... have these women's pictures in my head and I can't get rid of them. All
their private parts Jimmy looked at. I feel like I'm cheating on you." Jessica
chewed on her mouth as her eyes watered.

"Don't worry about it," Amber said non-chalantly, stroking one of her hips
that the pillow thrust so proudly in the air. "Men find different things sexy,
they say, and sometimes that old stuff just comes bubbling back up."

"I mean... I mean I like the way yours look. I love it, but... I don't have
this desire to see every bit of female anatomy he did. I feel like a pervert."

"You and Rachel," she giggled lightly. "No. Relax. Your mind's just trying to
work out what to do with the two people inside it. I don't feel like you're
cheating on me. I didn't feel that way when Jimmy slept with all those women.
He knew that too." Her soothing palm drifted further down, and came to a rest
on Jessica's thigh. "I was happy he could have his fun while helping everyone
else out." She turned and saw the worry on Jessica's face which for some
reason made her snicker. "I know you're not going to go out and look at other
women's breasts with the same fascination he did. You don't have to let it go.
He was a part of you you can be proud of. And now when it comes to those
things, you're a little different. So?"

"So if I don't look at other women's breasts, you won't think I don't like
yours?"

"Of course not. I'm sure if Jimmy had stayed and we'd married, he'd have
changed that way too. It's inevitable when you're close to someone. If he
didn't it still might be OK."

"Did you change that way?"

"Mmm? Some, I guess. There's always been something mildly attractive and
comforting about the shape of other bosoms."

"But not like for Jimmy?"

"Heavens, no." She patted Jessica's knee. "I like yours because they're
attached to you and they make you feel good. Men... I think men just like
looking at things more... or maybe because they don't have them? Hm. I don't
know. Penises certainly are- Well you'd know. Is that right?"

"I suppose so. I guess that's what's bothering me. All those images he saved
away, that are now leftover..." The *way* they were saved... and where...

Amber kissed her. "Cherish them. They're who you were."

"Really?"

"Don't let them bother you. Remember them like he would have enjoyed...
unless. Oh. Did they bother him, do you think? Was that why there's guilt in
your mind?"

"Some... some, yes. I think so. Well maybe some of it's mine too..."

"Tell him not to worry," Amber sighed. "It's just boobs and ass. I've seen
plenty in my life, young and old. I'm not going to be like Lucia, slapping you
on the butt every time your eye strays." She kissed Jessica's shoulder. "Women
are pretty. They're meant to be at least looked at. Here more than any other
place. Give yourself up to it." She chuckled. "Though after last month, Jimmy
should have such a huge catalog in his head, your eye shouldn't have to
stray."

Jessica shook in laughter with her. "OK. If it keeps *me* faithful letting
*him* daydream..." she said with a pinch.

"Well... but what do *you* think?" Amber sat up on her elbows, causing her
breasts to sway sweetly, and pressed two fingers into Jessica's navel. "What
do *you* see in your head?"

She grinned disgracefully. "Did you like the way his butt looked?"

"Yeah I did." Amber tittered. "How'd you- "

"I see him standing in front of the mirror and... I know it's me, which is all
the more confusing but... it's one of the places my eyes drift on his body...
funny. He never did that but I do when I look back..." Her voice shot up.
"Does that mean you don't like the butt I have now?" Her head spun toward
Amber.

"It's very beautiful for a woman. All the women are beautiful here."

"But it doesn't compare?"

"Not in that way. But... like you, there are things I like about both sexes.
Your body turns me on. Does it have to be because of the same things?"

"No. I guess not..." She scowled. "Is it- "

"It's just as much... though obviously not quite the same." Amber stroked her
thigh again. "I'm sure your feelings for me in bed are different now too. I'd
like to think you can close your eyes and enjoy the way you had me as a man. I
do." Jessica pursed her lips. "It's *not* cheating," Amber emphasized. "It was
you I loved. It still is."

"I know. I'm just a little jealous."

"*Why*? I'm not with someone else. We talked about this before."

"That's not what I'm saying. I mean... I see him in those memories and
sometimes.... *I* want to have him."

"Oh." There was a pregnant pause. Then Amber started to laugh. "They told me
to expect that but... I didn't think it would be so amusing when I heard it."
She reassured Jessica with another pat to the hip. "Don't worry. It will
pass."

"I see you under him and I want to be in your place..." she whispered. "Me...
under me?" Jessica bit her lip.

"I know, sweety. It's all right to feel that."

Jessica shifted from her lip to gnawing on a nail. Why did she feel compelled
to keep sharing these most intimate thoughts with Amber? "Most... most of me
is still here... I think. I see his face and it's like... I'm his sister. What
I said earlier about wanting to be the one under him... that's suddenly not
quite right anymore... in fact... sometimes it makes me dizzy. Or queasy like
incest- "

"Shh. I know. Try to... try to think of other men you've known. Don't confuse
yourself that way."

"You won't mind?"

"No. It's natural."

"Do you do that?" she asked.

"No. I've already had that... and now I have you."

"I'm sorry I- "

"There's nothing to say about it. It just is."

"I- "

"Because it troubles you is proof enough of your love... and I'm touched that
you trust me enough to share it. I'll understand about anything you want to
bring up. I know it's going to be difficult."

Amber turned like she was rolling out of bed.

"Don't," Jessica pleaded.

But Amber was just rattling under the frame again.

"I'm not leaving... here it is." Something crinkled in her hands. "Here.  I
know you've seen it already, but I haven't... well a little," she confessed.

"Really? Why not?"

Amber placed it in her hands and gestured for Jessica to tear open the
plastic. "I..." She frowned. "I wanted to but... I figured I could do it
later. I wanted to spend all the time I could with Jimmy."

Jessica pulled her companion's hand back over and between the two of them they
ripped the bag off.

"Oh. It wasn't because- " Jessica suddenly remembered the fellow in the middle
of the magazine and the ladies blushing around the table. "It wasn't that guy
in the middle was it?"

Amber shrugged. "He *was* the second naked man I'd ever seen... but I liked
the first better." She kissed Jessica. "I thought you might like to see him,
though. Sorry but he's the best I can do.   Did you..." Her hand trembled. "I
know Rachel said you might not like looking at it with me around. Do you want
me to go?"

Jessica giggled. "No. Stay with me. That wasn't what bothered Jimmy."

"No. She said it- OK. I'll stay."

Jessica plucked open the first page and leafed through the skimpy but glossy
table of contents.

'Contents.' Again she giggled. These things were silly.

"So you haven't looked through it before?"

"Well someone else showed me theirs," Amber explained. "Just flipped through
it to convince me to take a copy... maybe try to figure out how it could be
used to teach reading. It's the best thing we have in English... but no. I
mean I'll use it in class but I was waiting for you to show me."

"That's sweet."

"Actually..." Amber snickered, "it's a little more wicked than that." She
smirked playfully. "I though it could be fun for the both of us. A few of my
friends say it spiced up the bed."

"Oh? Lewd, are we? You want to treat women like sex objects, huh?"

"Sometimes. Don't you?"

Jessica chuckled, finding it hard to argue with her logic. She flipped slowly
through the pages, silently trying to lose her guilt about being turned on by
all the luscious female flesh. It really was sexy. Pretty, even, like she'd
heard the other girls mentioning that day.

And Amber seemed comfortable enough with it. Her eyes got big when Jessica's
did. They lingered over the same pages. On the same lacy bras. She looked
happy. Almost frisky, even...

"Honestly!" Amber slapped her knuckles. "And you complain about *my* slow
hand," she cracked, flipping straight to the middle. "59... 60... 62. There!"
She thumped the page.

There it was.

The muscle-bound lifeguard, stripped to his ankles by a lusty beach bimbo. His
large, thick column of meat curving up to taunt her hungry lips.

Jessica knew where she wanted it to go...

Goodness.

ItÊinstantly moistened her loins.

Rachel had said some things would get a strange new gloss.

Should she go back to the archive and look at Time again?

"Zeus, he's huge. How could such a thing fit?" Amber's voice dropped to a
concerned whisper. "Wouldn't it hurt?"

"He's certainly hung like a horse." His balls were big too.

"What's a- Oh. Are they large animals or something? Down there..."

"I don't know. It's just an expression."

"He'd put some bulls to shame, that's certain."

The room echoed with giggles.

"You know, Jimmy used to wish his was larger like that. But I think you're
right. It would be painful. It's nice to look at but... more than I could eat,
you know?"

"Really? Why would Jimmy think that? His worked so well."

Jessica shrugged, feeling a strange bit of pride at Amber's compliment. "I
don't know. It's a man thing, I guess. Like getting jealous over Andrea's
breasts."

"Oh... Does it make more sperm or something?" Amber asked, her pinky
skittishly tracing his manhood. "Andrea's probably going to be a human cow
like her mother."

"She is?... No. I don't think it does. It's just bigger... I'd have heard if
it did... wouldn't I?" Didn't some men make more?... But size surely wasn't a
factor...

She looked his furry balls over, wishing she could caress them in her palms.
They were so big... and probably heavy...

She smirked. They weren't the only big things on the page. Jessica leered at
the huge melons on the beach blonde and thumped the close up panel of her
spread open twat, giggling at the size of her printed clit.

Where was that box with her magnifying glass?

She felt like spreading her own legs... but Amber would probably smirk back at
her and say something like "So what? That thing makes everything look big."

"What's so funny about her?" Amber asked. Her eyes jumped to one of the
smaller panels where the model seemed to twirl her top at the reader. Did it
remind Jessica of one of the palace dancers, somehow frozen in time?

"It's not her," Jessica chuckled. "It's just I- Jimmy never thought he'd be
looking at it this way with you... I guess he's not, really. This part is all
me... Except the gir- I mean, except when- "

"The girls are pretty too. I know. Don't worry about that." Amber placed her
hand on top of Jessica's and shadowed the stacked beauty's figure. "She does
have lovely breasts... but you can't cheat with something that's not alive."
Her fingernail made a soft trail through the tiny hairs on Jessica's arm,
slowly, seductively sliding up to her shoulders and chin. With her thumb, she
turned Jessica's attention back to the man on the page.

Amber pinched the paper into a sensuous, shiny curve and moved on to the next
scene, smoothing out the life-sized image of the man's monumental prick. The
massive shaft dangled there in suspense, its long ridges of veins perfectly
visible... if only those red nails weren't wrapped around it...

But wouldn't hers be?

What did it feel like... really feel like? Not resting in Jimmy's hands, but
in hers... stroking that smooth, engorged helmet.

Her gaze fell on the woman's vivid, gaping pussy... the open, waiting orifice
just inches from his member, offered unconditionally to him... those
glistening lips which almost seemed to smile like the woman's hungry, inviting
face in the adjoining panel.

Her hand rested dangerously close to her hip.

Jessica lifted it back to the page and crinkled the edge. She paused and
watched Amber.

The redhead took the magazine and craddled its spine in the joint of their
raised thighs, pinching the left edge with her knees.

"Go on..." Amber nudged her. "I know it gives you a tingle. It gives me one
too..."

---

Jessica stood helpless by their table, looking like Melissa must have after
she'd taken Jimmy's seed.

Did Amber find such incompetence charming too?

It didn't feel that way to her now. What planet was Jimmy from?

"It's itching like crazy," she gasped, rubbing her frustrated fingertips
though the supple skin down to the bone. "What do I do?"

"Come. Let's go to the stream. It's been a while since either of us bathed."

"I know," she whined in agreement. Then she realized just how long it *had*
been. The rest of her didn't itch like this. "Why don't I- ?"

"You can't get that icky on the island, remember?" Amber replied, reading the
question in her face. "You'll always be beautiful. But the grime sticks to you
during the day and... well Jimmy was never immune to being icky, if you know
what I mean." She pointed suggestively at her lover's wood-colored crotch. "He
still isn't."

Jessica squeezed her soft vulva together and used their silky touch to massage
her inner lips, finally sighing in relief.

She spread her feet a bit more.

"Are you sure?" she asked. "It won't wash him out of me, will it? I want to
keep it."

"We're not going to wash inside. Just the outside. Even if it does... Rachel
says nature makes it easy to stick to you. Your body's like one of those ice-
chests, only you'll keep him alive much longer. Perhaps even long enough for
you to both live on together in another."

"I hope so. Still..." She ran through her chestnut fluff, straightening out
the kinks. "Mmm," she whimpered. "I'll put up with it, I guess." She closed
her thighs and rocked back and forth.

Thank goodness there weren't more flies on the island.

"Well I'm bathing. And I'm telling you... don't scratch," Amber warned her.
"There's sensitive stuff down there. It doesn't like being raw, even if it's
just a day or two..."

"You go. I'll be fine. Promise."

---

"Jessica?" "Jessica?"

They were getting louder now.

"Jessica?"

"Out here."

"Where?"

"Follow my voice."

"What are you doing out here?"

"I couldn't sleep. I guess the nap was too long... Funny. You know I don't
think I've been up at this hour since I got here."

"It's well past midnight, isn't it?"

"Yeah. I think so."

"Come back to bed." She was on the deck now, judging from the sound of her
voice.

"You know they really bite at this hour?"

"What?"

"Fish of course."

Did it have something to do with the tides, she wondered. Perhaps only when it
got very dark like this and the moon was a sliver.

The moon.

She'd never seen it at this time of night. Not on the island, anyway. She had
plenty of other places.

She almost enjoyed looking at it again. It didn't seem like such a nemesis
sitting there beside the mountain.

Perhaps it would later.

There were so many reasons it could...

Leaves crunched under foot.

"No," Jessica shouted, reeling her line back in. "Don't come down. I'll come
up." She sighed and walked into the waves to wash the caked sand from her
feet. With a flick of her wrist, she wound the last coil of line and hauled
the empty hook up.

She trudged back through the narrow trail she'd carved out the other day,
trying not to get scratched again by all the stray branches she'd missed.
She'd forgotten how picky a woman's body could be about such things.

And even if the scratches didn't last, they still weren't pleasant.

"You weren't cold like that?" Amber tried to share her blanket.

"You keep it. I'm fine."

Amber yawned again. "I can keep you warm... or did you forget like I once
did?"

"No. I just... I just don't feel very cold tonight. Something... I don't know
what it is."

"I'm very tired, love. Can we please go to bed?"

"Oh. I forgot you stayed up last night." Jessica gave her a kiss. "You go on
back and get some rest."

"Keep me company?" she asked sleepily.

"In a minute."

"Well I'll keep you company a while then." They sat together on the bench
Antonia had carved for them and listened to the drone of the crickets.

"Are you tired?"

"Yes. But I'll be fine. Don't worry."

"How much did you sleep last night?"

"Three or four hours, I guess."

"Really? There weren't any bags under your eyes. Sorry. I didn't realize
yesterday. You must have- "

"Bags?..." Her chin nodded up a bit and she squinted at Jessica. "Oh. Those
dark things?" She drew a horseshoe under an eye. "We don't get those. It's not
attractive, I don't guess. Like I've told you before, we don't change much...
except for age..."

"Really? I used to think there was something attractive about a woman who
looked harried like that. Had those sad, sagging eyes. You know?"

"I can paint them if you'd like." She yawned again.

"No. Don't... You're right of course, you're beautiful even when you don't try
to be."

Amber smiled politely at her. "So where are your fish?"

"Oh." Jessica chuckled and turned to the moon again. "I kept throwing them
back in... I guess maybe I'm not such a great fisherwoman- that sounds so
stupid, doesn't it? 'Fisherwoman.' Can I still be a fisherman?  It's not
insulting is it?... Why am I asking? I'm a woman. I ought to be able to decide
that for myself... no. I like being a fisherman. You don't mind calling me
that, do you?"

"No," she replied. "I don't have a problem calling you a fisherman."

She stirred up Amber's fiery curls. They blazed even in this dim light.
"Thanks, my little firefly."

"Uhp. I could see that coming through a forest of trees." Jessica said it
again in greek. "Thank you. You're getting much better."

"Well I have a good teacher." She stroked Amber's neck. "I guess maybe I'm not
that great of a fisherman. Maybe it was the same stupid fish I kept catching
those four or five times. You think? Oh well..."

"It would be hard to tell, it's so dark. How did you even manage?"

Jessica stared at the thin silver crest again.

"My eyes got used to it... You know I think I can see better now... better
than Jimmy, I mean." She rested her forehead in her hands. "It's happening
again... No. It's gone." She glanced up at her hands. "Maybe it was nothing."

She was still wearing the gloves.

She must be quite a sight. A tall, beautiful goddess walking naked on the
beach, save for her gloves and an invisible spool of wire with a shiny hook in
the end.

It must have been a dumb fish to bite without any bait.

"He finally dried." Jessica blinked. "I can't feel him anymore."

"Good," Amber comforted her. "It is good?... Right?" Her head lolled drowsily.

"I guess."

Jessica stared blankly at invisible source of the periodic roaring.

Was tide coming in?

Or going out?

She couldn't remember where the ocean level was when she first went down to
the beach. It was too dark to see.

Amber straightened up and blinked at the night with Jessica. "Do you feel the
same personally?" she asked.

"I think maybe... Maybe I want to let others make more decisions... more than
Jimmy did before he got here. I think maybe... I'm more comfortable with
letting others take the initiative more. I don't know."

"There aren't many decisions to make here. You won't notice the difference."
Amber yawned again. "It's a sleepy place. Most of the time."

"Yes... most of the time. Sorry. Why don't you- "

"No. I like this kind of talking... It's the stuff the night was made for. You
can say things you couldn't otherwise. Everything else is silent."

"Except the crickets."

"Except for the crickets." She sighed. "I'm sorry Jimmy missed so much of
it... so much of this part of the night. It's nice."

"I didn't miss out." She kissed Amber. "I have it whenever you're around."

"He's still here with me?"

"Sometimes... A lot of the times." Her hand drifted down to warm Amber's bare
thigh. "Right now he is... We are." Jessica gave her a pat on the knee. "You
were right. I didn't die."

"Jimmy?"

Jessica responded, but only with mild courtesy. "Sorry. Not that time. Not the
name. I'm still Jessica." She sighed again, her brow furrowing as her blue
eyes stabbed into the darkness. "I'm... I know who he is and I'm not him... in
parts. Like right then. With the name. And then it's like he's invisible
again. Hiding somewhere behind me. I can't see him."

Amber poked her with a mildly encouraging finger. "That *is* him, silly. It's
you. That's why you can't see him."

"Oh." She turned. "But 'he's a 'she' then, right?"

"Right."

