Abduction (18 page)
Authors: Robin Cook
Tags: #Fiction, #Suspense, #Onbekend, #Unabridged Audio - Fiction, #Suspense & Thriller
the idea of work is not something they can relate to."
"If you swim for work, does that mean you like to swim?" Meeta asked. "Sure we like to swim," Michael said.
"Well, why don't we all take a dip?" Meeta suggested. "Why not," Mura agreed. "You people need to cool down." "I think it is a wonderful idea," Sart said. Richard looked at the inviting aquamarine pool. "Are you talking about swimming right now?" he asked. "What time could be better?" Palenque said. "We're all so warm and sweaty." "But our clothes," Richard said. "We'll be sopping." "We don't wear clothes when we swim," Meeta said. Richard looked at Michael. "This place just keeps getting better and better," he said. "Well?" Meeta questioned. "What do the professional swimmers say?" Richard swallowed. He was afraid to say anything lest he wake up. "I say we go for it," Michael cried.
"Wonderful!" Meeta said. She leaped to her feet and helped Palenque to hers. Sart got up and gave Mura a hand. In the blink of an eye the Interterrans unabashedly threw off their tunics and stepped out of their shorts. In their naked nubile splendor, they all dove cleanly into the water and swam out toward the center of the pool with strong, practiced strokes. Richard and Michael were momentarily too stunned to follow. Instead they glanced around at the people in the immediate vicinity. To their added surprise, no one had taken much notice other than Perry. Then Richard and Michael's eyes met.
"What the hell are we waiting for?" Richard asked as he smiled drunkenly. In a rush, the two divers clumsily struggled to get out of their clothes. At the same time, they made a dash for the pool. Michael had trouble with his shorts and ended up tripping. Richard was more successful and was soon racing toward the shallow area at the center of the pool. On his arrival Richard was literally set upon by Meeta and Palenque who playfully and repeatedly dunked him. Richard took the harassment from the naked beauties gleefully but was soon out of breath. By the time Michael arrived and engaged in similar activities with Mura, since Sart and Palenque had swum to the far end of the pool, Richard was content to languish in a place where he and Meeta could sit with their heads above the surface.
"Richard, Richard, Richard," Meeta cried happily as she repeatedly pressed her palm against his and stroked his head. "You are the most primitively attractive visitor we've ever had in Saranta. Maybe in all
"If you swim for work, does that mean you like to swim?" Meeta asked. "Sure we like to swim," Michael said.
"Well, why don't we all take a dip?" Meeta suggested. "Why not," Mura agreed. "You people need to cool down." "I think it is a wonderful idea," Sart said. Richard looked at the inviting aquamarine pool. "Are you talking about swimming right now?" he asked. "What time could be better?" Palenque said. "We're all so warm and sweaty." "But our clothes," Richard said. "We'll be sopping." "We don't wear clothes when we swim," Meeta said. Richard looked at Michael. "This place just keeps getting better and better," he said. "Well?" Meeta questioned. "What do the professional swimmers say?" Richard swallowed. He was afraid to say anything lest he wake up. "I say we go for it," Michael cried.
"Wonderful!" Meeta said. She leaped to her feet and helped Palenque to hers. Sart got up and gave Mura a hand. In the blink of an eye the Interterrans unabashedly threw off their tunics and stepped out of their shorts. In their naked nubile splendor, they all dove cleanly into the water and swam out toward the center of the pool with strong, practiced strokes. Richard and Michael were momentarily too stunned to follow. Instead they glanced around at the people in the immediate vicinity. To their added surprise, no one had taken much notice other than Perry. Then Richard and Michael's eyes met.
"What the hell are we waiting for?" Richard asked as he smiled drunkenly. In a rush, the two divers clumsily struggled to get out of their clothes. At the same time, they made a dash for the pool. Michael had trouble with his shorts and ended up tripping. Richard was more successful and was soon racing toward the shallow area at the center of the pool. On his arrival Richard was literally set upon by Meeta and Palenque who playfully and repeatedly dunked him. Richard took the harassment from the naked beauties gleefully but was soon out of breath. By the time Michael arrived and engaged in similar activities with Mura, since Sart and Palenque had swum to the far end of the pool, Richard was content to languish in a place where he and Meeta could sit with their heads above the surface.
"Richard, Richard, Richard," Meeta cried happily as she repeatedly pressed her palm against his and stroked his head. "You are the most primitively attractive visitor we've ever had in Saranta. Maybe in all
of Interterra for at least several thousand years."
