Suddenly, a light went on in Kate’s head. “That’s why you wear the helmet, uh, the hat. To stop them from hitting you in the head with a rock.”
She nodded, reaching up to touch the hard bark shell. “Yes. I will not go back as slave. This might let me escape them. Not everyone likes to wear them.”
“Too hot,” Lilani complained. “I see men coming, I run. Get away.”
“That’s a good plan. I’ll have to make one.” Kate checked the sun. It was getting late. They had many more kilometers to cover before she would be in position across from the village they called Lakapit. She had to arrive there during the night to put her plan into action. “OK. I’m ready. Let’s go.”
Keltar called practice to a halt just before dusk. Jorja, soaked in sweat, felt like a wet rag. The heat made her bones too hot for her skin. “What I wouldn’t give for a cold shower,” she gasped.
“What shower?”
“Um, rain. A cold rain.”
“Ahh. No rain here until Makesa. Two more shatlaks from now.” The Ute still seemed to have some trouble with their measurements, she noted. “Come. We have way to wash up, like shower.”
“Thank god.” They left the other fighters and headed toward the dormitory. “What time is the fight tomorrow?”
“Jamala. When sun is high.”
She guessed he meant noon. The hottest part of the day. If she had any chance to win, any at all, she’d have to do it quickly before the heat sapped her strength.
They went through a doorway, then walked down a corridor to a small room with a drain in the floor. A rope hung from the ceiling. “Take off clothes,” Keltar said abruptly.
Jorja had just gotten used to wearing clothes again, but her need to clean up overpowered her sudden modesty. She stripped off the sodden garments and tossed them into a corner. She was surprised to see Keltar take off his loincloth and footskins as well. She couldn’t help but stare at his large cock. She allowed herself a thin smile, remembering her efforts on board to make the computer generate the native hologram naked. Now I’ve got the real thing and it’s everything it’s supposed to be. Her libido reared its horny head for a moment. Down, girl. He’s not really a man. At least, I don’t think so. But parts of him are a reasonable facsimile.
Keltar picked up a bucket attached to the hanging rope and dipped it into a larger bucket of water in the corner of the room. He hauled on the rope and the bucket rose up toward a pulley. The bucket had holes on the bottom, allowing the water to dribble out. Keltar tied it off and waved Jorja under the water. She relished the crude shower. There was no soap, so she just rubbed the sweat off her body as best she could.
When the bucket emptied, he indicated she should return the favor. She filled the bucket and hauled it up, then admired the well-built man’s efforts to rinse off the sweat and dust. Despite herself, she felt a heat in her loins, a familiar wetness that had nothing to do with the water dripping off her body. You horny gal, she told herself, seven months in space and you’re seriously thinking about fucking an alien.
There were no towels. In this heat, they weren’t really necessary. They padded naked back down the corridor, carrying their sweaty garments. Keltar appeared completely unabashed. He turned to the right and led Jorja to a door set in adobe. “Here my quarters,” he said, opening the door.
It was a small room, about eight by ten. The only furniture it contained was a wooden chair, a box, and the bedding area taking up most of the back wall. Jorja turned to him. “Where am I supposed to sleep?”
“There,” he said, pointing to the bedding.
“Then where will you sleep?”
He cocked his head. “There also. You afraid I sex you?” Damn these ignorant Utes!
“Um, no.” Then why am I acting indignant? She felt the blood rush to her labia, causing more fluid to leak from her. I’m afraid he won’t, she realized. She was sure he could smell her by now. His eyes locked onto hers for a moment before dropping down over her nakedness. She looked down as well and saw his cock swell slightly. A blush crept into her face and chest. She turned away.
“Come,” he said abruptly, “we go eat.” His cock drooped. He reached down into the box for another loincloth.
Jorja, grateful for the distraction, almost ran past him, then stopped short at the door. “Wait. I need clothes.”
“Why? You woman.”
“No, I’m a fighter. And fighters wear clothes.”
He stared at her, then nodded slowly. He reached down and tossed her a loincloth as well. “What about my breasts?”
“Fighters don’t wear loincloths on their breasts.”
Great, she thought. Hoisted by my own petard of equality.
Chapter 28
Greta, her hands tied behind her, was practically dragged through the door to Gorshun’s hut by the leash on her collar. “I’m coming, you bastard, I’m coming,” she muttered as he hauled her inside. She had gone willingly, leaving a worried-looking Beth behind, but the slave trader seemed angry nevertheless. She had a bad feeling that he was still burning over Niktus’ profit on the U.T.s and planned to take it out on her.
Can’t we be friends? She knew she’d have to appeal to his masculinity to divert his anger.
Gorshun chained her to the wall near the bedding, then untied her hands. She rubbed her wrists and asked him, using the Ute, what was wrong.
“Niktus trick me, make me sell boxes cheap, now give me worthless slave in return,” he barked.
“I am not worthless! I’m a mission…an important person in my own country.”
“Look at your face. Damaged. And body—skinny, no hair. You look like girl.”
“This is our custom where I come from. Body hair considered not attractive. And my cut on my forehead will heal up soon.” Not that you’ll get to see it—we’ll be long gone from here!
“At least you have breasts! What about rest?” He groped with thick fingers between her legs.
“Wait! Slow down!” Greta remembered the vocal coupling between Beth and Niktus and knew that the species seemed quite compatible. Now she was about to find out for herself. She wasn’t opposed to the idea, she just wanted him to be more gentle.
Gorshun wrapped a large arm around her back and held her close to him. The other didn’t stop fumbling at her slit. “You my slave now. You obey.”
The big man was too strong; she couldn’t wiggle away. Her Earthbound tricks she used on so many men didn’t work here. She couldn’t be coy and tease this powerful alien. Greta tried to close her legs. He pulled his hand away long enough to slap her face. Her ears rang and her head ached. When his hand returned to her cunt, Greta didn’t fight him. He pushed her down on her back, wedging his legs between hers, his fingers now beginning to draw some wetness from her, despite her discomfort.
“Please,” she said, trying to push him away. “Go slower. I’m not ready.”
He laughed. “What you ready for not important. I ready.” Greta looked down and saw his erection growing—and growing.
“No, please, you’re too big! You’ll hurt me.”
“You say you are woman. I find out.” His fingers, rubbing against her clit, were beginning to have an effect on her, despite his crude advances. She began producing more fluid, coating his fingers even more, thus encouraging him.
He leaned down and kissed her erect nipples. Greta groaned despite herself. It felt good, even if he was an alien. He tickled her with his wet mouth, making her nipples ache.