Iionii Shonn's gills itched. Her pale, nearly textureless skin felt taught in all the wrong places. Her obsidian eyes burned with dryness and her long, silky black hair tingled with discomfort. At least that was how she would explain her restlessness to her husband, Paul, should he inquire. It was the excuse she always gave. As a water-alt, it was a good fallback and, often enough, even true.
She sat up in bed and felt Paul's hand on her back, right where her slightly protruding spine formed a meager dorsal fin.
"Sweetheart?'
"I'm fine," she said. "The humidity's a little low, that's all."
"Want to hop in the hydro-pod…together?
"I need more than a shower. A swim will do the trick. I think I'll inspect the number three line intakes. It'll save me time tomorrow."
Paul's hand slipped away. "It's after curfew," he said, referring to the mandatory, Haven-wide eight o'clock curfew for all Alts.
"I'll be in the Lake. No one will even know I'm there."
He knew that she wasn't going for a swim; she could hear it in his voice. Still, she got up and went through the act of gathering up her wet-cloak and dry-bag. She slipped the dark, voluminous garment on over her naked body.
"Be careful," he said.
She hefted her diving knife for him to see. "I'm always careful." She leaned over and kissed his cheek. "I'll be back soon enough. Don't worry." Paul rolled over and stared at the wall.
She opened the door to leave but stopped when he sat up in bed and said, "Iionii, make sure no one sees you. You know it isn't a good time to be an "Alt".
It seldom, if ever was a good time to be an Alt, Iionii thought. She almost pressed the lie about swimming but didn't. "I'll be fine. I'll be alone."
"You aren't alone. You don't have to be."
Before he could get up to accompany her, Iionii returned to the bedside and hugged him. "I know," she breathed. Then she sat back a bit to better see him in the shimmering blue light that shone through the windows. His brown hair was already tussled even though it was barely nine o'clock. For both of them, she returned to the half-truth of swimming. "But you would only slow me down."
"Right. I'm just a Norm," he said.
"But you're the best old-fashioned human in all of Haven."