"I thought only my mother appreciated me," Richard said jokingly. "You knew your mother?" Meeta questioned. "How quaint." "Of course I knew my mother," Richard said. "Don't you know yours?" "No," Meeta said with a laugh. "No one in Interterra knows his mother. But let's not get into that. Instead, why don't you take me to your room?" "Now there's an idea," Richard said. "But what about your friend Palenque? What will we say to her?" "Anything you like," Meeta said unconcernedly. "But it's easiest to just ask her. I'm sure she'll want to come. And Karena. I know she wants to come, too." Richard tried to act nonchalant, but he was afraid his surprise at this unexpected good fortune was all too apparent. At the same time with this auspicious turn of events, he wished he hadn't drunk quite so much.
"I thought only my mother appreciated me," Richard said jokingly. "You knew your mother?" Meeta questioned. "How quaint." "Of course I knew my mother," Richard said. "Don't you know yours?" "No," Meeta said with a laugh. "No one in Interterra knows his mother. But let's not get into that. Instead, why don't you take me to your room?" "Now there's an idea," Richard said. "But what about your friend Palenque? What will we say to her?" "Anything you like," Meeta said unconcernedly. "But it's easiest to just ask her. I'm sure she'll want to come. And Karena. I know she wants to come, too." Richard tried to act nonchalant, but he was afraid his surprise at this unexpected good fortune was all too apparent. At the same time with this auspicious turn of events, he wished he hadn't drunk quite so much.
It was a boisterous group that set out from the pavilion to the dining hall. Suzanne, Perry, and the divers were singing old Beatles songs at the top of their lungs to the delight of their companions who, surprisingly, knew the words. Suzanne was walking with Garona, Perry with Luna, Richard with Meeta, Palenque, and Karena, and Michael with Mura and Sart. Although Suzanne and Perry had resisted drinking very much, what they had drunk had gone to their heads. They were not nearly as drunk as Richard and Michael, but both recognized they were tipsy. They were also enjoying themselves immensely. Arak had bid them farewell as the gala wound down and promised to meet with them in the morning. He had wished them a pleasant rest and had thanked them for coming to the celebration. "Hey," Richard called out when they'd finished a rendition of "Come Together." "Don't you guys know any songs of your own?"
"Of course," Meeta said. Immediately the Interterrans burst into song, and although the words were in English, the beat was as irregular as the music at the gala had been. "Cut!" Richard cried out. "That sounds too weird. Let's go back to the Beatles." "Richard, let's be fair," Suzanne said. "It's all right," Meeta said. "We'd rather sing your songs." "Michael? What the hell are you doing with the glasses?" Richard asked when he saw that his partner was carrying several empty goblets.
"I asked Arak," Michael said. "He told me I could take them. They're gold. I bet I have enough money here for a down payment on a new pickup truck."
Richard leaned over and snatched one of the goblets.
"Hey, gimme that back," Michael demanded. Richard laughed. "Go out for a pass. I'll hit you long!" Michael handed the rest of the goblets to Mura. Then he staggered ahead for the pass. Richard tossed the goblet like a football, and it spiraled into Michael's hands. Everyone clapped. Michael took a bow, lost his balance, and fell. Everyone giggled and clapped harder. "We have pets that play that game," Mura said. "I saw some pets when we were flying in," Suzanne said. "They looked like composite creatures." "They are," Mura said.
"Do you have sports games down here?" Richard asked. Michael came back and collected the rest of his goblets. "No, we don't have sports," Meeta said. "Unless you mean mind games, things like that." "Hell, no!" Richard said. "I mean like hockey or football." "No," Meeta said. "We don't have physical competition." "Why not?" Richard asked.
"It's not necessary," Meeta said. "And it is unhealthy." Richard glanced at Michael. "No wonder the men are all such wimps," he said. Michael nodded. "How about 'Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds,' " Suzanne suggested. "It seems so apropos." A few moments later, still singing the refrain, the group stumbled into the dining hall. It was dark, but the Interterrans somehow brought up the illumination. Perry was about to ask how it was done when he noticed Donald. The former naval officer had been sitting silently in the dark. His face was as grim as it had been when they'd left for the celebration. "My gosh," Richard said. "Mr. Straight Arrow is right where we left him." Michael proudly deposited his cache of golden goblets on the table with fanfare. Richard lurched over to a position across the table from Donald. He dragged the three women with him like trophies. "Well, Admiral Fuller," he said in a mocking tone while comically saluting. "I guess you can tell by our present company and booty that you really missed out." "I'm sure I did," Donald said sarcastically. "You can't imagine how great it was, smart ass," Richard said.