"Oh. I knew that." Her mind started to drift off to slumber with Amber's. Her
hands wandered to the banister for support. "Ah!" She gripped it firmly.

"What?" Just when the stars had started twinkling again for Amber...

"For a moment... for a moment there... I didn't feel like a broken mirror
inside."

"Good."

"I really like fishing." She frowned. "Though I wish his gloves fit me
better." She looked them over front and back. "My gloves?" she wondered. Why
would she own gloves so big? They used to fit.

"I'll make you a pair that fit better."

"Thanks love... can I still keep these?"

"Of course. They wouldn't fit anyone else." Amber tried to giggle but it came
out as a lazy snort.

"Not for a while..." Jessica sighed and rested her head again on her
outstretched arms.

Amber straightened beside her and scanned the skies, chin in hand. "Can I ask
you something?"

"What, Amber?" Jessica blinked and tried to focus on the wooden floor as her
head drooped.

"Those dark nights, under the new moon. What were they like? Being that way, I
mean. During the day."

"I don't like to think about them."

"Why?"

"It's... I know I'm not supposed to be Jimmy, even though he's me and all
that. I feel him right now." Jessica yawned and it skipped over to Amber. "I
don't want to be a man again... but I know if Jimmy was here he would. And
I'd... I'd probably give my life for him because it wasn't fair to him in the
first place. But... when I think about those days all I know is that I wasn't
supposed to be like that at all. It was neither of us. Jimmy didn't know where
to go and neither did I. There was no real me yet either. I suppose I was in
the middle of being born. Every part of my body I looked at... I knew it
wasn't supposed to be."

"That day... that one day wasn't very pleasurable like they say?"

"Oh." Jessica sat back and blushed.

"What?"

"It was... it was incredible. Like I knew what it was to be both at the same
time. The best of each was mixed together like a gift. But that... that thing
sticking out from me. I hardly knew what to do to you with it. And it made
such a mess. It was sort of *embarrassing*," she whispered. "Even more now
that I think about it. I mean... I like my pussy. Don't you?... and then when
I didn't have anything at all... the next morning..." A chill shot through
her. "That was *horrible*. No one should have to live like that. There's no
joy in the world... Even bees feel more."

"You mean..." Amber shivered as the breeze picked up and drew her blanket
tighter. "You mean when you look back and see what Jimmy put in- "

"Oh no. When I think of that it's like... Well it makes me... I don't know.
Dizzy sometimes. Sometimes I can even be him for a while but it's like being
in someone else's head at those moments. I mean it feels normal when I
remember you and him having sex. It's just not... not me. Well, parts of it
aren't." She stroked Amber's arm. "But it's very beautiful... and somewhere
inside I know it's mine... it's ours... you and me ours, not like that strange
day or two. I don't recoil. Neither does he." She cocked her eyebrows. "Does
that make sense?"

"Some."

"You know what magnets are?"

"Those little things in your compass that don't work right?"

"Yeah," Jessica laughed in revelation. "Yeah. That don't work right. Exactly
like those. That day... it was like two magnets that weren't supposed to be
together were mixed up."

"Oh. I think I know what you mean."

"But why do you ask about it?" Jessica folded an arm across her breast, stood
and offered Amber her other hand. "You don't usually ask about difficult
things like that."

"I just... I think I made a mistake about some things with Jimmy. And I didn't
want us to keep our feelings about hard things from each other."

"You didn't make a mistake. There just wasn't enough time." Jessica smiled ear
to ear. "And I hope you won't keep hard things from me... especially that pipe
of yours."

"Our pipe? No," Amber giggled. "But not tonight." She swatted Jessica's bottom
as they stood together in the night air. "You did it more than four times
today, you know. Is that what irritated you?"

"More?" Her eyes rolled up to the ceiling and she tapped them out. This
morning. The cave. The nap... "No. I count only three, actually."

Amber sputtered. "You can't even count your own orgasms. Jimmy really is
gone."

"Oh *those*..." Her eyes rolled again. She really couldn't count those either.
Was she supposed to? Amber kept gurgling at her. "What? I thought you meant
making love? So I forgot that- "

The redhead hugged her, nuzzling her shoulder sleepily. "I'm just teasing."
Amber took her hand and lead her back in.

Jessica left her breasts to the prickling touch of the air and reached between
her thighs. "He may be gone but the little bastard still itches." She pinched
at the velvety skin.

"I told you to take a bath with me..." Amber yawned as she crawled under the
sheets. "It's OK. I like the smell."

Jessica sniffed her fingers and was taken aback. "It is rather strong."

"I like it."

---

"Hey sleepyhead. Is the itch gone? I told you it would be when you woke up.
Everything bad usually is."

"Mm. Yeah. Mostly. Thanks for rubbing it with me." There was still a tickle
between her legs, somewhere inside her. She couldn't tell which part. But it
felt normal.

"Well it was either massage it for you or let you scratch yourself to death. I
said not to do that..."

"I know," Jessica sighed. "I'll learn, I'm sure."

"All it takes is once and you'll learn all right.... It is a nice part of the
body to touch, though," she said wistfully.

"Mmm. It is. It's very soft." Jessica opened her thighs and surveyed her more
tranquil privates. "Jimmy always liked running his fingers through one..."

"I know." Amber smiled. "Since he's all inside you now and not coming out for
at least nine months, how about... how about I run something else through
yours?" She walked to the side of the bed, still quite naked.

"What?" Jessica smirked.

"Would you like to try a little of the pipe this time? It's sturdier and I can
get more forceful with it... Would you like a little of that?"

"'Forceful.'" Jessica giggled.

Amber turned serious. "Did he really get, um, what's the word for it?-
'pissed' with me that day? About, um... being 'forceful'?"

"No," Jessica laughed. "Not once he got going... Were you really sorry you
asked?" She reached out and fingered the bottom of Amber's asshole.

"No... but once of that was enough," she said, pulling Jessica's offending
wrist up.

"Not even a little finger?"

"Well maybe a little finger..." she giggled. "*Not* any pipes."

Jessica watched the creamy mounds dangle from her lover's chest with a
comfortably familiar fascination. Auburn hair swirled around her head while
she knelt with a hand on the bedpost.

A white pipe came back up with her.

"Now don't get over-enthusiastic and poke this too far in me when it's my
turn," she cautioned. "I don't want any white fluid coming out..."

"It'll do that?" Jessica asked.

"Yes. If you go out of your way to disturb it. What's left has moved into your
womb by now... I can even wash you out if you like. I've got some vinegar
around here." Amber shook the tube at her.

"Mmm. No. I'm fine. Maybe in a few days... if I need it then."

Amber sat at Jessica's feet and pushed one of her knees back. "Don't worry.
The edges aren't rough." She winked. "I spent years smoothing them down."

"You!" Then curiosity got the better of her. "On you or someone else?"

"I'll never tell." Amber nipped the end of it with a steamy grin.

---

"Did you get the bread?"

"Yes."

"How was town?"

"OK, I guess. I didn't stay long."

"No? Why not?"

"Um... People didn't recognize me... at first. But then I guess I didn't
really run into anyone I knew very well."

"Well I'll need to take this basket in to Laura this afternoon once it's
finished. Would you mind going with me?"

"Not at all. It was a nice walk."

"Is something else wrong?"

Jessica frowned as she sat down next to Amber. "I can't understand
conversations now when I pass people on the street."

"They're speaking Greek again."

"I know. It's frustrating."

"Sorry."

"And then I think I hear your name or mine mentioned and I don't know what
they're saying."

"They talked to you in english, though, didn't they?"

"Well yes." Jessica sighed. "It's just- How long is it going to take to
learn?"

"A year. Maybe two. You'll pick it up quickly, like everything else you need
to know." Amber slapped her hand on the table. "Hey. I know. Would you like to
learn how to weave today?"

"Don't you have to work?"

"This is work."

"Oh. Well I don't want to bother you. I mean I love spending time with you but
if there's other stuff... I mean I'm sure there are other girls having to
learn to weave. Should I go with them? Take a class or something? I don't want
to be a special burden to anyone."

"Nonsense. Come on. I've promised someone a basket anyway... and I'll teach
you a few people's greek names too..."

"That's um... that's not what's really bothering me."

"I know." Amber set the project aside. "Who'd you run into?"

"Do you remember Vanessa?"

"I don't know her well but yes. In her 30s, isn't she?"

"Yes." Jessica put her other palm on the table, opened it and shoved two small
packages at Amber.

"What are they?"

"Tampax."

"Oh. Those things that washed ashore? The ones everybody fought about?"

"Yes... Go on. Take one."

"Oh no. You- "

"I said take one."

"OK." Amber picked it up and rolled it over in the light. "So I guess it's her
way of telling you she won't be needing them."

"Yes... She was quite ecstatic about it when she saw me."

"Well that's sweet. They say... they say that after the new moon sometimes
it's like a chorus every morning. Have you noticed it?" Amber asked, smiling.
"Come here." She tugged at Jessica's hand until she was obliged to get up and
sit in her lap while Amber caressed her thigh. "They say with some women it's
like watching a flower open up. She looks a bit nervous the first day she's
late," Amber whispered, almost seductively into her ear. "She worries if
nature's playing a joke on her. Her partner cuddles her all day with an
anxious arm. On the second day they're both giddy. Then on the third they say
screams of delight fill the valley... I thought I've even heard one or two out
here. Rachel says she has." Amber nudged her neck gently back with little
kisses. "I wish we lived closer," she breathed. "I'd love to hear the songs...
it's a lovely halt of the red tide... one of the few times we defeat the
moon..." She kissed her cheek. "And not by old age or youth..."

Jessica stared sedately at the colored wrappers.

She didn't know quite what was inside. Jimmy'd made a point of turning his eye
from such things over the years.

She would have preferred the song... perhaps another serenade at her window,
such as it was now... even if it were only Amber...

Still. She didn't know what her period was like. It was a remote, if normal
and vaguely hated thing in the back of her mind. Perhaps the tampons were more
practical gifts.

She did dislike it, without even tasting it. Perhaps not with a passion, but a
feeling of definite inconvenience was there. Was it built in to all women?
Maybe just her. Surely children worried about it but it didn't haunt their
mind like a shadow.

It was the last unnamed thing waiting to greet her. A regular flow of blood
from her normal nothingness...

Would she ever think of it the way Miranda did? As a friend? As the honorable
badge of her gender?

As a woman?

"So why aren't you happier about it?" Amber asked, after another useless kiss.

"You know who else I ran into?" she replied softly.

"No."

"Rose."

"Oh." Amber brushed her hazel hair. "I heard."

Her eyes had turned the color of the blood flowing again between her thighs.

She was such a gentle woman, too. One of the nicest ones he'd met.

Jessica had wandered the path back to home and Amber, aimlessness and mourning
like a family member had abruptly died.

Why hadn't they prepared her?

"Most women didn't conceive. You should let it go."

"I know."

"She was very happy for those few minutes with Jimmy. Isn't that enough?"

"She wanted a child, though."

"I'm sure she'll have one in the fullness of time. She's young."

"What about you?"

"We will too, in time. And when I have my son, you know what I'll name him?"

Jessica shook her head.

"James." Amber brushed her cheek. "There now. There's no need."

Jessica sniffed. "He let her down."

"No he didn't. She's not mad at him or you. I know for a fact your time with
her touched her greatly. Some women set their hearts though on things they
can't have. She needs to wait longer. That's all... So many women have already
found out, you know. They managed to put it behind them while Jimmy was still
here. I know I did..."

"You were sad too."

"I was sad for Jimmy, love. Not myself... It's why I..." She sighed. "I asked
Andrea to tell him what she did." Jessica turned slightly and glanced at her,
but the contact didn't last long. "I knew he liked her very much and she could
give him that instant of fatherhood he wanted. It wasn't for myself."

"You stayed away."

"I stayed away so he wouldn't find out, not because I was mourning. I'm not
that kind of girl. You know that... I wouldn't have denied myself to him for
any other reason..." She ran a comforting palm over Jessica's stomach. "Many
were happy just to know him... to know you. They didn't tell him or stay away
either. They put their disappointment behind them, richer just for having had
him those few minutes. Their lives are still complete without a child... It's
not your responsibility anyway... nor is it theirs. The moon imprisons us all.
No one knows its purpose."

Amber fell silent, resting her chin on Jessica's shoulder. She did nothing but
stroke her arms, sighing warmly into her silky hair.

His time with Rose was suddenly so bitter. It mocked her now, like a
perversion.

Would it be that way with other women she met on the street?

She could probably pick them out now. He'd made such a valiant effort at
memorizing every name and face. He tried to tuck away something special about
each one, just to be kind and polite if nothing else. She could count back the
days and watch each one like a detective if she cared.

But how would she know what each one felt anymore? Those precious hours of
intimacy had slipped through her fingers.

They were hiding it from her.

Why hadn't they told him it would be like this? He would have tried so much
harder...

And yet... she wasn't nagged by some personal responsibility. That realization
still numbed her.

Shouldn't she stick up for him? At least bear his guilt?

All she could think about was whether he should have tried harder for herself.
Could he have even?

He'd left her with Amber. Perhaps that was enough.

She'd soon know.

But was it ever her lottery to participate in? They tricked him into one last
girl.

'Spread too thin.'

Did she finally understand why Amber tried to say no to him all those times?

What if she had said no to him too? What if Jessica had passed in the cave?
Would there be one more smiling face right now instead of a crying one? Had
she robbed someone by accepting Rachel's gift?

Was that why some of the women cried?

Whose gift was it to give?

---

"Julius has been asking about you. He wants to know when you'll come talk to
the class."

'Talk to the class again'... Wasn't that what Amber should have said?

Why hadn't she?

Jessica was silent a moment. "What would I say? I feel like I have amnesia,
only I remember a different person's past..."

"No you don't," Amber needled her. "I know it's not that way for you... But
it's only been a few days. If you want to wait until you're more comfortable-"

"No. No I'd... I'd really like to. They're nice children and I miss them. I
enjoy being around them... only I think about it now... and there are a few
different emotions running through me."

"I know." Amber kissed her.

"Jimmy really loved- "

"I know." Amber kissed her again as a tear rolled down her cheek. "You do to.
That part's yours too. Don't be tricked into thinking it's not."

"He's... he's not going to look at me the same way..."

"Yeah, I know." She pinched Jessica. "He'll probably like you even more now."

"You think?" Jessica grinned, sniffling just a bit.

"Yeah. You're a lot prettier. I bet all the little boys start chasing you. And
it won't be for that stupid soccer ball."

"You!" She pushed Amber's hand away.

"Jimmy did say it was the only other place to pick up boys on the island...
well I guess it's the *only* one now." She rapped Jessica's skull with a
knuckle. "What do you say, Jimmy? You think she's pretty enough?... She did
get an awful big thrill from that man in the magazine..."

"Stop!" She giggled. "I can tickle too!" she threatened, wiggling her fingers
at Amber.

"Some other time." Amber leapt out of range. "We have to get ready for class."
She tugged at the sluggish brunette. "Come bathe with me in the stream first."

"You want me to go *now*?"

"Yes. It's my first day back teaching. I'd like you to come with me...
Please?"

"OK."


Julius watched from afar how the strange woman held hands with Amber. Like the
smart boy he was, he formed a theory and ran up to them.

"Were you Jimmy?" he prodded, tugging on her robe in case she hadn't heard.
She nodded and shook his hand. "What's your name?"

"Jessica," she said.

"Will you still play ball with us, Jessica?"

"Sure. If you'd like."

"I bet you throw like a girl."

"You're probably right." She tousled his hair.

"Good. At least you won't have to let me win this time."

"Hey now!" She grinned impishly and scooped him up

Amber lent her shoulder a steady hand, for which she was oddly grateful. She
wouldn't fall over but he was much heavier than she remembered.

Jessica tweaked the little boy's nose.  "I bet I can throw *you* like a girl!"

She twirled around until the world spun the way she felt inside.

Peels of young laughter filled her ears.

She set him down after a few rotations before her own version of the spinning
took hold in her temple.

Like a little top, the boy latched on to Amber's hand and promptly ran circles
around her.

Jessica shrugged and grinned apologetically. "Guess I shouldn't have wound him
up."

"So that's what it's called?" she gasped. "I'm glad I know the name... Now I
can ask you not to do it."

Like a whip the boy snapped to a halt, sending the laughing redhead careening.
Jessica grabbed ahold of her wife and watched the green color spread outward
from her shaking eyes.

Julius continued running loops around them.

"Careful, hon. She just ate breakfast."

"You're right," whispered a frazzled Amber. "It's not fun being dizzy."

Jessica gave her a kiss. "No. It's not." She pulled back and blushed, peeking
at the boy from the side.

"It's OK," Amber whispered. "He's seen his mother do the same."

"Oh."

Her eyes stopped rattling around and Julius returned with that demanding voice
unique to children. "Hey. Can we go catch snakes?" he giggled. "You never did
do that with me. You promised."

Ick. "Sure we can, sweety... ifff it's OK with your mom." Amber squeezed her
arm and subtly shook her head. "I think I said lizards, though. There aren't
enough snakes to catch."

"OK." The boy yanked on her arms until they threatened to leave their sockets.

She realized how fortunate it was they didn't have coffee on the island.

Then again, maybe not. She could certainly use some...

"Why don't you run along to class, sweety? We're going that way now. Think you
can beat us?"

He dashed off.

Yeah. That always worked.

Good thing he didn't drop his pants first. But then he was always one of the
brighter ones.

"Uhh..." Amber caught her breath. "I think you made the wrong choice in the
cave."

"No I didn't." Jessica squinted at her. "Watch it or I'll swing *you* around."

"Please. Not again. Rachel will turn me into a lesson about how the stomach
works."

"Yuck."

Other boys swept by them in a sea of flesh surging into the school house,
followed closely by a slower but equally enthusiastic group of girls. The
mothers turned, one by one, and left the playground. A few even waved to her.

Renee did.

Then with a wink, she walked off like the rest.

"Come on. Lean on me," She stroked Amber's unsure arm. "I look frail but I'm
pretty sturdy."

The redhead giggled. "You are today." They inched forward, gingerly, until she
felt well enough to take her red curls from Jessica's chest.

"Feel better yet?"

"Yes." Amber planted her feet squarely on the ground, took stock of everything
and blinked. Her gills were nice and rosy again. "I'll be fine." She made some
tentative baby steps toward the school, then turned and kissed Jessica on the
lips once more. "Are you sure you'll be OK?"

