* * * * *
I tried to play it safe, and keep in Wanliet’s shadow. I wasn’t too worried that the other players might talk and tumble to what was what, as everybody there had reasons for suspicion, doubt, and secretiveness. I figured they’d all be trying to outsmart one another and end up being more uncertain than before. That’s how it was going for me.
There was speechifying. An-Tine was a stiff, no surprise there, as he welcomed the Inspector General and looked forward to the day when the Planetary Union would take its rightful place among the Empire’s assets – no kidding, he really said those very words.
My friend Wanliet was in fine form, speaking grandly about the future and how all Caliugans would unite, and put their trifling quarrels behind them, and come together in the embrace of the Emperor. He foresaw speeder trains racing across the dark plains, their skins glistening like oiled beads, the threads of commerce and industry binding all together in happier tomorrows. His vagueness and odd poetry were a hit, and we returned to our quarters buoyed by booze and the people’s love.
Within five minutes there was a knock at my door. Eagerly I went to greet Sirah, or Aspe, or the two – but it was An-Tine. Very hard to be gracious with a letdown like that. “Oh, Ambassador, please come in.”
“Sorry to bother you so late, Mr. Daskal, but I was wondering if you’d had the opportunity to discuss my proposal with the Inspector General?”
“Yes, we’re of course interested in increasing the prosperity of Caliuga and the Empire, but we must know more before we commit.
“There have been rumors that have reached our ears of some other products of Caliuga, which, indeed, might provide some of the inspiration for some of the works of art you mentioned. “
He nodded, barely containing his excitement. “You refer, perhaps, to the substance we’ve discovered here, called zoocaine, an alkaloid which produces various stimulating effects on individuals and groups. Its use is reflected in some of the works, yes.
“What is your interest in zoocaine?” he continued, probing. “If you – fear -- its export for illicit usage, please rest assured we shall put in place strict controls, as it is a sacred substance here, used primarily for enhanced awareness and in spiritual ceremonies. Our only purpose in its export would be as part of our hope to increase spirituality in the Empire.” ‘Strict controls’ – there was a cartel formed already!
“These spiritual ceremonies – might they involve nudity?”
“They might – spirituality is a deeply personal thing, and finds many and various forms of expression.”
“Yes, I think I learned something of that last night.” Another knock at the door.
“I can’t be seen here. I’ll have to hide!” he whispered.
“You probably know the joint better than I do. Have at it, Ambassador.” Once he was hidden away in a closet I went to the door, eager to embrace Sirah, or Aspe, or both. Even Pex-al-Pex.
“Seeing you again good is, my brother Jaf, but talking better!” said Lordano, with Jedub in his wake as they entered.
I drew them close and whispered quickly that the Ambassador was hiding in the closet, so they wouldn’t mis-speak. Jedub raised an eyebrow, Lordano smiled and said, “Mr. Daskal, talk together we must of glorious enlightenment, but late now, breakfast tomorrow?” and he pulled me close for a hug and hissed, “An-Tine trust not!” pulled away, and told Jedub they had to be going. At least, I think that’s what he said, because they both left.
Everything was in such flux I couldn’t be sure, but Lordano seemed – different. ‘Brother Jaf’ – where did that come from? I shook my head in quiet bewilderment as I walked to let An-Tine out of the closet.
Then there was another knock. Remembering a farcical scene from a holo-opera called ‘A Night at the Movies’, I abandoned all hope, cinched up the belt on my robe and answered the door. “Pex-al-Pex! What a delight! Come in, please!” And it was a delight; she’d been stunning at the banquet, but I was taking a hands-off attitude at the time, halfway remembering something about two girls are too many, three’s a crowd and four you’re dead -- so I hadn’t tried to learn more about what a Kitec was just then. And now, here she was in my chambers after midnight. And still looking stunning, although I got the impression she, and her gown, were a bit more relaxed now. I was more relaxed, too -- I hoped An-Tine didn’t have a bladder problem, as this might take awhile.
“Mr. Daskal, sorry to come so late, but I felt I had to talk to you. “
“Yes? Please, sit down Pex. And call me Jaf, at least within these walls. But what brings the Kitec here?”
“Thank you, Jaf. I have to tell you something …”
“Please do, Pex. Would you like a drink?”
“Yes, thank you – Jaf. Some wine sounds wonderful. I felt sure you would want to know that there’s something strange going on here, in Solip City and the Planetary Union.” I poured, she sipped, and I wished I’d had a supply of that love drug – perhaps I could bother the Ambassador for some? “For many years the Zemblans have made a wonderful wine here, using some of the local fruits to flavor it and help relax us. A few months ago one of the amateur chemists discovered a way to turn these fruits into a drug, which we called zoocaine.”
“This drug – what does it do? Why should I, or the Inspector General, be concerned with it?”
“It turns people into sex-crazed animals! It’s turning up everywhere, and disturbing the order we in the Planetary Union have worked so hard to impose. I’ve already witnessed its effects on our staff – should this drug escape Caliuga it would be catastrophic for the Empire!”
“I’d heard rumors, Pex. Would you care for some more wine? Good. Now, this drug, this zoocaine– what does it look like?”
Reaching between her breasts, she produced a vial of syrupy, pale yellow fluid. “I brought you a sample, Jaf” and handed it to me. The vial was a little slick, and smelled faintly of her perfume, too. “How many doses is this?” “Two, Jaf.” “Well, I’ll have to check this out, see if it’s dangerous.” “I can’t let you do that, not alone. I’ll be your guide.” “Then you’ve done this before,” “Twice, so far.”
She emptied the vial in our glasses, even doing a rinse for me. The zoocaine in our wine hit us quick and hard.
At some point I guess An-Tine left the closet. If anybody else came knocking at the door I didn’t hear them.
Quickly Pex andI came together, our mouths at first tentative in the kisses, then swiftly heating up so we were devouring the other’s face, throat, and then as clothes were shed our fingers and tongues tasted chests, nipples, navels, and then followed the V arrowing down to the core.
There’s much to be said for the energy of young women, but mature women have much to be said for them, too, a kind of languorous grace and heat from carefully banked coals. With just the two of us it wasn’t quite the surrealistic romp of the night before, but it was plenty adventurous all the same.
Also, I felt more opened up with Pex, as I never before had. Hard to explain, harder to justify, but I felt safely naked and open and honest in a way that my intellect kept telling me was unreal and dangerous, but my heart and soul reveled in it. Likely the night before I’d been too busy to notice, but now my intellect was grasping a glimmer of plausibility for An-Tine’s spiritual claims for zoocaine. We were licking each other, and I felt like my every caress and penetration was somehow echoed by her on my body, like stroking her was stroking me, like which parts were whose parts was unimportant, it was our essences blending then.
My soul interrupted and told my intellect to shut up and enjoy the romp, and it’s a good thing because I might have fallen in love, it was so magical, tapping into universal bliss and being drained of my worries and fears.
But it was exhausting. Maybe it was just worries and fears that were keeping me going.
I’d fretted about many risks on Caliuga, but getting screwed to death hadn’t been one of them until now.