Tina and I stopped to talk with Lavern and Art on our way
out of the library. They hadn't noticed when we came in, but were watching when
we raised Tamm on the Chandelier. Astonishment would have described their
reaction to what they were seeing, and curiosity was burning in them as we
approached.
"Geof, just what in blazes are you doing?" Art
was probably right to be at least upset, it was one of his women I was abusing.
I replied, "If you want civil answers, then come
with me, now, please."
Art got up off Lavern and grabbed his skirt. Lavern,
still wore her clothes, but the robe was open and her restraints were showing
along with her recently vacated receptacle. She lay still, glaring at me for
taking her occupant, then rose from the sofa and walked out the door without a
word. Everyone else in the room followed close behind her except Tamm, who
wasn't going anywhere.
Lavern stopped in the hall and whirled about, firing on
me, "Now I want to know," her voice was loud with rage and her eyes
sparked as she spoke, "the answer to Art's question."
Tina stepped up to Lavern and in her even, firm voice,
said, "You'll both get your answers, as soon as Tamm can't hear what we
say, now follow me." Tina walked up the hall. We followed.
Tina took us to Art's gallery, and hopped on the bed
claming it for hers. I sat by her while Art and Lavern, neither of whom had
bothered to dress, pulled up some chairs from nearby. When we were all settled,
Art started the ball rolling by asking, "Well, what are you doing, and who
is the manx with you now?"
I quickly introduced Art to Tina, then asked Tina if she
and Lana had a meet set up.
"Yes, I'm to report to Lana as soon as I know the
situation is stable up here."
"I think it's time for you to report, and have Lana
come back with you, please." I replied.
Tina rose and exited the room.
Art and Lavern both started asking questions at the same
time when Tina had left, and I just held up my hand for silence until they
finally began to ask one at a time.
Lavern, "Just what's the big idea Geof, the way I
understood things, I'd been selected for some reason to show Art what mating
was all about, but now I'm beginning to wonder?"
"Lavern, the fact is your partner showed her true
colors down in the living room when the decision for us to stay the night was
made. Tamm is Sandy's counterpart." When I'd finished, Lavern simply sat
with her eyes wide open, looking at me.
*** *** *** *** ***
Lana and Tina appeared shortly. Tina had already told
Lana what we had done with Tamm, the Tower Two spy, so Lana started right in on
me.
"Geof, I don't know if I should congratulate you or
be angry. You took some terrible chances when you assumed the situation here in
Tower Two is like the situation in Tower One, our Tower. I've just come from a
planning meeting with the concubines of this tower, and the fact is that they
wanted to know who was doing the spying for the Counsel. Now they know. They
are also left with the problem of what to do with the spy, because now they
can't just be aware, they must act."
I was burning under Lana's blistering reprimand for my
acting independently, made all the worse by Art's witnessing the event.
"But," Lana continued, "there is a way to
fix the damage done, but it is Art who must do that for us, and his concubines
here in Tower Two." Lana turned to Art, "It will be up to you during
the course of the next few weeks to make sure your prisoner in the library is
pregnant, absolutely sure. If the situation makes no sense to you, then remember
this one point. For your friends continued health and safety, the woman in your
library must be taken out of the general population by the Counsel of six. Her
pregnancy will do that."
Lana rose and beckoned for Tina and Lavern to follow her.
They'd just reached the door when Lana stopped and said, "Dinner is in
about half an hour, shall I send for you?"
"Yes, please do." I replied for Art and myself.
When the women had gone Art said, "There is
something not clear here."
I asked, "And what's that?"
Art, "A few hours ago, you raped the redhead in
front of me, and she accepted it as natural. Just now she blasted you for your
actions, and you accepted it as natural. Just who in hell is in charge of your
little group, them or you?"
I replied, "Politically, they are. Sexually, I
am."
Art, "I think I need a drink. This isn't making any
sense at all."
"The drink's not a bad idea, I could use one too.
But you'll excuse me if I suggest the situation isn't as hard to understand as
you imply."
Art led the way to the library liquor buffet, and poured
us each a stiff drink.
I continued, "We are in the city, which we know is
ruled by women. Therefore we are living under the political rule of these
women, and there is really nothing we can do to change that. On the other hand
we are here, in these towers, as studs. We are supposed to be making love to
these women to perpetuate our species. The problem is, it hasn't worked because
nobody can force a man to mate against his will. We both know it just doesn't
work, and there are some women in this city who know it too."
"Apparently I am the first man to have broken out of
my shell, and actually mate with the concubines supplied to me by the Counsel
of Six, who unwittingly are using women who are part of a political movement,
who's main goal is to end the separation of the sexes, and with it mankind's
headlong rush into extinction."
Arts face lit up with some degree of understanding, than
he said, "And this political movement is outlawed by the Counsel, for
which this one is spying." With that statement, he indicated the captive
at the other end of the room, "because the Counsel fears that if the
breeding program is successful, it will end their political hold on the
women."
"Exactly."
Art, "But they're right, by the way your women act, the
women who become your mates, also become your servants."
"Only in bed," I paused to let the comment soak
in, "Only in bed." another pause, "At least at first, that
is."
Art was still soaking up that bit of information when we
were told it was time for dinner by a messenger.
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Chapter 61 | Chapter 63
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