"I should... as long as they don't ask me how to please a man in bed." Jessica
managed a weak smile. "Or drop my shorts again."

"I tell you what. You hold my hand and if you start feeling queasy, give me a
little pinch, OK?"

"OK."

"But since nothing's off limits today, they're probably going to ask you all
sorts of stupid, boring stuff."

Jessica chuckled. "It's OK. There are no stupid questions, only stupid
answers."

"Huh. That's so profound. Was that in one of those cookies?"

"I don't know. Probably. But it's still true."

The children's screams shifted into high gear.

"Come on. We can't leave them alone in there all day."

"Nope. Even babies pop out."

Amber shot her a sidelong smirk as they walked to the door. Then she slipped
ahead and led Jessica by the hand through the narrow aisle. Each row fell
silent as their redheaded teacher passed by. She sat on the desk and offered
Jessica the more comfortable stool beside it, hiding their joined hands under
a fold in her toga.

"Hi, class. It's good to see all of you again." Dozens of little "hi"s and
"hello"s flew back at her. "How did you enjoy Susan? Was she nice?"

She certainly was, Jessica thought to herself. She bit her unfaithful tongue
as the class responded in the affirmative too. Did they know her that well?

Amber must have seen her. "Stop," she whispered.

"Sorry."

"Did you learn a lot from Susan?" More "yes"s. "She said you behaved very
well. I'm quite proud of you." Amber cleared her throat. "Well as a treat I
thought I'd bring back someone you haven't seen in a long time. Class, this is
Jessica. Susan said she talked to you about her yesterday. Is that right?" The
kids all nodded dutifully. "Good. Well she's going to chat with you about
whatever you want to talk about. Just remember to be polite."

"Are you going to play ball with us again?" "Yeah." "Yeah."

It was a group of boys sitting in the back with Julius. He knew better than to
ask, though. He just sat there with a huge grin plastered to his face.

Jessica leaned in as Amber cupped her ear. "A little is OK," she whispered,
"but take it easy."

Her lover leaned away again and Jessica raised her voice. "Sure, sweety. A
little bit of ball would be fine. But I have to warn you, I haven't played yet
so give me a fair chance." The boys giggled proudly. "I guess to be fair, the
girls get to play too."

"Awww..." "Yay..."

"But they can't beat up on me either."

A few snickers. Amber grinned cheerfully and flicked some curls from her
forehead.

Then there was a long stretch of quiet.

Jessica examined each of the little faces the same way they did with her,
flipping their expressions over in her mind to see how they'd changed at all.

She liked Jimmy's memories for once. They seemed to fit.

"Do you miss your thing?"

"Hm? It was Jimmy's thing, sweety, not mine. I'm a girl." She did miss it, of
course... but not pointing in the direction the boy meant.

"Oh. So Jimmy's not around anymore? He's dead?"

"No... not really. I'm here. I'm a she, though." Jessica nodded pleasantly.

"What's it like being a girl?" asked one of the boys in the back.

"OK, I guess. I haven't been one but for a few days."

She smiled and brushed a lock of hair back. The female students were quiet as
death.

"Is it like you're still Jimmy somewhere?" Another boy. "You act sort of the
same."

"Really?" Jessica scratched her chin. "Something like that..."

Finally a girl raised her hand. "Yes, sweety?"

"Did you and Amber get married?"

Had they?

She glanced anxiously at Amber, who nodded. "Yes. We are. Sorry," she said as
much to Amber as anyone. "I don't understand all the island's customs yet..."

"You don't look like Jimmy," one of the girls pointed out.

Jessica shook uncontrollably in laughter. She put a hand over her mouth and
felt her wife's comforting arm creep around her waist. "You're right about
that," she snickered.

They waited politely for the sandy brunette to calm down, giggling a little
with her to put her at ease.

"Do you want to be called Jimmy?"

"No, sweety. I'm Jessica."

"Oh." It was Julius in the back of the class.

'Oh.'

She remembered plain as day how he'd said that same thing to her last month on
that bench.

That was her with him, wasn't it? Not just Jimmy?

Was Julius right?

Would she not be able to answer his questions now? Were there some things men
wouldn't talk to women about? "Now, son. When you go out and get laid for the
first time..." Jessica chuckled. Maybe he was right.

And yet... there was that little part in her that knew Jimmy would have said
it just that way. *She* had just said it that way in her own head: "Get laid,
boy." She chuckled again.

How could she laugh at herself if she was the one saying such things?

Was it her?

Who was she?

Jessica looked at the ceiling and then out the window, facing the soft breeze
that blew in from the ocean... the ocean she'd never again travel...

Had she ever?

Was that really someone else?

Could it be if she knew what it was like to smell the oil from an outboard
motor?

But the hands on the rudder were so thick and hairy...

"Huh?"

"Is the world really round?"

"How far is it to land?"

"How far is the moon?"

"Do we go around the sun?" "No way." "Uh-huh." "They say a man walked on the
moon once." "A man..."

---

"Dang. Beat me again."

She never thought she'd hear herself saying it, but life would be so much
easier with a bra.

Jessica sighed and put her hands on her thighs, bent over and tried to catch
her breath.

At least the rocks weren't as hard on her feet. Linda was right. Being an
islander did have its perks.

"One of these days I'll figure out how to run and you'll be in trouble."

"How come you don't know?" all the little boys asked.

She frowned. "I haven't had these legs very long. I don't have my balance yet.
But it feels strangely like riding a bike after a few years."

"What's a bike?"

Jessica snickered. "Let me sit down a minute and have a drink. You go and play
some without me. I'll watch you."

"Awww..." But they ran for the goal again... even the girls, who showed no
such signs of slowing down.

She gasped as she plopped down next to Amber on the log. Her wife acknowledged
her with a polite smile but continued to watch the children intently.

"This isn't as easy as I thought," she confided.

"No... it's not. I'm afraid you didn't get a very athletic body. Sorry."

"Ohhhhh..." she drawled. "It's OK. At least I'm sexy."

"Yes, you are." Amber squeezed her hand. "It does have other compensations...
but you need to be careful running around honey."

"I am. I'll figure my legs out, I'm sure."

"No..." Amber whispered. "Remember Jimmy?" She tapped Jessica's navel and
looked out at the kids again.

"Oh... OH. Really?"

She just nodded as her smiling green eyes followed the ball.

"OK... You're right of course. Thanks for reminding me." Was this another one
of those firsts that should feel so oddly normal? It didn't. Jessica chewed at
her lip and turned again to the school teacher. "What else do I have to do?"

"Just take it easy. Try not to fall or exert yourself... and... for a while at
least... if you play games with the children, try to play like a sissy, OK?
Just for me?" She pinched Jessica's thigh. "You still gave some of the boys
fits out there," Amber smirked. "They really thought you were going to let
them win too."

"Shh. Don't tell them." Jessica laughed. "It's my excuse if anyone asks."

She gasped and tried to chase down her breath again.

Sooooome perks.

And she wasn't heaving half as bad as Andrea after the race.

That banana. She'd definitely keep the banana in mind.

She'd have to use it soon too, at this rate. Too bad it wouldn't work on the
kids.

It probably wouldn't do much good now with the adults, either. About five
seconds worth of tittering is what it would buy her.

She sighed. It wasn't Jimmy's fault. He couldn't have understood why.

Well, some of his other ideas would work fine, she was sure. The little inlet
would make a nice dock, like he'd thought. That had nothing to do with gender.

Provided that wasn't the *only* fish out there. Poor thing. If it was, it must
have about six holes in its mouth by now.

Clara broke off from the dusty throng of arms and legs, probably heading for
the jug of water.

Come to think of it, she could use-

No.

"Hi Clara."

"Hi."

"What are you up to? Going to peek under my dress again?" The ten year old
simply shook her head. "What's wrong? You don't look very happy."

"I just want to say I'm sorry."

"About what, sweety?"

"About what happened to you. Not being a man anymore."

"Don't be. I'm plenty happy."

"Oh." Clara rolled a rock over with her toe, inspecting it. "Well... can I
still be sorry for Jimmy, then?"

"Sure... sure. Come here." She took the little girl in her lap and squeezed
her cheek. "I feel that way too. So does Amber."

"So you want to be Jimmy again?"

Jessica sighed and gazed off at the unfocused green treetops. "I want the
curse to vanish for all of us, sweetheart... even you."

"Me?"

"You'll understand when you're older."

She gently rocked Clara on her knee, enjoying the way her head rested on the
cushions of her chest and the small, soft hand clutching at the side of her
throat.

She liked having wide hips. It was easier to cradle a child in her lap than it
had been for Jimmy. And it was the more fun for it. Carrying them might not be
effortless but sitting here like this was definitely more comfortable. And for
some reason it would be even sweeter if she could get Clara to sleep like
this.

Her thighs were finally good for something. She could take her time watching a
child's face up close from this position... and take her time visiting too.
Just talking. And she didn't have to worry about anything getting squished
between her legs.

But was that exactly true? Maybe Jimmy just hadn't had the time to be so
relaxed about- "Ohp."

Clara lassoed her neck.

"Hey!" "Hey!" "We'll be nice." "Come back and play with us..." "Yeah!"

"Oh it's nice of you to ask but I shouldn't, honey."

"Why?"

"I just remembered. I might be pregnant. I shouldn't be running a lot."

"Really?" "Oh." "Already?"

"Yes."

"Oh." "Who'd you sleep with?" "Who's the father?" "You?" "Can you do that?"

"No," she chuckled. "It's Jimmy, dear."

"But how did you- "

Jessica sighed. "Rachel can explain it better than I can. Why don't you go
play and I'll watch. I'm kind of tired of talking, aren't you?"

"Well can Amber play?"

"No, honey. I could be pregnant too." She smiled. "Maybe next month, though."

---

"Julius?"

"What, Jessica?"

"Can I talk to him a minute, Renee?"

"Sure, honey."

Renee passed his hand over to her with a smile.

And a certain gleam in her eye.

No matter what, Jessica still couldn't help seeing her the way Jimmy had.  A
month ago, the mother had stood in front of him (a little shorter, of course)
with a demure if enticing proposition for a roll in the hay. Now she looked
like she'd lean over and confide her pot-roast recipe. Not much had changed
about the woman.

At least her bribes were tasty.

Strangely, though, Jessica did want the recipe.

The woman knew her art well.

"Hey, sweety. You want to go talk with me for a minute?"

Julius nodded like an obedient pupil, looking up at the sandy haired brunette
who loomed over him and blotted out the sun. The two of them walked hand in
hand to one of the lunch tables where she sat him in her lap.

"Remember you said there were some questions you didn't feel right asking
Andrew?"

"You mean Althea?"

"Yeah. Althea." She combed the kinks out of his dirty hair.  "I want you to
ask me whenever you have them, like you would have done with Jimmy. I may
not... Jimmy may not be inside me here- " She tapped her chest. "I don't know
how it all works- but I do know what he'd say. I can try to be just as good.
All right?"

"So he's gone?"

"No. Not really. It's hard to explain. But I can tell you what you need to
know. I remember being a man." She blinked hard. "I know what he would have-
Listen. All that's really important is that you have someone to talk to if
your mother won't do. OK?"

"OK."

"I can tell you what he would have. That's what matters, right?"

"Yeah."

She'd like to imagine she could keep all of Jimmy's promises.

Did they feel like they were hers as well? Or was she just sticking up for
him?

Did it matter?

She pinched the boy and smiled. "Am I different? Do I really sound different
like you said I'd be?"

"Not sometimes. Not now."

"Good."

Was it?

---

"I'll be fine. Go on home and sit or go do a few things."

"Like what?"

"I don't know. Visit with people. Pick up something for dinner. Fish. I can
handle it. You've been a dear."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes," she laughed. "It's my job to.  Please. The children are too tired for
any more games. Aren't you?"

"Well I could still- "

"Stop," Amber snickered, shaking her shoulder. "Honestly. You've got to go
into the village on you own from time to time. No one's going to bite you."

"It's tough sometimes."

"I know." She gave Jessica a passionate kiss, even slipping in a little
tongue. "I love you very much. And I'll prove it again tonight." She winked
like a tart. "And others do too. Let them prove it to you." Amber tugged her
earlobe, yanking on a few hazel strands in the process. "Hey. I know. Why
don't you go on up to the palace? Take a look in the big mirror. Dahlia will
show you where it is. She's probably in the archive about now... What? Don't
you want to see any of your old friends again?"

"No I- you sure you don't want me to wait for you to- "

"I've already seen your figure- from *all* angles." Amber smiled. "You go see
it by yourself. I'm sure you'll like it too."

"OK."

"Yes. There's more than one mirror, too. They're not dumb."

Jessica sighed and gave her a loving peck. "How come I can't read your mind
like that?"

"You do it so much, Jessica, you just don't notice it." Amber kissed her one
last time. "Just stopping running around like you did at lunch. I don't want
you getting sick again, OK?"

"Don't worry," she chuckled. "I'll stop trying to out-Jimmy Jimmy... for
today."

Amber squeezed her hip playfully. "Well I hope you don't give up," she said in
a seductive whisper, "when I give you your turn with the pipe."

"You!"

"Good-bye." The fiery redhead shook a stern finger at her. "And don't cat
around all night." She spun on her heal and disappeared into the noisy
schoolhouse again.

Romancing the schoolmarm...

Had her teachers been so indecent with their private lives? If she could have
only known which ones, high school would have been so much happier... for
Jimmy at least.

Oh well...

Maybe another trip to the mirror would help the day's dizziness. She *would*
like to see how her bottom was really shaped. She knew in the abstract it
didn't ripple that way. And yet there was something romantic too about seeing
herself in the stream every morning. The way the waves creased her fleshy
thighs, along with the beautiful tree limbs and blue sky.

Something was missing from the picture though.

It wasn't Amber. She was there by her side.

What was it then?

Ugh. Her gut was spinning again.

She should have stuck with Renee's roast and passed on the mushrooms. But it
was nice to know some things stayed the same. The native fungus still hated
her.

Jessica found the trail up to the palace where it had always been, right on
the edge of town. She wondered for a moment why that would be the case, why it
hadn't changed too but her nervousness relaxed when she failed to see any more
red eyes on the way.

For some reason, passing through the streets and homes at this time of day
reminded her of the first time she'd made the trip with Amber a little more
than a month ago. It was a little earlier in the day than the first trip, and
she wasn't retracing her exact steps but it was hauntingly familiar, all the
same.

The children were still at school. The homes were empty without the little
yells and screams of delight, even though some mothers were tucked away
inside, weaving or cooking or doing other things. Those that were didn't come
out and greet her like they did Jimmy. They treated her like any other person
on the street, smiling politely when their eyes ran across hers. Saying hello.
No great entourage.

Perhaps that was better.

Still... She wished her wife was here by her side again. The fact that it
wasn't new was itself new. She'd like some support through that too.

But Amber was right. She did have to make a few trips on her own. She couldn't
depend on volunteers to shepherd her everywhere.

She giggled.

There really wasn't much call for another girl on the island.

Except maybe for Amber...

---

"Dahlia?... Hello. I checked the archive but you weren't there. They said you
might be here reading."

"Jessica?"

"Yes?"

"I thought so." The statuesque blonde set the book aside and rose to embrace
her. "Amber described you well... though I should have known just from the
english."

"Sorry. I haven't learned Greek yet."

"Of course not," she said, pecking each cheek. Dahlia held her back as the
expansive white ribbon binding her fine golden hair fluttered in the breeze.
"Don't worry. Your voice is beautiful in any language."

"Thank you."

"In fact... you should learn to sing. Why don't you come with Amber the next
time we assemble?"

"I'd like too." Jessica said, scanning the circular garden of oaks. Their
shade kept out the harshest part of the day and lower down, there plenty of
ample bushes blocked noise from the palace and road. Something in the
peacefulness of it appealed to her, as it must have to Dahlia. "I wonder why I
haven't spent time here before? It's gorgeous."

"Jimmy had little time to read or contemplate things. He left that to you.
Here. Sit. Please."

With a knee, Dahlia gently shifted the dusty tome. Jessica offered a
restrained smile and took a seat on the stone bench. "I heard this morning
that Linda is pregnant."

"Yes. I'm happy for her. A great number of women are."

"What about you? Have you heard yet?"

"No," Dahlia said softly. "Just Lucia."

"Lucia?" What an irony. She wouldn't be able to wear the pants anymore in the
family.

Shoot. Knowing Lucia, she'd probably go nude...

Oh dear. Jessica bit her tongue as she saw the image of a very rotund Queen
chasing after a boar in the buff... shaking an angry spear... Ow.

Dahlia, though...

"I'm sorry," Jessica sympathized, cupping the blonde's tender cheek.

"There's nothing to feel sad about." Dahlia reached up with her delicate
fingers and stroked her arm back. "I'm very young. Besides..." She pinched
Jessica playfully. "I won't mind trying again." They both giggled. "Sh. Don't
tell her that."

"You didn't have to tell me," Jessica whispered mischievously. "I already
knew."

"Sorry. I forget..." she said with a hint of pink. "So you're really in there
Jimmy?"

Jessica chuckled. "Something like that."

"He was sweet. I'm sorry I couldn't spend more time with him."

"The whole island feels that way. Even me."

"I bet. Did he... did you... did you know you were my first time with a man? I
wanted him to know it was special. 'You' to know? I'm sorry I keep messing the
pronouns up. It's just... I was a boy and then I grew up into a lovely woman.
It didn't seem to split me up as much as they said it might."

Jessica sighed sweetly. "Jimmy knew it was very special for you. He knew it
was that way for all the women. It made it very enjoyable for him."

"Good. I'm glad he was happy. I liked making him feel special... So do you
feel different from him?"

"Some. It's like... it's like instead of a straight line my life has this
angle in it. Like I'm supposed to remember what it was like being a little
girl. Only I don't. But I can... I can't pull Jimmy up if you want to talk to
him, but strangely... he's me at the same time. You know? No, maybe not..."

"Don't think too much about it, Jess. I don't. It used to make me feel like I
wasn't enough of a woman for Lucia. I know it shouldn't... you don't feel
that, do you?"

"No. Strangely I don't. Should I?"

"I guess it was just me."

"It is just you." she chuckled. "Everyone I know says you're one of the most
feminine women on the island." To a fault. "Jimmy certainly thought so."

"I know. I'm much better about it now... Still, in some ways it's easier
pretending I grew up like all the other girls." She folded her wrists over
Jessica's. "But Jimmy really did find me attractive?"

