In due course Opaline took him into the nearby forest and had him move a chip of wood across a stump. At first he was right near it, but she made him try it from farther away. She made sure they were alone, then drew a line in the dirt and told him she would take off one item of clothing each time he moved it from a farther distance. Then he really tried. When he did it from several paces away, and she was nude, she embraced him. She opened his trousers, bringing out his stiff penis. "Lift me up," she told him. When he did, she used her hands to fit him in, and bestrode him vertically, making his spurt while standing, as it were.
A new challenge was to move two chips at once. That was difficult at first, but once he got it, he improved rapidly, and moved two, then three, then four, then five simultaneously. She had vertical sex with him four times in three hours as he achieved each added chip. He loved this game.
There was a sharp limit on the size of the object he could move, and the distance: about an ounce, half an inch. But no apparent limit on the number he could do, or the range. Both kept increasing as she encouraged him.
"You are doing well with Oak," Kettle remarked one day as Opaline helped her make bread. "He is happy, and more confident, and he looks better."
"He likes one thing."
"He likes you. He would cater to you even without that thing."
"I would never tease him."
"Understanding," the woman said. "You give him what he lacks, as we can not, and so he learns from you. But you may be here only for a month. What then for him?"
"I will be free to leave after a month, if I choose. I don't have to."
"Will you stay?"
"I don't know."
Kettle nodded. "Appreciation for your candor. We were uncertain about bringing in a stranger for such a purpose. Now we would like you to stay, if you choose."
That was an endorsement that had not been given before. She had won over the parents. But she could not commit. "This is not an easy decision."
"Understanding!" Then, after a pause: "He can sing."
This was new. "Question?"
"He has perfect memory for melody, but can't remember many words. If we repeat the lines for him during a song, he can render it beautifully. But we have not cared to risk doing that in public."
This was something Opaline knew how to do. "Request: may I risk it?"
"Granted." Kettle was evidently pleased.
Opaline tackled music with Oak. "Sing for me, Oak."
He just looked at her.
She chose a song at random. "Tell old Bill when he comes home this morning."
Then he sang it. Kettle was right: he had a beautiful voice, with perfect tone.
In a few days the local village had an amateur entertainment night, open to anyone. The teens liked it, and weren't ashamed to make fools of themselves trying to perform. Opaline took Oak to Nonesuch, with Pot and Kettle quietly following, and when there was an opening, led him into the center stage.
The villagers watched. They knew Oak, and knew his mental limit. They would not ridicule him. He was, after all, simple. They were more curious about Opaline, whom they hardly knew. But their side conversations continued; they were not paying full attention.
"Sing," she murmured, and spoke the line.
"Tell old Bill when he comes home" he sang, not questioning her.
"This morning" she sang, doing the refrain, as they had rehearsed it. And so it went:
The villagers were quiet. Now they were paying attention.
When they finished the sad song, the villagers broke into applause. This had not been a poor amateur effort, but a minstrel-quality presentation. Oak surely did not understand its nuances of infidelity and consequence, but he did not need to. All he needed was to listen to the lines she gave him, and sing the tune he knew.
Opaline glanced at Pot and Kettle. They were standing together, holding hands, tears in their eyes. She had shown them and the village how Oak could be a successful entertainer. All he needed was the right encouragement and support. Havoc had taught her how to provide it. She doubted that could be coincidence. He could see the future; he must have known that Bright would be there at Pleasant Village, so that she could enable the shy young man to sing in public. That had seemed worthwhile in itself, but now she was doing it with Oak. The practice with a man of normal intellect had shown her how to do it with the man of subnormal intellect.
Thereafter they went regularly, singing different songs. Once, on invitation, they went to a neighboring village, performing as minstrels from Nonesuch.
Yes, Oak needed direction. But there was no mean streak in him, and he was devoted to her. Things could certainly be worse elsewhere.
The month passed, and Opaline did not leave. She had not made her decision, but meanwhile it was easy to continue.
Chapter 10 Warp
"I have work to catch up on," Ennui said as they entered the office. "Havoc's son Warp will take over now."
Shee sighed. "I had hoped to be with Havoc."
"In due course." Ennui sat at her desk, which was piled with papers. Then Havoc entered, glancing at Ennui.
"You summoned me, oath friend?" Shee ran gladly to him. "Havoc!" She flung her arms about him and kissed him avidly.
He returned the kiss. Then he looked into her face. "Revelation: I am not Havoc."
She was taken aback. "You are his mock? Doubt. I would know."
"I am Warp."
She looked at Ennui, who nodded. "Shee, meet Havoc's son Warp. Warp, meet Shee Robot, Havoc's new mistress."
"Regret," Warp said. "She's one winsome piece."
Shee found herself blushing. She had been crafted to do that when embarrassed, and to be embarrassed when warranted. "Apology."
"Needless," Ennui said. "No one can penetrate a Glamor's disguise. Not even another Glamor. I knew he wasn't Havoc because I know where Havoc is and I knew Warp was coming. This little show was to satisfy you that not even you can tell."
Shee gazed at him intently. He was Havoc in every nuance. "You really are not teasing me?"
The man's features shifted, becoming a handsome young man with dark black hair and eyes.
Now he matched the profile in Shee's memory. "Really," he agreed.
"I was fooled."
"Now we expect you to maintain the pretense, as I have Havoc's business to attend to."
"I'm not having sex with you."
Warp and Ennui laughed. "You see, she's loyal," Ennui said. "She loves Havoc."
"This is a public appearance," Warp said. "Ennui is setting it up. No sex, not even no fault. Merely your public recognition of me as Havoc, and a kiss or two to prove it."