"Very much. You were such a pleasant change from Lucia. You were so tender
with him- " Jessica's voice dropped to a whisper- "after she'd bounced the
poor boy's balls off."

"She does that," Dahlia replied cryptically. Jessica tilted her head in
curiosity, but no further explanation was offered. "I do wish I'd been more
sure," she continued. "I would have... well I would have, um... been more free
in offering myself to him later."

"Later?... Oh. He would have loved to give you another chance at a child. All
you had to do was ask." Was that what- ? "Oh honey, if you would have been
more blunt about it in the archives, he would have jumped your bones then and
there..." Jessica patted her thigh with a smile. "He thought you were still
upset with him." She pinched the woman. "He always did think you were very
sexy."

"No it..." Dahlia smiled bashfully. "It would have made trouble for Lucia
and... I wanted him to spend as much time as he could with Amber. We all did."

"Thanks. He did too."

"I know. His heart was too big..." Dahlia grinned. "Besides, I'm only 24. I'd,
um... like to 'get screwed' again." She flipped Jessica a bird. "Is that the
right way of doing it?" she giggled.

Jessica pushed her finger in another direction. "At a man, sweety. We're both
married girls."

"Oh!" Her blush deepened. "Sorry."

"Nothing to be sorry about. I'm quite flattered."

"I guess I don't understand the gesture yet."

"Well it's more of an insult really than an invitation. It's hard to explain,
but I know how you meant it."

"Oh." Dahlia finally realized something. "Speaking of this... Here." She
turned a sleeve in her toga inside out and handed Jessica a dozen small
packages. The sandy brunette crinkled the blue and white wrappers between her
fingers.

More tampons, she giggled to herself. And so many.

"Lucia says to give you these. I've been carrying them around, hoping I'd run
into you and I almost forgot about them."

"She didn't give you any- ?"

"I'm fine." Dahlia scratched her neck and straightened up. "They're hers and
she wants you- "

"Did you get any?"

"A few." She pushed Jessica's hand back. "Go on. Take them, Jess. We talked it
over and we want you to have them." Dahlia cleared her equally golden throat.
"They'll last you a few months... There's... There's instructions to them
but... I don't remember them real well right now. Rachel can tell you.
Sorry... I- I guess I'll have to talk to her myself again. They're very handy,
though."

"This is awfully nice of you."

"Don't mention it. It was awfully nice of *you*." Dahlia pecked her cheek.
"No, honey..." She frowned. "Put them in your toga like this... Fold the...
that's it... You don't want to show them off if you can help it."

"They might get stolen?"

"No... Not quite. But we're all still very embarrassed about the... um,
fight."

Jessica tucked the last one away in the cradle under her arm and sighed at the
added bulk. "I don't know why I'm even bothering with this right now. I'm
supposed to be up here looking at my figure in the mirror... but I can't seem
to remember where it is. Do you know?"

"We hid that room from you know who but I'd be very happy to show it to you
now." Dahlia rose with a smile. "You did turn out quite lovely. I'm sure
you'll enjoy what you find. And it helps the dizziness."

Jessica blushed at the compliment. Then a shy smirk crossed her face as she
remembered the Queen's first conversation with Jimmy- a warning more than a
conversation, really. "Am I enough to cause *your* eye to wander?"

"Just enough," she confided. "But trust me, no man's eye could wander from
you."

"Thanks. That's very gracious of you." She regarded Dahlia's long elegant
curves. "Jimmy's eye certainly couldn't stray from you."

"As long as we were alone," Dahlia snorted.  "No. I know he felt very strongly
for Amber. We were all sorry they didn't get to spend more time together like
that."

"*We're* fine," Jessica assured her.

"Oh. Yes. Of course. Sorry... It's just... well I've almost forgotten the time
I spent with Lucia in that way..." She cleared her throat and smoothed out her
gown. "Come. I'll show you."

"Aren't you forgetting your book?"

"No." She smiled politely. "I won't be gone long enough for it to rain." She
nipped Jessica's behind. "Your figure isn't *that* diverting."

---

Jessica shifted between the silvery apparitions, bringing a hand to her hip
and pouting just a bit as she slouched.

Should she try it again with her toga on?

She wished she'd brought other clothes with her.

Come to think of it, did she have much more than the toga?

Amber didn't either. She'd have to do something about that.

Could she?

Dahlia's white gown was pretty but she suddenly realized it had to be her only
one. Jimmy had seen so many beautiful women so often, he'd rarely seen the
same one enough to understand how limited wardrobes were. Nor had it fully
dawned on him why the Queen went nude for a few days (a style halted by
pregnancy).

But Jessica knew. They did live simply.

No wonder the magazines were such a temptation. Men weren't the only thing
they couldn't have. There were all the other things that went along with them.

Was that quite true? Women could be fashionable without men being involved.
Looking nice didn't always have to imply sexy... though she secretly wished it
did. It would be a nice problem to have.

Still... as long as they had such beauty, there was a certain honest elegance
to the simple way they dressed.

The tall woman raised her palm and shook Amber's thin metal bracelet to let it
catch the sun.

Its improvised nature made it all the more charming, as it did for all the
jewelry. It said something about how much thought and work had gone into it.

And how utterly inadequate material items could be in matching the female
form. Especially here.

They were nice reminders. Particularly this one which tried to rival the blue
gleam in her eye.

Jimmy used to love blue eyes. She smiled. Emerald green was more their color
now.

The trinket was the only thing adorning her body now. Amber had given it to
her yesterday. At first Jessica thought it was a loan, but when they got in,
her wife wouldn't let her put it back in the box. She made her keep it with
Jimmy's things.

*Her* things, she corrected herself.

She was grateful for the gift, if a bit taken aback. She wasn't used to
getting things like that.

She liked it. It lent an unusual warmth to their union.

Her pelvis tipped the other way and she ran a hand along her thigh.

Jimmy had gotten a lot of things. Food mostly. Well that wasn't really a gift,
she supposed.

Someone did try to give him flowers once. Who was that again?

And of course their home. He'd passed that to Amber. And on to her too, she
guessed.

Yes, it felt like hers.

So did he really 'pass' it on?

Part of the band made a charming clank too as it spun around her wrist.

She'd have to get Amber something in return. She hadn't really given her
anything yet, had she?

She was kind of relieved Amber wasn't standing here with her. She loved her
deeply, but she liked this moment of privacy. It did quell the dizziness in
her head.

'Contemplation.'

She giggled. The palace was certainly a nice place for contemplating women.

And as always, her auburn haired lover had known exactly what to do even
before she did. Amber cared so much for her.

Jessica shifted once more to the mirror behind her.

It wasn't hard to see what attracted the shorter woman.

She was tall, almost as tall as the Queen, with curves long and slender. They
weren't like Dahlia's, but they were elegant in their own right. Less full
perhaps but the more graceful for it.

Her breasts were high and firm. Not boyish, as her wife had hoped but slim. A
C-cup, perhaps? Was she being generous with herself?

No. Amber loved them. And Jimmy was right. All breasts were special in their
own way.

Amber's most of all.

Still... her nipples did look tiny. Others liked that, didn't they?

She liked the life they had in them. They jiggled nicely in bed and brought
both of them such joy. They really were a wonderful part of the body. It
wasn't just male chauvinism to ogle them.

But there was excess...

She thought about the bosom Jimmy had been so worried about her receiving. She
had to laugh at the image of Andrea's full breasts grafted to her form. They'd
be so hard to manage. Legs wouldn't be the only problem she'd have running.

Andrea, that poor thing. She should pay a visit on her.

Jessica's eye dropped lower to her waist and its delightfully thin nape. It
widened quickly into nice, high hips (child-bearing, she hoped). They were
almost broader than one would think with her frame.

She wasn't a classic hourglass girl, but she was close enough.

She turned and took another gander at her full, sexy bottom.

Kissable, she giggled again.

It did pout rather nicely. She tensed it and admired the large dimples it drew
into.

But why should a woman squeeze her rear end like that?

Jessica let it fall loose and enjoyed the pleasant bounce. Clenched cheeks
were too erotic for standing here like this. Her tush looked so much better
relaxed... without a hint of strain or muscle at all. With a soft spring to
it.

Penetrable.

She always would run with the schoolboys. There was too much Jimmy in her. But
she was glad now she wouldn't win. How funny that she could enjoy both... and
the supple contours that ensured defeat.

She turned to inspect her profile once more, eyes following the gentle curve
of her spine.

What would a man think of her?

Was she pretty compared to the rest? She was certainly gorgeous. But so was
everyone.

What would *Jimmy* think of her?

Could she call him up?

No. Not quite. There was no erection here to greet her.

But she knew what he'd say. She could hear his words and deep voice echoing in
the chamber and that in itself was comforting: "You're very beautiful."

It was all he needed to say.

It was all he *would* say. Everything else would straighten itself out.

She could say it herself as well. That part of Jimmy was hers too.

But she didn't need to. She knew it.

The sandy brunette combed through her chestnut bush, wondering at its darker
color.

Would Jimmy notice something like that?

No, she chuckled. His next instinct would be to get her to spread her legs, so
he could notice something else.

She had to admit to some mild curiosity on her part as well, but it was
nothing Amber's hand mirror couldn't address in bed... though the thought of
Jimmy 'inspecting' her sent a nervous trickle through her flower.

Perhaps Amber could look with her. She did like that part of her body, didn't
she? She liked Amber's, of course...

It was nice to know she could have those parts of Jimmy for herself. His
instincts... his same outlook on women... on her...

It calmed the whirl in her mind.

---

Amber took another sip of the warm goat's milk, adding to the white mustache
on her fair lip.

Jessica tried not to notice... but the knowledge that Jimmy knew how to shave
that part of the body if she needed only made it harder not to laugh.

Shoot. She had to have one herself by now. She brushed under her nose. Yup.

Amber noticed and followed suit. "I'm sorry to hear about Dahlia... but you're
right. She will like sleeping with some of the boys again... but at least
Lucia is free now."

"She doesn't like men?"

"She admires them very much." Amber swallowed another morsel of cheese. "But
she doesn't like having to sit still like that with her hips in the air. She's
always been a woman who's wanted to have something to do."

"She should hate pregnancy then."

Amber laughed. "You're right of course. I wonder why I never saw that coming.
Dahlia caring for Lucia. What a twist... although..." Amber mused while she
chewed, "I think childbirth is her kind of thing." The redhead panted and
scowled with grim determination, grabbing the edge of the table until her
knuckles turned white.

Jessica smiled politely. "I don't know. I could see her crying during it. She
can be tender."

"Well you'd know better than I... Does she still joke with you when you fish?"

"No. I haven't done it from the docks lately. In fact I don't think she's seen
me yet... OH." Jessica cleaned her hands on a towel and pulled the forgotten
items from her pocket.  "She sends her best, though." She spread the little
wrappers over the dinner table. "We're rich beyond all dreams," she added
dryly.

Amber kissed her. "You have strange dreams... though my prize does sit before
me."

"Mine too." Jessica returned her kiss.

Amber bit into their one apple and passed it to her wife.

"So what did you and Julius talk about for so long?"

"Oh, nothing much. I told him if he had any more questions about sex that he
was always bothering Jimmy with, he could ask them to me."

"I see."

"I told him I knew exactly what Jimmy would say back, if that would help...
though it did feel kind of strange... I think oddly enough I'll feel easier
talking with the girls about it tomorrow. You did want me to come by tomorrow?
Or would some other day be better?"

"No. Tomorrow's fine. I'll take the boys and we'll go play a while." Amber
picked some waxy skin from her teeth. "Antonia finished carving her bat and
she said she'd teach us how to play baseball. Rachel going to lend the class
one of her green bouncy balls that came in that can, you know? And even though
it's not very strenuous... I'm not sure I should play with them. Antonia
refuses to.  She says she'll teach them but she won't play because it's not a
game for girls." Her ears perked up under her crimson tresses. "Is that
right?"

Antonia. Still the latin chauvinist. It would be so funny if it weren't so
true.

"Go ahead and play if you want. And tell Antonia it's not the real thing since
it's just a tennis ball."

That would fix it. Girls played tennis, after all... right? Oh well...

She started thinking about what she should say to the girls. Would did 10 year
olds really want to know about men?

Wasn't Amber better qualified in that department?

Maybe not. What did she know about keeping a man? Jimmy'd left both of them
fairly quickly.

Sigh.

"They won't ask me about periods, will they? I mean what if I don't know the
answer?"

"Some girls are already having them, so I wouldn't worry."

"At ten? That's young isn't it?"

"Oh. It won't be just my girls. You'll be talking to all the girls."

"*All* of them?"

"Yes. But in different groups. All of them at first.  If the young ones ask
about periods just tell them what you already know. The older ones
shouldn't... but the new girls might have some... well, uncomfortable
questions for you. It's why we give each of them time in smaller groups, so
the others won't make fun."

Amber eyed the thinning red crescent and rescued the apple from further
decimation.

"Sorry."

Her wife frowned before continuing. "Try not to bring up virginity when
they're mixed together. The newer girls have lost theirs and, well sometimes
they can tease each other about it. I don't know why but some of them clam up
when that starts. Um, but beside that, will you be fine answering the other
sorts of questions?"

"What sorts?"

"Like, uh... How do you do avoid getting dizzy?... uh, should I feel guilty I
don't miss his thing? Or what if I do? What if I remember things differently?
Stuff like that... Can you handle it?"

"I suppose. I may have to tell them a lot of 'I don't knows' too."

"I know." Amber polished off her milk and rubbed her lip again for good
measure. "Sometimes it's just important to let them know they have the same
questions. And if you don't know, it's OK. We do this often enough. At some
point one of the natural-  Tsk. I know I shouldn't say that. One of the
lifelong women will talk to the girls about men. Just so it's not confusing.
You're welcome to, since you have a different perspective. That's good too but
sometimes... sometimes having those thoughts makes you a little too close to
the subject.  So we ask a natural woman."

"You mean an 'unaffected' one?"

"Huh? No. There aren't any of those. Sorry. Did I say 'natural' again? I meant
we ask a lifelong woman."

"Like you?"

"Yeah. Like me, although... I think I might pass. For some reason it's
something I want to keep private with you."

"It's one thing to talk sex but love is another."

"Mm. Yeah." Amber stroked her arm. "Yeah. It is." And love with a man was
different entirely. Jessica would never quite understand that. But few
islanders would. Nell did...

So? Amber sighed, knowing she'd never fully understand what Jimmy's love was
like for him either. What he felt when he cupped her face in bed and whispered
to her. Jessica had that. Oh well. They were even, at least. "Huh? No. The
boys probably won't talk to you much about it again... unless they're
interested in knowing what it might have been like to be a man. Most of them
will ask older friends about the curse... yeah. I know Julius did, but um...
well. Let's get back to him." She cleared the plate away. "He is how we
started talking about all this. You know, if you keep being nice to him- "

"Are you comfortable with it? Is Renee?"

"Oh. Quite. It's just... you've never seen the change occur."

"I know I'll lose him. It's that way with all children. They grow up. So he'll
grow up a lot differently."

"No- I mean you're right. I'm glad you see it that way but... well, he's
always asking about you, just as much as he did before..."

"Really? They used to interrogate you for gossip about Jimmy?"

"Oh all the time. He was all I talked about some days."

"That's... that's nice. I'm glad." It was nice they were still interested in
her too. She'd enjoyed explaining things like movies and radio to them...
though cars were proving to be next to impossible for some reason. They just
didn't understand distance-

"I wanted to warn you, though."

"About what?" Jessica wondered.

"Well he's taken a shine to you and... because you've been so kind to him and
you obviously like him... well you haven't been through an initiation before
and I know how young girls... and Jimmy- "

"Spit it out, love. You're wavering around like that first time with Jimmy in
bed."

"First time?" Amber furrowed her brow. What did she say that night which-

"Yeah. You sound like you did when you told Jimmy he was going to become me."

"Oh." It took her a second to get back on track. "I guess... I guess so. Well,
when Julius changes in five or six years it wouldn't surprise me if... if
since he trusts you he asks that you be his first, whether or not you already
have a child."

"First?... Oh... in bed..." Jessica's features flattened. Why didn't that
panic her? "To show him how things are done, you mean?"

"Yes. You can't turn him down, either. The first is his right. In fact...
while we're on the subject, I might as well tell you this now. You can't turn
any man down who asks for sex. I can't either. It's the law... well it's more
than law, actually..."

Jessica kissed her. "I understand why, love." She blinked a moment. "Did I...
did Jimmy ever ask when someone didn't- "

"No," Amber sighed. "It doesn't work that way. Once you get us in bed, it's
like we're charmed or something... something in us wants to no matter how
much- Well. Just know he didn't hurt anyone... It's... it's why I loved what
you said to Julia. I wanted to tell the whole island, but I couldn't without
hurting her. But I think everyone somehow knew that about Jimmy's character
anyway. About yours."

"I know Jimmy can't be here for you so... If it happens or even if you want
it, I won't... don't want you to feel guilty about it. Jimmy wouldn't either."

"Me too, love. In fact... if he gave you a child, I'd be very happy. But
don't... don't worry. If you are pregnant now, most of the mothers stay in the
background when a man's around. You're very lovely, but... um, so is everyone
else if you know what I mean."

Jessica slouched in the wicker chair and Jimmy's thoughts drifted back into
her head briefly, as she sank her teeth into the last flesh on the apple's
core. She saw his eyes probing through a crowd... the way they zeroed in on a
woman and drifted over her form... Remembered what he did when-

"Yeah," she sighed. "I know what you mean. You handle it smartly."

"Me?"

"The island does, honey. You, um... manage the temptations quite well."
'Manage.' Like a lounge act.

Amber smirked. "We've had a lot of practice."

"So what are the rules about it?"

"Rules?"

"About men. You know, what are the rules I'm supposed to follow?"

"Oh. You, um... you can't deny one for anything."

"Anything?"

"Anything reasonable. He can't mistreat you either... But it's not like it's
your choice, exactly. That's so hard to define. How did Rachel put it once?...
Oh yes. It makes you want to 'put out.' Fortunately Doug didn't have a problem
with it. I just... I don't want you getting the feeling and not expecting it.
Being shocked by it." Amber frowned. "You can fight it if you want, like
Felicia and others but... it has consequences. Please... if it happens...
enjoy it with a clear conscience. Cut me away for those few hours. I want you
to know what it's like to be as much of a woman as you can."

"Mistreat?" It was the one word Jessica couldn't shake from her mind. "What
did you mean by mistreat?"

"Jimmy knows," she whispered. "He knows because he never did it."

"It breaks the spell if I'm... 'mistreated'?"

"No." Amber said it so quietly, she could hear the dust motes settling in the
falling sunlight.

All those 'volunteers'... they served the women too, didn't they? It must have
been a supreme act of trust when Jimmy sent them away... "So nothing breaks
the- "

"Please talk with Rachel about it. It's not easy for me to tell you more."

"OK."

"I wouldn't... I would try not to let it happen to you," Amber assured her.

"Would you... would you join me? Should I ask you too?"

"If you'd like."

"What do you want?"

"Whatever would make you happy."

"Stop," Jessica groaned. "Would you? Give me a straight answer."

"I am giving you a straight answer." She pressed a mildly irritated finger
into Jessica's gut. "You haven't told me what *you* want... besides all our
apples."

The tall woman sighed as she looked out the hole in their home they called a
window. "If you want me to, I want you there. If you don't want me to share
you with another person like that, I won't."

"Share?" Amber's eyes seemed to stumble over the word. "Oh. Well... like Jimmy
did, another man might... request that we pleasure him together. Or each
other. If he did, I'd... I'd have no problem with it, I'm sure. I love you
very much. I'd find a way around the odd number." Amber paused and rested her
hand on Jessica's. "Men aren't something to avoid... I just didn't want you
thinking it had anything to do with me being faithful to you."

"I know. I love you very much too. I'd like us to have as many children as
possible."

"You do?"

"I've always wanted a large family. It still hasn't changed. Don't you?"

"Many of us do."

Many... "Oh. I shouldn't... should I? Take something away from- "

"No, not if you can help it... not that often. But..." Amber's somber mood
finally broke into a girlish smirk. "In any event I'd behave myself if it
happened... You know what a good screw I am. It wouldn't be like with Linda.
You won't wind up in bed with a total stranger."

Linda... 'Putting out'... The way the dominant woman melted to his touch...
but she kept hopping Jimmy's bones for more. No wonder it'd given Susan the
randiest ride of her life.

The strangest facts were falling into place.

Jessica giggled. "So you heard about that?"

"Yes. Susan told me. She loved seeing Linda get her medicine. Even though she
got more carried away than she wanted... She said she'd always treasure seeing
her docile like that. I guess she liked the change of pace."

"And you?" Jessica asked. "Am I... would you like me more docile? How- "

"I like you as you are now." She shrugged. "We both have our moods... I have
no idea how you'll be around a man but I'd rather see you as you are." Amber
reached across the table and hung an arm on Jessica's shoulder. "You express
your love very well. So do I, I hope."

"But it does that to women? Men, I mean." One would do that to her? Make her
change... Change? But... how... how was she supposed to feel in bed with a
man? Change from what?

Didn't she know yet?

"Yes," Amber said softly, stabbing her with her green eyes. "It affects some
of us a little differently. We become more docile usually. Though some of us
can become tigers if we have to... I'm fairly sure you won't be much
different. I'm not, am I?... but don't be surprised if you feel a strange
twinge. Go where your character takes you. A man should enjoy as many styles
while he can here. Every woman is different. Like you said. We're not
interchangeable. "

"No... No we're not. So... you might take me if you were asked?"

"I might. It depended on the man and whether you wanted me to. I'd have no
problem sharing him with you." Amber stroked her cheek. "In fact I'd love for
you to experience it... but I don't think you can count on me getting on
another list. Jimmy and I simply had to much sex." She smiled softly. "I'm
almost certainly with child."

"Is that what... what you would want, if I made it? To have the experience
again?"

"I don't need to love. I have enough with you and Jimmy in my heart... but if
you needed a hand to hold, I'd love that too."

"Oh."

"Don't think about it now. Something like that's a long way off. It might even
be past our change in life. We'll talk again if we have too."

"What... what chance would Julius have of getting me pregnant?"

"Not much. No one knows why it's like that with the boys..." Amber settled
back into her chair and tore off a piece of bread. "I'm sure you'd do fine
with Julius. You get along with him so well and he's a kind boy. Provided his
youth doesn't affect you. Some young mothers can get emotional even though
most of the boys *do* love it a lot... and of course they know none of the
girls are ever indulged that way when they're horny, so the boys are very
eager."

"And I can't refuse?"

"Not if you're their one choice." Amber stroked her hand again. "I hate to
tell you but, you've made such an impression on so many of them and, well
Rachel was... and, frankly, is, quite popular for the same reasons. Julius...
the first is his choice and boys almost always pick someone they really
trust... whether it's a school friend, a teacher or someone older. You could
get picked a lot. I thought you should know, though I'd hate it if it caused
you to treat them any differently. You've been so good with them... and I
won't be jealous. They're just boys. Sometimes they don't have much fur on
their faces at all. It's simply a duty we all do, to ease their journey.
Sometimes it results in a child, but not often enough."

"So it's like the lottery all over again? I have to be picked first or be
childless and get on the list?"

"Oh... no." Amber patted her hand. "Not at all. It can last several months
sometimes. No one knows quite what triggers it and... if you'd like, it's fine
if you want to. They do deserve it... to get to be men as much as possible
while they can. And so many boys will come of age around Julius' time, the
list might not even matter if you're determined."

"Determined? You mean I could ask? Wouldn't they just turn me down?"

"No. Not if the others on the list are met. They don't have the right to turn
a woman down... of course, no one's ever rude about it." She smiled a little.
"A bit of the spell, I guess, but not as strong. I can explain the custom when
you're interested. The only right similar to Jimmy's they'd have over you is
as their first... but... neither the boy or the woman usually say no if
they're asked. I just... wanted you to know the full consequences of your
actions now." She stroked her wife's arm again. "It's perfectly fine, whatever
you feel about it. It's just that teachers and mentors are people they trust
and they do get picked. I hope it doesn't change how you act toward them. I'm
sure if you really wanted to decline, nothing would be said of it. Julius is
very nice."

Someone they trust...

"You? You've been picked before?"

"Not yet. Not first anyway. My classes are all much younger."

"But you've done it before with boys?"

"Yes. Never again, I hope, unless I'm picked first... I mean I hope I have...
Jimmy's... our child."

"I hope so too. Was it... was it awkward at all?"

"No. They're not quite... I say boys, which I know upsets you but they're not.
They're not quite men either. It doesn't happen until a little bit of stuff
grows on their faces. Sometimes they're voices have been deep a while." She
sighed. "Sammy, um... he liked me. There were a lot of boys just a year or two
ago. We were all busy. Even some mothers. Unfortunately not many pregnancies
resulted. Um... please don't ever say anything to anyone else about- "

"I'd never say anything about your sex life. You've never told anyone about
things Jimmy did in bed either."

"No. Nor what we do togeth- "

"Um..." Jessica tapped her finger.

"What?"

She'd never been picked first? Amber had a first love, didn't she? A boy?
"Monica didn't- ?"

"No," Amber replied. "Martin didn't choose me first."

"Why?"

"He... he wanted someone with more experience... and he was very young. We
didn't notice the change in his bones until almost too late. My... my cycle
got in the way too, though I don't think that was the fault."

"I'm sorry."

"He was... nervous. I understood. And I didn't have much experience myself...
To tell you the truth I think he'd already started to change the way he felt
about me. I had to throw myself into the pool just to be with him." Amber
simply shrugged. "It was harder to watch Monica start off so much younger than
I was. To go through it all again. I think she was somewhere close to
thirteen- sometimes it's as late as fifteen. Girls get their periods at such
different times and boys don't start like clockwork either. Sometimes the
change makes you a year or two older, though usually it's the opposite...."
The redhead sighed and paused to collect her thoughts. "She wound up having a
second adolescence, like all the boys do. Whether it was the age difference or
not, I'm not sure, but we couldn't be as friendly anymore. So I moved on."

"Does it hurt that I'm younger than you?"

"No. We're very well matched. And we both know you're much older and worldier
than I am."

"So it's true then?"

"What?"

"What Linda said about older women? We're more grateful?" Jessica relaxed her
eyes.

"You! You're not *that* old."

"Ow! Stop! But the table..." she giggled. "Ah!"

---

Jessica picked one of the olive-skinned young ladies in the back.

"Yes, dear. What's yours?"

"Did... did being a man help you know better what pleases a woman?"

"Huh. That's an interesting question. Am I happier because of it? Because I
know what I want?"

"Not exactly." The girl squirmed in her seat. "I meant... with your wife. When
you two are together, I mean."

"Oh." She turned to Amber, expecting her to say something. She'd asked her
wife to stay for a little moral support but instead those thirsty green eyes
were pouring over her like all the teenagers'. Jessica gave her hand a squeeze
anyway. "I can't answer that question for you, honey. Can you, Amber?"

The redhead panned the group, not breaking her somber expression. "Love," she
said softly. "Love is what helps you know what pleases the other person."

"So the new girls don't have an advantage over me?"

"Hm?"

"Because they've made love to older women?"

"I don't know," Jessica stated, plainly frustrated with the topic. "If it
bothers you, go hop in bed with some older women. I'm sure they'd be
grateful."

Every girl in the field blinked at the same time. And then again, like a
chorus.

They scanned the sky.

The grass.

Themselves.

One by one their gaze fell back on the stone seating the two women, a glimmer
of amorous design building in their eyes... until Amber shook in laughter.

"She's joking! You know how Jimmy was," she smirked with a finger pointing
from her crotch. "Go, Andrea go!"

The whole class cracked up.

Jessica never would live that down, would she? Even without the proper parts.

It *was* kind of funny, though... not like it used to be for Jimmy, but
somewhat self-consciously so, like she'd been busted or caught red-handed
(instead of red-something elsed). It must be that she had the right parts to
trip her up, like all the other spectators that day.

Jessica started to laugh bashfully with everyone else.

It *was* a sight she'd like to see from the sidelines. (And not because *he*
was funny).

"Honestly. What is it with you and older women?" Amber pinched her lover as
the giggles diminished.

"I know." Jessica smirked in defeat. "I mean, women are grateful at any age,
aren't they?"

The fiery beauty silenced her with a frown.

Jessica smoothed out the leather dress Linda had made her and with a chastened
eye, surveyed once more the three dozen faces.

Sigh.

The ten year old in the front raised her hand again.

If she could only remember names better... Jimmy bent over backwards to learn
and use all hundred on the list. She could still match most of them to the
right face.

And now she had to squeeze in the rest of their wives, daughters and nieces...

"What, honey?" She hated talking to the little girls about this stuff.

"Well I wanted to ask you this earlier when you were Jimmy, but I didn't have
a chance. Is it- "

"It's OK. Go ahead and ask me now, sweetheart. I can answer it."

"Those magazines that washed on shore, the ones with all those paintings and
words."

"Yes?"

"Especially the one with the naked people in it. Does everybody read them
outside? Except for the pictures, my friends and I thought they were kind of
boring."

"Well, they're for adults, honey. Children read different things. None of
those washed up."

"What do the children read?"

Jessica shrugged. "The same sorts of stories Amber reads to you."

"Except with pictures?"

"Except with pictures... And some adults read different things too, you know.
They don't all- "

"Really? Who reads Bounce?"

"Uh... well... Everybody reads Time... and the Vogue is mostly for women- "

"I like that one," chirped one of the teenagers in the back.

"I liked it too," Jessica replied, curling a hazel lock behind her ear. "And
there's Popular- "

"What about Bounce?" the girl prodded, sensing some adult evasion. The whole
section of Amber's class nodded in support.

"Well. Bounce is mostly for men, sweety. In fact I'd have to say that on the
outside only men read it. And not most men, either. A lot more read Time or- "

"Only men read it?"

"That's right."

"Are we not supposed to read it then?"

Jessica shrugged. "I don't see what it hurts. They are the magazines in the
best condition and you've seen naked people before, right?"

"It's for men, though? They read it?"

"They look at it, yes."

"Oh... Well... will I have to do things like that someday? For men?"

Things like...? She could only guess. "I honestly don't know, sweety. It
depends on the man. Ask him."

"Should I practice then... when I'm older, I mean? Just in case?"

"Not unless you want to. Men... men actually like a girl who hasn't practiced
sometimes. It gives them a chance to, um, help her." The advice drew a curious
stare from Amber. "They like that a lot... and women don't necessarily have
much to do in bed." She clear her throat. "Or as much, I should say."

"So I don't have to worry about doing anything like that? Dressing up and- "

"Oh. No. I wouldn't worry about *that*. Men find all the women on the island
beautiful. However your mother teaches you to dress is fine... Trust me, those
pictures..." She brushed another whisp of hair back. "Well in the bedroom, you
can leave it to the man and not worry about it. Women are more passive...
usually... when it comes to the opposite sex... in that way. So I wouldn't
worry about it until then." Jessica sighed. "When the time comes, if you're
not sure you can always ask me again."

"OK."

"Jessica?"

"What sweety?" Finally an older one.

"What's it like with a man?"

"I don't know. I've never been with a man."

The girl turned red as her companions giggled at the impossibility of her
question.

"No I- I- " she stuttered.

"Hush up, now," Jessica chided. "Don't be that way. There aren't any stupid
questions here... What's your name darling?"

"Jennifer."

"Go on, Jennifer. Ask again. What did you mean by 'with a man'?"

"Um... when... when Jimmy had sex. What's it like with the man?"

"Oh. It's very nice... as nice as for a woman, I guess... but different enough
in its own way."

"Different how?"

"Well I... I..." She paused a moment. "Physically, you mean?"

Everyone nodded.

Even her wife watched her intently.

They hadn't ever discussed this between the two of them, had they?

Shoot. She was trapped.

"Well I don't know what it's like for the woman because... because I haven't
had sex with a man yet but..." She *was* a virgin as far as men were
concerned, wasn't she? "For Jimmy, um... well for those of you old enough to
have sex, uh, imagine you have this thick, long finger that sticks out of your
groin. When you get aroused, it grows really big and it tingles like your
clitoris or your nipples. And it wants to be pinched and stroked like your
nipples, but it's much bigger. And not quite as intense- I know some of you
can't touch yourself there. Don't worry about that with a man. He likes a firm
touch. Rubbing- Anyway, the man puts that in the woman and it's... it's the
most beautiful feeling in the world being inside someone else. Kissing them
and feeling yourself hugging each other all over. Particularly having intimate
parts joined together like that. It's a wonderful act of trust... especially
for the woman I think but certainly for the man. You give such joy to each
other at the same time... of course, sometimes the woman has to work because
the vagina while it feels good certainly, isn't like the clitoris. So. You
know... if you need a little help just ask your partner. I mean, if he's
having fun but he's not quite pleasing you the right way or enough, you can
give him some hints. Most men will be glad to help. They like to know the
woman is enjoying herself and women are a bit harder to read... I think. Men
want to, um... hear how well they're doing so to speak. Any pleasant sounds
you make help. He really likes those. It makes them feel strong." Jessica
sighed. What else? "Of course... don't be surprised if you don't climax
together. It's not unusual and... well, the man only climaxes once. His has
more to do, I guess. When he has his orgasm, it *grabs hold* of him." Jessica
seized her dress and drove her point home to one or two startled pupils on the
front row. "And he spits something up into her. It's, um, very warm and the
gushing can last quite a few seconds. He tingles pretty much like you do (or
will), though it's a bit different. Um, it's very specific and focused. He can
feel it surging up from inside him and traveling out. Sometimes his balls jump
and he feels it start there... It's very special for the man because he knows
when it's over he's left a part of himself in someone he loves. Given it to
her like a gift." Their eyes weren't focused on her any longer, thought their
ears certainly were. "I guess it's that way for the woman too, only she gets
to feel someone living inside her, perhaps for a long time. Of course... I
can't speak from my own experience." Might never, except for that last part.
"Amber can. She knows better than most people on the island." She held off
needling her with a grin in the interests of professionalism. "Amber? Would
you mind?" Her redheaded wife observed her quietly, without expression. Was
that her poker face? Or something else? Jessica twirled another strand
demurely around her ear. "I'm kind of interested myself." She took Amber's
hand. "I won't get jealous."

"No. It's... it's not that." Amber blinked, then cast her eyes across the
audience. "I just need a moment to think."

Jessica had never seen more complex emotions playing on her fair skin.

"Well OK Jennifer. Does that answer your question or were you asking what
turns men on about women?"

"No. You answered it. Thank you very much."

Jennifer's companions seemed to regarded her with a newfound respect.

Good.

Another hand went up. "What does turn a man on?"

"You will, sweety. You all will, in your own way."

"Should we go home and look at the models again? Should we pose like that?"

"Yes. Do we need to practice, like with dance and singing?"

Posing...? Oh. "No. I don't think so. A man will want to do more than just see
you stand still like that. But... yes. From afar, when you're flirting. As
long as your clothes are on, you can 'pose.' I wouldn't worry, though. I've
seen how some of you tease each other when you find someone you like," she
stared at an older pair in the back and they giggled, "and what you're doing
works for men too... when you want to let him know you're interested... So
most of the rest of your question about what turns a man on gets back to how
to please him."

Amber cleared her throat. "The school has a few copies of Bounce and Linda
said she'd look over them this afternoon when she talks with the older girls.
She'll help with whatever you want to know... And you can ask one of us later,
if she doesn't answer your questions, though Jessica and I won't be as, um,
well you know...  But I think Jessica or Rachel will address everyone at some
point about all of the magazines in a more general way so we can understand
what's going on in the outside world." She turned back to Jessica. "Sorry,
love."

"No. Thanks... I didn't know Linda would be giving demonstrations." Amber and
some of the older girls smiled, but they didn't snicker. Maybe that's
*exactly* what she would be doing. "Um, the last question touched a bit on how
to please a man. Did you want me to go over the mechanics again? No? OK."

She'd given the right advice about blowjobs to the older girls, hadn't she?
Eye contact was the most important... be docile... loving... really eager...
Men liked that right? Eagerness? It was more than just Jimmy?

The new girls agreed mostly with her but... What *did* men like?

Did it vary that much? Would she really know if she had to?

Was that why they brought in 'natural' women for advice? Should *she* talk to
one?

Maybe Amber knew enough for her...

Some of the girls were so anxious about getting every detail right, as if they
wanted to do everything they could to make a man stay an hour longer in their
arms. Even when their dislike of oral sex was plainly evident (for obvious
reasons relating to conception) they still listened intensely.

Well wasn't *she* anxious, too? She'd only have one chance with a man,
wouldn't she? Maybe not even that.

But at least she had more information to draw on. What Rachel said kept
echoing in her mind this morning: "it gives me an edge over the other ladies."

Was this why so many of them had found their orgasms so completely secondary
around Jimmy? Was their pleasure really unimportant compared to the rest of
the experience? The emotion of that extra minute? Was coming not very
special... like some item they could pick up the next day from the corner
store?

Was that what had frustrated Jimmy?

"What you said was very nice," Amber whispered. "I'm glad you remember."

"What?"

"About Jimmy making love. I'm glad you know." She gave Jessica a kiss and
turned to face the rest of the girls, raising her voice. "I'm ready. You
wanted to know what it was like for a woman, when she had sex with a man."

Amber cleared her throat.


"Mmmph. Yum. What was that for?"

"I'm late."

"Late for what?... OH. Congratulations!" Jessica flew up and hugged her wife.

"Thank you." Amber kissed her again. "And I do mean *you*."

"Oh." Jessica blushed. "Glad I could help." She thought a moment. "If you're
late, then I'm late too, aren't I?"

Amber's mossy eyes darted around. "Maybe not." They dropped to the stone floor
which was still moist with dew. "Occasionally your period... uh, takes a month
to get going. We'll have to wait and see but... yes." She nodded and her gaze
fell on Jessica again. "If it took we'll both be due about the same time.
Goodness," she gasped. "*Everybody* will be due about the same time. I forgot
that... All those children screaming in the night... I haven't heard that
since I was a girl. The old women say it makes their breasts- " She smiled.
"Still sure you want to be there for all the births like you said? Even if
your own is threatening to drop out?" She pinched her.

"I'm not sure I want to be there for *mine*."

"I guess we'll know for certain in another month... It, uh... if it happens,
it'll be pretty painful. Your period, I mean. The first time usually is for
some reason. There are a few herbs I can give you. But  they won't help much.
You'll have to tough it out... though maybe I can talk Lucia out of an aspirin
or two," she mused. "There aren't many left. We usually save them for- "

"Is yours painful?"

"My- ? Oh. Occasionally. It's not very bad. A little bloating. A cramp or
two... and sometimes I get horny." Her lips pursed. "It's *annoying*," she
whispered.

"Will mine be bad?"

"I don't know, honey. Let's hope we won't know for a few years."

"Oh." Amber yanked gleefully at the fine hairs on Jessica's arm. "You were
saying the other aspirin were usually for what?"

"Childbirth," Amber sighed, nibbling on her lover's bare shoulder.

"Oh."

Why did everything always keep coming back to that?

"But we leave that decision to Rachel since she was almost a doctor. I think
you've met her," Amber grinned.

"I've screwed her," Jessica chuckled. The redhead frowned at her. "Oh come
on... don't be a prude."

"I'm not a prude."

"You're jealous because you don't know what it's like."

"I am not..." Amber lunged at her sides with tickling fingers, scooting
Jessica to the corner wall in giggles. "It couldn't be that great," she
teased. "I asked Jimmy how it was being a guy and he wouldn't tell me..."

"Ah," she laughed. "Stop!... Oh! Don't!"

Amber finally relented, sucking happily on her lower lip. Jessica let loose a
deep sigh as they stared at one another quietly.

"I liked it. I don't have to give up him up do I?"

"No," Amber said. "I don't mind if you talk about it, I guess." She bestowed
another wet blessing on her wife.

Jessica pushed her gently back. "Do women... die in birth here?"

"Yes. Some of us..."

"How long do people usually live?"

"Fifty or 60. Sometimes older."

"So we'll have 30 or 40 years together?"

"Hopefully." Amber sighed. Jessica resumed the kiss, but this time she was
nudged away.

"Was it really better one way or another?"

"What?"

"Love."

"Huh? Oh..." Hadn't they- ? No. She never had asked that. Neither had the
girls. Were they too afraid to? "It's hard to... I don't... I can't..." Amber
put two fingers over her lips and Jessica gave it some thought. "He loved you
deeply. You touch different parts of my heart now. I think. Some are the same.
Most, maybe. Was that what you're asking?"

"Is it as good?"

"Oh yes. You're just as attractive to me."

"That wasn't what I meant."

"You make me feel good. I've got no complaints. It's not like I'm missing
anything. I just... I don't have the parts for a side by side comparison...
and if I did I wouldn't have the others to compare- "

"I know." Amber kissed her again. "Would you go back if you could?"

"I don't know. I guess I should.  Would you want me to? Which would you want?"

She kissed Jessica. "I want *you*," she emphasized, pinching her soft sides
until she giggled again.

Jessica let her have her fun. She loved seeing those cheeks shine like that.
And she was so happy for her and Jimmy. Herself too, strangely enough.

Amber'd been right. It did feel like hers.

Still...

She pushed the frisky arms away. The more she put the pieces together, the
more cross she got.

The tall woman sat up again against the headboard. "Why did you give him to me
if you knew I might not be ovulating?"

"A smaller chance is better than none at all." Amber sighed, resting a hand on
her shoulder. "And I knew if... if I told you the whole truth you might feel
guilty about taking it and say no. There's a lot of Jimmy still in you. And I
know it's what he would have done.... Weeeeell, one of us had to be selfish
for you." She poked Jessica in the stomach. "Remember what you always told me,
silly. 'Be selfish with me.' And it's not like the odds don't favor it. Your
queasiness is a good sign, though it could simply be the change... Ugh!" She
said something foul and sank back on the bed with a pleased grin. "At least
*now* I know why my eyes aren't the only green thing on my face in the
morning."

"And another thing," Jessica badgered. "Don't you have to wait a few days to
know if you're really late? Isn't that how it works."

"Oh." Amber put a hand over her mouth and tried to hide under her auburn
curls. "You got me there," she said in muffled tones.

Jessica parted her hair like opening a set of drapes, only to find the girl
snickering. "So you don't know yet?" she asked with some confusion.

"No. I know all right. If I had any tampax of my own I'd throw it at you."

Jessica jabbed a thumb in her ribs. "So you snuck around on me the last few
days?" she huffed.

Amber shrugged sheepishly. "I wasn't sneaking.... exactly. I just wanted to be
sure. If I'd started spotting, you'd have known as soon as I did. It's not
like I hid anything. Look." She tossed the sheet from her waist and two
fingers disappeared into her other set of curls. Then she held them in front
of Jessica, crossing them back and forth like good luck charms to prove none
of her auburn color had rubbed off. The glistening nails were so close... The
smell of her excitement was obvious. "You never did ask when I was due..." she
whispered.

The spell broke.

Dammit. That was one of the things Amber was supposed to help her with, wasn't
it? It was her job, the sneak.

No... Oops. Jimmy knew. She'd just forgotten about it.

Oh dear. She *should* feel guilty. She'd gotten so good at spotting it with
other women, remembering when Jimmy had sex them and counting forward to
figure it out.. Amber was one of the last, too. She peaked right when the moon
dimmed.

Why did she forget? Jessica had even known exactly when her time of the month
was. She'd rubbed the blood from her finger.

"Mmmupf."

"I don't care what it does to you. *I* feel like making love, even if you
don't." Amber fondled her wife gleefully. "Jimmy wouldn't leave me stranded...
Are you?"

---

A pregnant woman.

There was a visibly pregnant woman walking away from Rachel's cottage.

Jessica smiled at her politely and watched the lady's bulge meander down the
path.

She almost didn't know it when she stumbled through the open door. She turned
and found Rachel there running a towel over her wet hands.

The woman was topless.

"Hi. Just a minute... sleeves are a pain..." she mumbled as she pulled the
fabric back over her shoulder like a pair of suspenders. "Don't want to give
my wife the wrong idea if she drops in on us," she winked. "Yeah, I know. It's
a peculiar kind of being faithful."

"I didn't know we had a pregnant woman on the island- " Jessica caught
herself- "one so far along, I mean."

"Yes. Two to be precise. Due in a month." She set the towel down and offered
Jessica a seat. "A couple of boys changed within the last year. One of the
baby's is the last of Doug's grandchildren... uh, from the male end, I mean."

"Why didn't I see- "

Rachel smirked. "We hid them from Jimmy. Some men like that sort of thing and-
" Rachel shrugged, "who can blame them? Making love to a pregnant woman is
wonderful... unfortunately it's also something of a waste, if you know what I
mean. So we tucked them away." The doctor winked again. "Of course, if you'd
stumbled on them they were still yours to molest as you pleased. We're not
*that* bad about it."

"Oh I didn't- "

"And as to the fathers, now young women," she emphasized, "you saw a few of
them but one or two were nervous and still, uh, clinging to their mothers,"
she said suggestively.

"I would have never- "

"I know." She patted Jessica's shoulder. "I'm just teasing... and if you had
they would have loved it very much." She propped a hand on her hip. "It's a
strange place..." she complained, "strange and horny... frustratingly
horny..."

Jessica leaned against the doorframe while Rachel finished cleaning herself
up.

Wasn't there supposed to be a wall there?

Jessica peeked through a crack in the other door on her left.

Oh... the curtains had been drawn the only time she visited.

Curtains? She couldn't find any. And the pegs in ceiling were gone.

She caught a glimpse of the long table inside and sighed.

She could still see a wet spot on the wood.

"Now I guess you're here to see if you're preggers yourself? Am I right?"
Jessica shrugged her shoulders and nodded a little self-consciously. "Well I
wish I could help, Jessica. Maybe I could do something if I had a thermometer,
but I don't. We'll just have to wait to see if you menstruate. Sorry."

She frowned. "Why do we have to have both curses? I mean it's stupid if there
aren't any men around to get us pregnant, isn't it?"

"Yeah, I agree. But I didn't make the rules. Frustratingly horny, like I
said... So did you want an exam?" Rachel put her palm up like a crossing
guard. "You're almost certainly fine and I've had my fingers in enough pussy
for the day. So if it's just me you're looking to thrill, I'll pass... "

'Rules'...?

Easn't there something from a few days ago she wanted to ask her... something
about 'rules'?

"The odds are good so I wouldn't worry anyway. Something about the
transformation... But I think you knew that before you came by. What really
brings you? Did you come to talk about being a midwife?"

"No... I'm still thinking about it."

"Do you feel... I know I shouldn't ask this but... do you, uh... want to be
there for all those children? The ones Jimmy fathered?"

"I don't know. I should really be there for Amber. I mean I want to help other
people too but..."

"Since Amber's expecting, why don't I just teach you what you need to know to
take care of her.  I'm sure you want to help with her birth."

"Oh yes. Absolutely."

"Good. Then I'll help you with her and you can see if you like it or if you're
comfortable with it and have the time."

"OK. That sounds good." Jessica chuckled. "Jimmy always did like helping with
the ladies' sex lives..."

"Yeah." Rachel cracked a smile with her. "And of course you might need it
yourself."

"Oh." That brought to mind one of the things she'd wanted to ask all these
weeks. "Did... Did you miss- I mean I'm... Jimmy's very grateful you're
bearing his child. Or at least I'm sure he would be if he was here to tell you
himself. Well, I'm telling you... Aigh. You know what I mean..." She frowned.
"But did you miss not having Doug's child? I mean I'm sure I made the right
decision in the cave and I'm sure you did too when you had the chance but..."
Jessica grimaced at the indelicate way she was putting it. "You know what I'm
asking?"

"Yes, I do... and no. I don't miss it." Rachel sighed. "I don't think I would
have made a good mother at the time. I still had a lot of growing up to do."
She patted Jessica's stomach. "I'm glad I'm having yours, though. Jimmy was a
nice guy. I'll never forget our time together... particularly the way he
looked at my legs when they went in the air." Her lewd grin reappeared. "I
love teasing a man like that... It was sexy, wasn't it? I mean he enjoyed the
view? I thought Doug might have."

"Yeah," Jessica blushed. "It was sexy."

"Want me to do it again?" she giggled.

"No. That's all right." A nice guy... "Amber said... I was talking to her the
other day about something she didn't... she suddenly stopped talking about it
and said I might want to bring it up with you. I'd almost forgotten about it
but... she was saying something about men mistreating us. They... I mean we
put up with that? I won't have to... be hurt will I? Did Jimmy do that? I
thought everything was consensual."

Rachel finally took a seat at the dinner table. The tall hazel blonde sat
beside her and accepted her offer for some juice.

"No. Jimmy was an honorable man... it's good you've come to me about this. The
women here have no stomach for some things.... well, they're women about it.
What can I say?" She shrugged, but clearly wasn't making a joke. "Some of them
go through a gory birth fine and then they'll gag at a fracture..." Rachel
sighed. "I guess men can be a little different too. Maybe I've just
forgotten."

"Men have... men have been that way... to us?" That was possible?

"Yes... I haven't seen it but... well, not every man who gets here is a
gentleman about losing his manhood, as you can imagine. Over the years, some
have declined the local charms. Others... a few have committed suicide. They
don't allow that anymore. That's why a volunteer is always near." Rachel gazed
out at the blooming shrubs in her garden and drank in their sweet smell. "Some
men blame us for what's happening, though you and I know we're just as much
victims... Well..." She laughed sadly. "It's even hard for me to talk about
it." She gazed down into her lap and smiled. "There was a particularly rotten
bastard about five years before I arrived. No one much talks about him. It
took me years to get the story out of Nell... Amber would have told you in
time once Jimmy was... more distant in her mind."

"What happened?"

"He killed the Queen and her page when his chest hairs fell out. It finally
dawned on him they hadn't been lying. He was rough with a couple of women too,
even before that. Broke one girl's arm. Got more aggressive when he saw she'd
healed the next day... From the sound of him he was a rapist or a pirate or
something... For whatever reasons, he had a peculiar idea of paradise."

"What happened to him?"

Rachel managed a morbid smile. "They wanted to reverse castrate him."

"Huh?"

"Just the opposite of... Oh." She wasn't getting it. Rachel sighed. "He killed
a guard or two before they brought him down with an arrow. It was the hardest
thing they'd ever done. They mourned for seven... well, they really don't know
much violence here. It's why Lucia gets away with so much. She has a stomach
for it and the other ladies aren't stupid, though no one talks about the
incident anymore. And he's been erased from all records... they want a man so
much, they're almost unwilling to believe the darker side of some of them. But
I'm not being fair, either. Woman have that capacity too, when they're driven
to it. It's just a little different... They'd like to believe it too, to be as
charitable to men as possible. That's why they tried to drug him first.  The
really rotten ones tend to be tamed quite a lot by the moon, but then it's not
hard to see why. They end up like Susan a lot of the time, not that she isn't
a lovely person, but you know what I mean."

"Guards?" Jessica whispered. There *had* been some that first day. "You
mentioned guards... that's the first I've heard the word since my- Jimmy's
first day. Where *are* the guards?"

"There wasn't any use for them. They disbanded right away, I think. It's why
Lucia hopped on you first, just to be safe."

"Me?"

"Jimmy then... They still might let her do- " Rachel sighed. "Oh I know,
honey. You'll... sometimes when you're alone and things get quiet you'll...
you'll remember the things he did and be the 'I' doing it, you know? It's just
when you're around others, particularly those he knew, you remember him as a
him. Some gender identity thing... it's... it's confusing but it's not hard on
you once you learn to put up with it."

"Oh. Is that why I've been getting dizzy?"

"Some. It might be, uh... hormones related to you know what, but it's a little
early for it. Try thinking of your male days as exclusively Jimmy when you're
around others- except for Amber, if you know what I mean- and think of
yourself as Jimmy when you're alone. And if you get the dizzies reverse
whatever you're doing. It helped me sort out what was Doug's and what was
mine." She laughed. "It was nice to have parents again... I was surprised at
how much Doug and I wound up sharing and it pretty much killed the spells,
though I still get them at very emotional moments... The pregnancy's bound to
bring one or two back. He did some obstetric work that I'm liable to be
reminded of. So I'm sure we'll trip over each other but it was surprising just
how much I could look into Doug's past and be 'me' when I did it." Her chin
dimpled. "You will too. It'll be mostly behind you in a year or two."

"Thanks. I really appreciate the advice." Jessica took a long drink. "So
that... that and the Tampax fight... that's the extent of violence on the
island? The spears and bows are mostly for show?"

"Um... pretty much. There's an occasional catfight, particularly over lovers
but those are usually brief. The boys can get in trouble too. Sometimes we let
them spar. The moon heals most wounds, so there's little problem with it...
and when you lose your balls, that solves the rest of it. They're aren't any
'cowfighters' if you know what I mean," she joked. "Of course people still
argue over pretty things that wash up but that's about it... People are too
happy about other things so there's little reason to argue. Aside from the
fantastic sex it's really kind of dull here." She smiled and patted Jessica's
hand. "You and I are celebrities. Even if you remember just a bit of dialogue
from a book or movie, they love to hear it. Hell, I've seen them pour over an
ink stained piece of paper for years just to decipher some kid's washed out
sociology notes." Rachel chuckled. "Why once... this Shakespearean actor got
stranded here... well, even Hamlet's boring if all you have to listen to are
the prince's lines... and you're in drag," she grinned.  "They still loved it,
though. The scribe copied every single one of them down. They've got bits and
pieces of many great works here, stashed away. Some of them have hardly aged
too. There's something magical about that library I think. Anyway..."

Rachel took a sip from Jessica's cup and then kicked her feet up on the
windowsill.

Jessica frowned.

"What? We've shared more than a glass, honey. Believe me. If you were going to
get VD by now, you'd have it, you know what I'm saying?"

"No. It's not that. I just... That wasn't all, though, was it?"

"All of what?"

"About the man they killed."

Rachel swallowed and stared plainly at her. "You shouldn't hear it."

"What happened?..." Jessica trembled. "Oh no... the babies...?" Her eyes
welled up.

"Every one," she muttered. "They consulted an ancient scroll for it. One woman
died. The other dozen never had children again."

"No... how could they?"

Rachel sighed and offered her a towel.

"They didn't... didn't want to take the chance. But the price was so high...
there must have been something else he did, something none of the older ones
have mentioned even to me... All those women never bearing children again..."
Rachel brushed a tear of her own away. "They knew Circe took conception very
seriously... well," she whispered. "At least I've left them with better
information. No one should ever die again..."

"Was that why..." Jessica sniffed. "No. I'll... I'll be fine." She
straightened up. "Was Miranda hurt?"

"Miranda? No. She never had her chance with him... I doubt she even came down
her mountain that month, but it was never in the cards for her to have
children anyway. They all knew it... Sniff. See. Now look what you've gone and
made me do? Must be these damn hormones." She let out a wet chuckle. "You try
not to tell jokes in med school about what chemicals do to girls because they
overhear and just murder you for it but..." She snorted. "They're right. It's
a pain in the ass sometimes."

Jessica shared her sad laughter. "I know. I hate my period and I haven't ever
had one."

Rachel chuckled some more. "I know. They're pretty bad the first time for
girls like you and me for some reason but after that they're OK. They're easy
to get used to... and everyone else has them so it's not as bad as outside.
Folks will understand if you stain something, you know... I'll help you with
it if you need it, though there's nothing like a wife to share something that
intimate with. But Amber probably won't know what to do with the Tampax, I
imagine." She tickled Jessica. "You're quite a rich girl, I hear."

"Thanks," she giggled. "I'll ask when I need to."

"Well, the reeds they use do the job remarkably well. Just don't be surprised
when you see one. You're perfectly safe. Even if it is a bit of a dry hump all
day."

She shuddered at the idea of walking around with part of a plant inside her
all day.

Would a string be much different?

"Did you need a fitting for a bra? I do that too... Or maybe surprise Amber
with a few naughty greek words in bed tonight?"

"No," Jessica laughed. "Sorry. She's taught them to me already. She's quite
thorough."

"She is indeed. Jimmy picked a real winner for you."

Jessica glared at her. "*I* picked a real winner," she stressed, poking a
thumb between her own soft breasts.

"See?" Rachel chuckled. "It's not hard, is it? Being an 'I' instead of a
'he'?"

Jessica was a bit startled with herself. "It isn't, is it?" She frowned. "You
always get me off track. What was I thinking before you brought tampons up?"
She tapped her fingers on the wood for a second. "So... back to the
mistreatment thing. I can get hurt? I've already noticed minor scratches
disappear pretty quickly. Amber can't even get bags under her eyes."

"It's true. If it weren't for obstetrics I'd be out of a job. Whenever you're
fertile you're like an iron tank. A big, sexy fucking iron tank. I saw a girl
once loose a finger in a farming accident. Grew back in a month or two.
Amazing... Of course it doesn't change the fact that it's horribly painful.
The magic's not quite as strong before puberty, though."

"But Amber said I might live to be fifty or sixty. That seems a little young,
isn't it?"

"You'll probably both live into your sixties. Few make it older than that.
Something happens after menopause. The protection ebbs. The beauty remains
but... inside the body starts drying up. Nell's beginning to go through it,
but I'll look after her... I guess it's no different than the outside. If I
only had hormone pills, things would be different... Dates?" Rachel stood and
walked to a shelf full of jars. "I don't know about you, but I'm hungry." She
lobbed a canister Jessica's direction, getting her peeved. "At least your
hands are still quick. That's good."

"Yes," she shot back as she pried the plastic lid off, "but my boob's going to
be bruised from that can."

"No it's not. Haven't you been listening?"

"Like you said, it still hurts."

"Yeah, yeah. You'll stop bitching when you find out how much fun it can be in
the bedroom."

"I hope *that* never happens."

She grinned flirtatiously again. "I'm sure someday your girlfriend will just
happen to *slip*"- Rachel's fist jerked in the air- "and, uh... 'accidentally'
misplace that pipe."

Jessica furrowed her brow and stared. Did she know about Amber on the beach?

"Don't be such a prude. Some women like it... So they never let Jimmy do it?
So what?" Jessica visibly relaxed. "That's another matter entirely. They don't
dispense blowjobs readily either. Who can blame them?" Rachel took her hand
from the window, sat back down and accepted a shriveled up date from her sandy
haired visitor. "You know," she laughed, "when I saw you come through that
door all serious looking I thought you were going to ask me something easy
like... uh, what to do about being pissed at Amber because she asked if you
used to be a guy... Ow! Don't hit me. I'm your doctor."

"I want a second opinion," she growled.

"OK. You're ugly too." Jessica snickered. "*I know*," Rachel drawled. "That's
one joke that doesn't really work around here." Rachel grinned ear to ear.
"You know you're the first person in fifteen years to laugh at it?"

"Do I win an award?"

"Find your own pipe, honey... and no, you can't have any of my Tampax stash."

"I wasn't going to ask about that. Honestly, I don't want all those from
people."

"Well, get used to it. Some of them are still smitten with Jimmy. Will be the
rest of their days. You're going to be getting a lot of things over your
lifetime. Shit. You got the best home on the island, next to the palace."

"I know." Her lips pursed. "It's taken forever to thank everybody."

"It gets to you, doesn't it? You fuck their brains out and they keep thanking
you silly for it. Chicks," she giggled. "I can feel it getting Doug hard
now..." she whispered with a sexy gleam in her eye. Then whatever daydream
musings seized her disappeared. The doctor shot up and patted Jessica on the
arm. "Hey. Here's a better one. I almost forgot this joke. No one else would
get it."

"What?"

"Why doesn't the Junior League have orgies?"

"Too many thank you notes. Yes, I've heard it. Only it was something other
than the Junior League."

"It is funny, though."

"Yeah. It's funny."

"Say..." Rachel tapped the table. "You think we should start a chapter?"

Jessica cracked up. "*That's* funny."

"Ahhhh. It is... So listen. It don't know what's going through your head right
now but you're more than welcome to help out as much with the births as you
want."

"You're really pushing that, aren't you?"

"Listen." Rachel hunched her shoulders. "I'm not pushing, I'm just saying...
even if the part of Jimmy in you just wants to be there for it, I can always
tell them you're helping me out as a midwife or something. You don't have to
do anything. We can discuss that part separately... You understand what I'm
offering here?"

"Oh." She tried listening to Jimmy, but he was strangely silent, even though
she already knew what he'd say. "What... What would... Doug think I should do?
What did you do?"

"Umm... well as you can guess, I attended most of the births. It's one reason
I didn't, um... leap at the opportunity myself right away, if you know what I
mean. It's hard to deliver one when your own might pop out. But uh... yeah.
Some part of Doug wanted to be there. He was always real short on family
instincts though. It wasn't until I flooded with estrogen and Nell brought me
around by helping out with our kids that I started to think that way. Doug's
interest might have been purely clinical. I don't know... I guess I'm asking
you as much to find out about myself as anything. Jimmy always was a nice guy
so I figured if anyone burned to be a father, it would be him and it might
show up in you.  If it doesn't, so what. You know?"

"Mm. I kind of want to help... but it isn't kinship, exactly. Well... in one
or two cases it's very close." She chewed on a nail. "Would I have to do them
all just to- "

"No. You could be my apprentice... particularly if your own womb starts to
ripen, people won't expect you to show up at more than two or three... Who'd
you want to help with?"

"Well I haven't found out from everybody... Andrea, of course. Maybe a few
others."

"Ah. I wouldn't worry. With Andrea's hips that sucker'll pop out in no time
flat." Jessica giggled. "And I bet the kid'll be five feet tall after a year
on her milk." More giggles. "What a pair."

"So how are you going to manage? Is Nell helping?"

"What do you mean?"

"I mean your birth... and certainly all those other women. It will be hard to
coordinate, won't it?"

Rachel's jaw dropped. "Jeze! Jeze! Oh, Zeus! It completely slipped my mind!"
She paced the table nervously. "What *am* I going to do?!"

"OK, OK. I'll help some. Zeus, how gullible do you think I am? I know you're
not *that* stupid. All you had to do was ask... I swear you're as bad as Amber
sometimes."

"Yeah. They can get evasive, can't they? Islanders? Well... at least it'll
give you something to do all day. I know how trudging around the fields can
suck." Jessica blushed. "And like you said. Jimmy always did have a nose for
pussy. On that, even Amber agreed." She pinched the brunette.

"That's *not* why I'm doing it. I've seen my life's quota."

"Relax." Rachel hooked two fingers in her mouth and pulled it wide open.
"There's nothing sexy about that. Particularly when it's drooling red and
white stuff and has a hairy head popping out." Then she giggled enigmatically.
"Of course the screams sound the same. You just don't hear 'Stick it in' too
much."

"OK, you sold me," she blurted at the grinning midwife. "I'll help. At least
it's something to do."

"You really aren't that shy once you're pushed out of your shell."

Jessica let out a long groan. "I know. I've been acting like a little girl
lately," she confessed.

"It's understandable. But some of it's natural for your feminine self. Doug
and I were always outrageous. You're a little more pleasant and demure. Don't
let it upset you. People have always found me a bit indecent... Thank goodness
Nell puts up with me." She took another date and pushed the can back in
Jessica's direction. "So what have you done all day? Just visit more with
people?"

"No... no I... I helped out. I went on one of the fishing boats this morning."

Rachel patted her thigh. "I know what it's like. You don't know what you want
to do yet so you bug the hell out of everybody. Yeah. I was a real pain in the
ass. Twisted the queen's arm until she let me give all the women examinations.
Found out the hard way there isn't much use for a gynecologist on this island-
isn't that an irony?- They just don't have those problems... Obstetrics is
another matter. They didn't stop giving me grief until the first breach birth.
Circe had a sense of humor about sex, but she didn't about delivery..."

"What did you do for nine months?"

"Eight, honey. The first thing you have to remember is get the arithmetic
right. You've always been good at that." She patted her thigh again. "In
fact," she chuckled, "some women have been surprised that you've been able to
figure out so well when their periods due. (Though you really ought to stop
going up to them in the street. Periods are the most- yes I know only six
women are left). Anyway..." She sighed and picked her story up again.
"Eventually I stopped poking in everyone's pussy, left them alone and started
writing down all my medical knowledge- even the drugs, which I knew were
useless." She shrugged. "So far only aspirin's washed up, but you never
know... someday? Also sketched out every bit of anatomy I could remember." She
chuckled again. A bit of her lewd smile showed signs of returning. "Even the
male reproductive tract. Made an extensive, larger-than-life drawing... Not
that it's ever come in handy other than as a bit of weird pornography. Men
don't get sick in that department either." Rachel sighed wistfully. "If I
could just bottle the right mix of ingredients from this island and get off of
it I'd be rich."

"You and bottles," Jessica snickered.

"Yeah. Me and bottles. Mrs. Wizard..." Rachel's voice dropped low and she
rested her hand intimately over Jessica's. "Does it ever both you?" she asked.
"Not being called Mrs.?"

"Yes."

---

"Pass the salt."

"Not too great is it?" Rachel quipped as she handed it to Jessica. "Reminds me
of all that health food crap... Are people still into that?"

"Some." She was right, though. "It is pretty disgusting. Do you ever acquire
the taste?"

"Nah. It's more like you forget what the real stuff is like. The only thing
worse about it is how long it takes to make. It's like building a nuclear
bomb."

"Kind of ironic. All this beautiful company and the salt tastes so bad."

Rachel made a survey the twenty or so lovelies in the hall before slouching
back and sighing. "You know what they say. Screw the pretty one. Marry the one
who can cook." The pair chuckled. "Don't even get me started on pepper."

"I would've liked to see how they handled that hot sauce."

"It was as funny as the skin magazines. Only *that* fun's going to last a lot
longer..." Rachel draped a hand across her cleavage. "I'm going to one of the
classes tomorrow. Should be a gas."

Jessica picked off another bite of the poorly seasoned fish. "So how long did
the pepper last?"

"Oh two days, I think." Rachel pulled a bone out of her teeth. "I've never
seen pretty women with uglier faces."

"I'll bet," Jessica smiled.

"Some of them liked it right away, though. Lucia kept sprinkling it over her
plumbs. For some reason she couldn't get enough."

"Why doesn't that doesn't surprise me?"

The queen glowered from the head of the table.

"Careful. She'll bathe you in that expectant glow."

The furrows in Lucia's brow grew deeper.

"Like most things she wants, everybody ended up giving it to her... Don't
think they missed it much, though."

"Melissa said she liked it. No... that was... um. Amanda?"

"Yeah. Some of the children did like it." Rachel shrugged. "But then some of
them eat worms too... Say. There was something in Time I was meaning to ask
you about. That and one of those other news magazines. What's this thing
called AIDS? There were a couple of words in the article I didn't
understand..."

Amber leaned across the table to Nell to ask the small, graying brunette a
question- well, Jessica read it as more of a complaint, really. "How did you
learn to put up with all the things she talked about that you didn't
understand?"

"Darling, I used to get back at her by talking in Greek to my friends. But she
catches on fast. Fortunately our children came along by then so I could make
her change the diapers... but I never was able to get her to nurse him," Nell
said, looking at her blushing daughter. "I did try," she smiled wickedly.

"Mom!" Alexandra drawled. "Will you *please* stop making that joke?"

Nell combed through the flustered girl's brown hair. "Sorry, love... It's just
to get back at your- at Rachel."

Without turning an ear from her engaging conversation with Jessica, the doctor
reached blindly across Nell's drained wine glass to give their daughter a
sympathetic pat on the arm.

Nell grinned and took hold of the decanter for the third time.

For a minute Amber tried to keep up with the chattering pair but, she couldn't
help giggling whenever the word 'virus' popped up. And her wife wasn't pausing
long enough to take her along for the ride.

She'd have to do something about that later.

"So did you ever learn what she was talking about?" asked Amber again.

"Some. Not enough..." Nell let out an irritated sigh before setting her wooden
fork down. "And Zeus knows she's dragged me to enough births too over the
years...  What can I say? She puts up with my hot flashes and keeps me happy
in bed."

"Mom," Alexandra growled.

"Yes I know. We're not supposed to have sex at our age."

"Just don't talk about it all the time. You make her sound like a- "

"Well she is," Nell observed plainly.

Rachel giggled in agreement, but still kept her attention on Jessica, who
glanced curiously at the rest of the family before continuing.

"This is a dinner for adults, Alex," Nell chided. "I didn't invite you here to
interrupt us."

"Stop calling me Alex. I'm not him anymore."

"Yes. You're right. I'm sorry, Alexandra. But you were the one who wanted to
come and meet Jessica and Amber. You could have gone with your sister or we
would have been happy leaving you at home to fool around with your
girlfriend."

"Mom!"

"Oh, what? Now *you* aren't supposed to have a love life?" Nell winked at her
redheaded counterpart across the table.

The wine in the girl's cheeks reddened further and she said something in
greek, which broke Jessica's concentration.

"I'm not saying it to- " Her mother got irritated and dropped into greek with
her.

After a few moments of bickering, Rachel broke off her discussion of Time to
jump in, speaking the guttural tongue for the first time Jessica could
remember.

She was certainly animated about something... but that wasn't it. Somehow the
words sounded different on her lips, not that Jessica could understand a thing
that was being said.

Rachel didn't have a native accent, she realized. Huh.

Would she have that problem?

Was it considered a problem?

Now the whole family was babbling up a storm. It seemed friendly enough,
though.

She gave Amber's hand a gentle squeeze under the table.

"Sleeping arrangements," she explained.

"Sex?"

"Not quite. An older sister, I think. Would you like me to translate?" she
offered.

"No," Jessica chuckled. "I understand it well enough."

She examined the other couples at the table and sighed as it dawned on her how
many of the private conversations were in Greek.

But then how much could you really pick up at a dinner table anyway?

Had Hope and Melissa not been invited? With them it would be just like the old
six again. Linda and Susan were here. Andrea came by herself. She was polite
enough, but she sat at the far end and started flirting right away with
someone she didn't recognize.

Was that her girlfriend Amber had mentioned weeks ago?

Aside from Alexandra and Nell everyone else was close to the same age.

Was this one of the 'cliques'?

Was she finally 'in'?

Rachel blushed and then giggled at herself. Her family laughed hysterically.

"She mispronounced something again," Amber whispered. "It was quite funny this
time."

Whatever the doctor did, it resolved things. The three of them went their
seperate ways, resuming their quiet chats in English.

Jessica thumbed through the cup of unappetizing salt again. "I wish at least
there was some pepper on the island."

"I know," Rachel sympathized. "At least the women are spicy enough." She
pinched her graying wife who giggled politely with her daughter. "I don't mind
the trade."

She looked coyly at Amber. "I suppose I don't mind the trade either." Amber
pinched her under the table, making her thigh jump. "Still... I wish Lucia
hadn't eaten *all* of the hot sauce." She smirked as her wife pinched her yet
again.

"She'd still be that way," Rachel joked, "even if she hadn't. Trust me, if
anything it mellowed her."

Lucia's eye, ever attentive, wandered over them briefly as it had from time to
time. Then she laughed along with Dahlia at something consuming their end of
the table.

"You like having fun with her, don't you?" Rachel prodded.

"Well yeah," Jessica muttered. "As long as she doesn't run me through."

"She doesn't have the equipment," Rachel chuckled. "No matter how much she
wants it."

"Tell them about your dream again, love," suggested Amber.

Jessica got a twinkle in her eye and cleared her throat, just loud enough for
the queen to hear. "I saw Lucia in a dream"- The table fell deathly silent. "-
stark naked and pregnant out to here... waddling after a lost goat with a bow
she couldn't pull back."

The ladies around the Queen turned red with suppressed laughter as Jessica
pretended to draw an arrow but kept bumping a hand on her imaginary stomach.
Dahlia looked especially cross.

Lucia pounded her fist into the oak, bringing the tittering everywhere to a
halt. She grinned directly at her sandy haired adversary, who was startled to
say the least. "I do *not* need an arrow in my buttocks from you to know I
shouldn't hunt while I'm expecting!" She broke up into hearty laughter and
pinched her wife's cheek. "That's what Dahlia's for."

Even Dahlia didn't quite know how to take it. Her eyes grew wide.

"The hunting or the arrow?" Jessica cracked.

"Both!" Lucia thundered. "She's always wanted to shoot me in the ass, haven't
you love?"

"No kidding," her consort whispered. The entire table cracked up. "I'd like to
right now," she giggled aggressively.

Lucia squeezed her cheek again. "Go get the bow, love, and I'll help you
practice." The bottom of her chair swaggered back and forth.

"You don't really want me to hunt wild boar for you?" Dahlia asked.

"Only until the child arrives... then it will give me something to do while I
nurse." She turned to rest of the table and let out another boisterous laugh.

But she was serious. Jessica sputtered salt through her nose.

Lucia pointed and laughed even harder. "See! There's a woman who knows the
value of the hunt! Perhaps now she can throw the right end of the spear."

"Yeah." Jessica gurgled. "At myself, if I find one. Otherwise, get your own."

"Ha! Jimmy was smarter than I thought! That's why he pointed it at himself
before throwing! He was thinking of you!" Lucia cackled.

Jessica blushed, but screwed up the courage to reply. "I always thought you
wanted him to throw it again."

"Ahhhh... Dahlia is enough dalliance for me now," she said gleefully as the
smiling blonde fought her molesting fingers away. Lucia suddenly turned and
pounded the table again. "But by Jove, his was the biggest spear I've ever
seen!"

"Hardly," Rachel drawled. "Doug's was much bigger... *I* should know," she
grinned shamefully.

Amber frowned at her. Jessica had the strange urge to-

"Not for me he wasn't!" Lucia drove her hand into the wood one more time.

"That's just you, Lucia... You made him shrivel up," one of the older women
joked.

Everyone giggled. Dahlia hardest of all.

"Well at least Jimmy rose to the challenge..."

"Because you had him first," someone complained.

The queen gave her a disapproving frown. "All I know is his was big enough to
do the job. And once was enough. Could Doug say the same?"

Rachel chuckled and took another jab at her.

Jessica could only sit back and watch them go at it. Her wife was smiling
politely, but didn't add to the conversation.

Amber saw she was being eyed and just shrugged at her amused lover. "Like I
said. We're not always on our best behavior."

Jessica replied with her own shrug. "I don't mind. At least I'm being left out
of it."

"Indeed!" Lucia roared. "Poor Jimmy will be forever out of us! A toast to his
memory!... And his prowess with a spear!" she leered. All cups were raised. 
"And to Jessica's new life in his stead..." she said softly. "May she have a
chance to handle her own spear someday."

Jessica blushed again as Amber nudged her into raising a cup. The redhead
snuck a calming arm around her waist and caressed her reassuringly.

"And to the forty-four!" Lucia shouted, hoisting her glass yet again.

"Here, here." "Here, here." "May it be forty five."

"Indeed! Forty-five! My apologies, Jessica." Lucia took another swig of prune
juice, adding to the strange purple lipstick around her mouth.  "The man had
loins like a god! Long may his progeny thrive!"

Another honorary toast was made. And Jessica was coaxed yet again into joining
by her wife.

Then suddenly the mutually shared moment was gone and individual conversations
broke out once more.

Nell's daughter leaned in to interrogate her mother about it all. "Do adults
always tell so many penis jokes? I thought we weren't supposed to."

"That was just last month, dear... but still don't do it around the boys."

"I *know*," she snapped.

At the far end, the Queen wandered off after new quarry. She must have found
it because Claudia soon found herself blushing.

Dahlia took a swipe at her indelicate wife, but was deflected with ease. Then
Lucia counterattacked in the funniest way, patting herself on the hip as she
lifted her butt out of the seat and aimed it squarely at the blonde.

"Arrows, love. You need arrows."

She got a spoon instead.

The doctor needled her in the ribs from across the table. "It's a shame you
won't get to see her drunk for a while. She sings like a one-eyed pirate."

"I saw her in a sword fight with a tree once," Amber added.

"Poor tree," Jessica flatly noted.

"It won, I think..." Amber continued in a serious whisper. "They do fight
back, you know. A limb flew back and jabbed her in the... well, I won't say.
But you can imagine. They poke you enough in uncomfortable places, even when
they're not provoked."

"They do indeed."

But jabbing could be fun too... as Lucia well knew...

"Let's have some dancing," Linda suggested diplomatically, taking her flute
out.

Jessica hid her head in her hands.

"Not *that* kind," Amber told her dryly.

"Ah! It seems Jessica remembers how good you are with a pipe, Linda."

"Mmmm. It was the one time the pipe played *her*."

"*Susan*," Linda groaned.

"You're right of course honey. It was twice, wasn't it?" she asked innocently.

Jessica folded her fingers together and smiled like a fox at the squabbling
pair.

"You!" Amber pinched her and rose from the wicker chair.

"Where are you going?"

"She's with the band," Rachel pointed out. "Remember?"

"Oh."

"Band?" Amber asked. "Oh. Band. Yes, I'm a musician too... or did you forget."

"No... I've only heard you play once... That wonderful night..."

"I've had other things to do..." Amber grinned peacefully and stroked the arm
Jessica held about her waist.

"So you do more than just keep me warm?"

"Yes. Or do you forget?"

"Mmm. Remind me?" she asked shyly.

Nell was already leading her wife by the hand to the clear section of floor.
Alexandra remained dutifully seated at the table with Linda and Susan as the
rest spread out in the large hall.

"Stop, honey. I like it very much but- " Susan kissed her neck again. "Not
while I'm playing."

"I'll stop once you're warmed up."

"I'm already warm," Linda grinned. "So go take Allie for a dance, will you?"

"Mmm." Susan continued nibbling on her ear. "I wonder if she dances as well as
Alex?"

Linda suddenly went off key.

Jessica chuckled. The woman *was* easier to manage with a pipe in her.

"What?" Amber asked. "What's so funny?... Please?" She pulled away. "Come on.
I need to- "

Jessica felt a familiar tap on her shoulder. She let Amber slip off and turned
to find Andrea.

"Hi, stranger. Long time no see." The friendly brunette tugged up and down on
the front of her toga. "Can I have this dance?"

Jessica smiled and put a soft, calming hand over hers.

Her wife gave her a kiss on the cheek. "Go ahead," Amber whispered. "I have to
play the lyre... I'm sure she'll play with Linda for us later."

"Sure I will." Andrea gave the redhead a playful wink.

"We'll dance then," Amber promised.

"The moon is full," Jessica hinted.

"It's a date." Amber smiled secretively before kissing her once more for luck
and trotting off.

Andrea stood back and threw a little jiggle in her chest. "So do you still
like them?"

"Yeah." Jessica smirked timidly. "But I'd need a banana to prove it now." She
turned a little pink at her own joke.

Andrea giggled and kissed her. "You always were funny... I mean are," she
corrected herself. She looked into Jessica's eyes, blinking. "I wish I was a
better talker," she sighed. She wet her lips. "I do like Amber. I'm happy for
you two."

"You haven't found anyone?"

"No. Not yet. I ran Marla off."

Amber must have found her lyre because the music started. Andrea locked her
palms over Jessica's and slowly swayed her around the room, carefully dodging
the other pairs.

"I doubt it's you," Jessica whispered, resting her chin on her shoulder. "I
have it on good authority you're an excellent lay. Some of the sources are
even reliable."

"I know..." Andrea giggled again. "But I'm a handful," she sighed.

Her cushions, cozy as they were, did make it hard to embrace.

"Others really tease you about that?" Jessica pulled back to a more
comfortable distance and winked. "I think it's envy, you know..."

"You might be right," she grinned.

"I've been wanting to thank you for helping Amber move her stuff."

"It was no trouble. I like her." Andrea whirled the two of them around on her
heal. Jessica leaned her neck out and watched as the other couples flew by,
each trapped in similar orbits.

"I'm sorry I missed you that day."

"Me too."

"Where have you been hiding yourself?"

"Me? Sorry. I should have remembered to stop by again. Courtship keeps you
busy."

"Oh... working on anyone in particular?"

"I was. It didn't work."

"Well... flirting is a delicate art."

"I know. I'm trying."

"I'm sure you'll find a nice stable girl and settle down."

"Even if I have to tackle her to do it."

"There's always that." Jessica pulled her close again for privacy. "If nothing
works out... and I'm sure it will, but if it doesn't... you're always welcome
to stay with us. I'm sure Amber wouldn't mind letting you have the spare
bedroom."

Andrea laughed. "Thanks. I appreciate it."

"I'm not sure what help we could be. Amber's late and I'm probably too."

"Really? So you're- ?" Andrea held her back and pecked each cheek. 
"Congratulations. I'm so happy for you. I know Jimmy would be to."

"Thank you." Her cheeks turned rosy again at the mention of his name. Then she
found her arms waving awkwardly as Andrea seemed to come to a stop like a
puppet.

"You need to lead now, honey."

"Oh." Jessica curled a lock behind her ear and held Andrea's hand up again.
"Is this right?"

"Sure... a little faster, girl. Yeah... that's it." Andrea kissed her cheek
again. "You all right? Is Lucia getting to you?"

"I'm fine. I know she likes me."

"We all do... it's just that you still look a bit shy. Are you sure you're
OK... or is that just you now?"

"No... No, I'm sorry." Jessica brushed away another bit of hair with their
joined hands. "Sometimes I don't know what comes over me." She caught her
finger twirling the golden brown lock, now mixed with a black strands, and
smiled sheepishly. "I guess sometimes I look like Hope backed into a corner,
don't I?"

"Yes. You really do." Andrea smiled softly at her.

It wasn't the reply she expected. She thought Andrea would say something
typically outlandish like 'Please don't drop me.'

"She's really a sweet girl but she looks so silly when she gets like that. I
hope I turn out a little bolder."

"I'm sure you will."

Jessica stumbled, still trying to pick up the gait. Leading was hard. "Did
you... did you have this problem?"

"No, honey. I've always been a girl."

"Oh... Sorry to ask."

"It's no trouble. I'd help if I could."

Jessica tripped and the full-bodied woman saved her from falling on her own
long limbs.

"Are you all right?" Andrea whispered. There was more shock than fright on
Jessica's face, but-

"Funny, isn't it?!" Rachel shouted. "Taught them my first year here."

Nell twirled her out of view.

"Do you know the lyrics?" Jessica whispered.

"No," Andrea replied. "This tune has lyrics?"

It would have sounded like department store drivel to Jimmy last month. Now,
on the two lonely instruments it was hauntingly beautiful. "It's part of a
song," Jessica reminisced quietly. "It goes 'I can't get no satisfaction. I
can't get no girlie action.'"

Andrea nearly collapsed in laughter.

"I'm busted!" Rachel cried, flashing an upside down smile from one of Nell's
deep dips. "I knew this day would come!"

"I won't say anything," Andrea gushed.

"Well *my* wife's not going to be playing it much longer."

Jessica hummed a little to pick up the tune and then sang out a verse to
accompany the music.

The dancing promptly ceased amid a mass of giggles, leaving the musicians
quite upset.

Andrea brushed the sandy brunette's cheek again. "Aww... I find it
appropriate.... It describes my love life," she grinned.

"So it does. I guess it is a kind of raunchy lamentation."

Jessica looked around and saw a number of other women teasing their lovers
with it. Dahlia used it most effectively.

One or two even sang with the notes as they took their partners hands again...
but the lyrics weren't quite the same in the golden tones of their higher
registers.

Rachel conveyed the same disappointment with a brief wink. And then Nell spun
her off again.

Anything for a deep, gravely voice...

She'd rarely ever hear one again, would she?... except in her own thoughts and
memories...

"Would you like to know what Jimmy thought about when he first saw you lying
in his bed?"

"If you like."

"He thought you... you were a tragic waste on an island of women." Andrea
cocked her head. "You had the kind of figure only a man could truly
appreciate."

She smiled politely as the tune shifted. Then Andrea pulled her in to lead the
slower dance. "He really was sweet... but you could say the same of all the
women here." She kissed Jessica's cheek, close to her earlobe. "Plenty of
women have been attracted to me over the years."

"Believe what he tells you. You're wasted here... I- I see myself in the
mirror and I sense it... He wasn't in love with you... but he thought you
should know that. That you were special in that way."

"Thank you." Andrea rested her head and was silent a long while.

The band changed to another Rolling Stones tune. She couldn't remember the
name of it.

'Rolling Stones'... How inappropriate for the island.

"You know..." Jessica whispered. "You know when you asked me about your
tits... I thought you were going to offer to, um... 'prove your skills to me,'
as you put it." Andrea waited for a giggle but she didn't get it. Jessica
remained strangely silent as Susan and Alexandra passed by. "I keep expecting
to get propositioned. And it's embarrassing because I can't- When I hear it
echo in my head I know what they're expecting and I can't give them the same
thing anymore."

"I don't know what to tell you. Have you talked to Rachel or Amber?"

"Huh?" Jessica laughed. "No. It's... it's a little embarrassing. I'm sure it
will pass."

"Is she not good with a tongue?"

"Hm?"

"Amber."

"Oh... no," Jessica said shyly. "She- she makes me very happy... Why would you
ask that?... You don't know?" she whispered.

"No. We've never been intimate together. She's always been rather shy that
way... Why do you bring it up? Did you want me to prove my skills? I will if
you want."

She said it rather casually.

"No," Jessica laughed. "I don't think Amber would like that." Andrea was
quiet. "Would she?"

"No. Probably not."

"I'd hate for her to leave me."

"She can't leave you. You picked her."

"Oh."

---

She was a dear friend. And she had tits to die for. But it was easy to see her
potbellied and bald, with a beer in one hand parked on a sofa somewhere
watching *the game*...

"Getting the dizzies again? Don't worry, love. Jimmy made us all swoon."

"Lucia! Stop it!" Dahlia snapped.

"Um, sorry," she mumbled, looking away.

---

"So like a dummy I decide anyway to crawl back on my board and go for this
thirty footer- that's twice as high as the ceiling, doll- and I'm hanging on
for my life until I wipe out in about five seconds. But it lasted a lifetime.
I was flying. There's nothing like it... and don't tell me it was the damn
dope, because I was sober I'm telling you."

"That was a huge wave," Jessica whispered. "They have those in California?"

"Yes," Nell remarked dryly. "I wonder when it will crest?"

Rachel nudged her sandy haired friend with a wink. "Like Doug's dick," she
whispered, "it gets bigger every year." Then in a louder voice, for the rest
of the crowd: "Go on and tell us about that huge marlin Jimmy caught." Jessica
smirked. "It was fantastic. You girls wouldn't believe the size of the fish
that live out past the reef... Go on, honey. Tell them..."

---

"Now I've never actually caught one, but I have seen them... No. Stand over
there Lucia. Farther back... Yeah. That's about how big they get."

"Ooo. That's a *big* boy."

Most of the ladies let out a laugh.

"It's for spearing fish," Jessica explained. "Girls have them too."

"Then I wish *I* was a marlin."

Linda's joke turned everyone red in laughter.

"It's a long nose. That's all. Honestly, you ladies have disgusting minds."

"Someone has to."

"I wish you were one too."

"So how fast are they?" "I hope they're *slooooow*." More giggles.

"I've never caught one, but they swim so fast... they'd pass by the island in
the time it takes, um..."

"For sand to run out in two or three minute glasses," Rachel offered.

"Yes. Thank you."

"Are you getting all of this Mimi?" Lucia prodded the curly brunette sitting
arm in arm with Claudia.

"Of course," she replied, her rosy-cheeks glowing.

"Put your wine away just to be safe."

"I've got it fine." Jessica was stunned to hear her recite the last two
minutes of conversation perfectly. "Or do you want more? I'll write it down in
the morning."

"I said- "

"Hey. Lucia, ease up." Jessica sauntered over and patted the taller woman on a
broad shoulder. "Fish stories are best told drunk. She's the only one doing
this properly."

The laughing queen slapped her back so hard her teeth rattled.

---

"It's not the same without the wineskin."

"No. It really isn't. I'll do my best to act drunk if you like."

Jessica laughed softly. "I'll do my best to look hungover..."

Amber sighed as she came to a stop. "You always were trouble."

"Is this the spot?"

"Yes." She pulled Jessica down to the log. "It won't be the same without my
period, either."

"Good." Jessica smiled. "So what first? Dance, howl or love?"

"Mmmmm... all three..."

---

"Do I know you?"

"I'm Jessica. I told Hope I'd make the trip for her today."

"Oh. Well thanks for coming. Oh. Where are my manners?" She set the bushel
aside and shook hands. "I'm Miranda. Nice to meet you."

"Yes, I know. We've met before," Jessica grinned. "Well... you and Jimmy
have."

"Oh."

Jessica curled a strand of hazel hair around her ear and basked in the
sunlight bathing her cheeks. The gray old woman stepped back into the shadows
and blinked at her for a moment. The cave seemed to freeze.

Then Miranda sighed and the world was back on track again.

"Jimmy really was a nice fellow."

"Why thank you."

"You don't- ?" Miranda shook her head. "Never mind. I don't care to know how
it works... Well don't just stand there. Sit down and have some tea. But if
you say a damn thing about sex, I'll have you out on your ear, little lady."

Jessica nodded up and down. "Fair enough." She took a cautious step forward.
"Before I get inside... can I ask just one sex question?"

"What?" Miranda growled.

"Did... did Jimmy do anything wrong when he was here?" Jessica cleared her
throat. "Did... Did I hurt you?" she asked softly, her jaw jutting just a bit.

"No child. There's no time for wooing on this island," she laughed sadly. "No
first dates. Jimmy was a... a nice treasure that washed up on the wrong
shore." The old woman waved like she was swatting flies. "Now come inside out
of the sun before you cook that fair skin of yours..."

Jessica waited for the words to sink in, then relaxed and smiled. "Thanks."

"So tell me. How's life?"

"I'm... I'm very happy."

"Good."

"Some things are a bit strange, but then I guess you'd know." Jessica laughed
lightly as she stroked her chin, which for some reason drew a peculiar stare.

"You do remind me of Jimmy, you know. You laugh like he did."

"I know. It's confusing."

A wrinkled palm shot up between them. "Don't... bother telling me all about
it. I listened to Doug... Rachel... aigh," she groaned, "whomever ramble on
and on about it... Thank goodness I never bothered to learn that nasty Spanish
language. French was my forte in college." Her wrist slumped over Jessica's
mug. "Do you speak it?... No? Well, so tell me what's been going on."

"Do you know Amber?"

"Amber? Amber?" She pondered the name a moment. "No. I may have met one before
but I don't remember her. So many different people are nice enough to bring me
things but they don't always stay to chat. Why? Who's Amber?"

"Oh. Nobody." Jessica finally took a sip of tea. "I moved into a lovely home
on a bluff. It's by the beach and the breezes are almost as nice as they are
up here. I still fish... in fact I'm thinking of building a dock out by... my
house. You're welcome to come down and visit. I'd like to hear what you think
of it. There's not much to decorate with and I could always use suggestions."

"I know. You really have to improvise."

"That's why I thought you might like to see it. You're probably much better
with what's around here than I am... and I was kind of hoping to get your help
with a necklace later."

"I guess I ought to," she sighed. "No telling how many more years I'll be able
to walk down this little hill on my own. I should go while I still can."

"Ohhh, you're still quite strong. What are you complaining about?" Miranda
gave her a sideways glance. "I hope I'm in as good a shape when I'm your age."

"Why thank you."

Both ladies raised their cups.

"So tell me what it was like being a girl in the '20s. I heard they had a lot
of freedom for a while. Is that true?"

"Yes, child. Then and around the war, I guess, when all the men went off to
fight. Rachel told me it changed some afterwards..."