"Hey, gimme that back," Michael demanded. Richard laughed. "Go out for a pass. I'll hit you long!" Michael handed the rest of the goblets to Mura. Then he staggered ahead for the pass. Richard tossed the goblet like a football, and it spiraled into Michael's hands. Everyone clapped. Michael took a bow, lost his balance, and fell. Everyone giggled and clapped harder. "We have pets that play that game," Mura said. "I saw some pets when we were flying in," Suzanne said. "They looked like composite creatures." "They are," Mura said.
"Do you have sports games down here?" Richard asked. Michael came back and collected the rest of his goblets. "No, we don't have sports," Meeta said. "Unless you mean mind games, things like that." "Hell, no!" Richard said. "I mean like hockey or football." "No," Meeta said. "We don't have physical competition." "Why not?" Richard asked.
"It's not necessary," Meeta said. "And it is unhealthy." Richard glanced at Michael. "No wonder the men are all such wimps," he said. Michael nodded. "How about 'Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds,' " Suzanne suggested. "It seems so apropos." A few moments later, still singing the refrain, the group stumbled into the dining hall. It was dark, but the Interterrans somehow brought up the illumination. Perry was about to ask how it was done when he noticed Donald. The former naval officer had been sitting silently in the dark. His face was as grim as it had been when they'd left for the celebration. "My gosh," Richard said. "Mr. Straight Arrow is right where we left him." Michael proudly deposited his cache of golden goblets on the table with fanfare. Richard lurched over to a position across the table from Donald. He dragged the three women with him like trophies. "Well, Admiral Fuller," he said in a mocking tone while comically saluting. "I guess you can tell by our present company and booty that you really missed out." "I'm sure I did," Donald said sarcastically. "You can't imagine how great it was, smart ass," Richard said.
"You're drunk, sailor," Donald said scornfully. "Luckily, some of us have enough self-control to keep
our wits about us."
"Yeah, well, let me tell you what's wrong with you," Richard said, pointing a wavering finger at Donald's face. "You still think you are in the goddamned Navy. Well, let me tell you something. You ain't." "You're not only stupid," Donald hissed. "You're disgusting." Something snapped in Richard's brain. He shoved the women away and launched himself across the marble table, catching Donald by surprise. Despite his inebriation, he was able to straddle the man and land a few ineffectual punches on the side of his head. Donald responded by enveloping Richard in a bear hug. Locked in a violent embrace, both men rolled off the chaise Donald had been sitting on. Neither man could do much damage to the other, but pummeled each other with short punches nonetheless. They did succeed in crashing into the table which caused Michael's goblet collection to fall to the floor with a great clatter. The Interterrans shrank back in dismay, while Suzanne and Perry intervened. It wasn't easy, but they finally managed to separate the two men. This time it was Richard's turn to have a bloody nose. "You bastard," Richard sputtered as he touched his nose and looked at the blood. "You're lucky your friends are here," Donald told him. "I might have killed you." "That's enough," Perry said. "No more baiting and no more fighting. This is ridiculous. You're both acting like children."
"Idiot!" Donald added. He shook off Perry's restraining arms and straightened his satin tunic. "Jerk!" Richard retorted. He moved away from Suzanne and turned to his three women friends. "Come on, girls!" he said. "Let's go to my room, where I won't have to look at this guy's ugly mug." Richard took a few unsteady steps toward the women, but they shrank back. Then, without another word, they fled out the open end of the room into the night. Richard hurried after them but stopped at the edge of the lawn. The women were already halfway back to the pavilion. "Hey!" Richard yelled through cupped hands. "Come back! Meeta . . ." "I think it's time you went to bed," Suzanne called after him. "You've caused enough trouble for one night."
Richard turned back into the room, disappointed and angry. He slammed his open palm down on the tabletop hard enough to make everyone in the room jump. "Shit!" he shouted to no one in particular.
our wits about us."
"Yeah, well, let me tell you what's wrong with you," Richard said, pointing a wavering finger at Donald's face. "You still think you are in the goddamned Navy. Well, let me tell you something. You ain't." "You're not only stupid," Donald hissed. "You're disgusting." Something snapped in Richard's brain. He shoved the women away and launched himself across the marble table, catching Donald by surprise. Despite his inebriation, he was able to straddle the man and land a few ineffectual punches on the side of his head. Donald responded by enveloping Richard in a bear hug. Locked in a violent embrace, both men rolled off the chaise Donald had been sitting on. Neither man could do much damage to the other, but pummeled each other with short punches nonetheless. They did succeed in crashing into the table which caused Michael's goblet collection to fall to the floor with a great clatter. The Interterrans shrank back in dismay, while Suzanne and Perry intervened. It wasn't easy, but they finally managed to separate the two men. This time it was Richard's turn to have a bloody nose. "You bastard," Richard sputtered as he touched his nose and looked at the blood. "You're lucky your friends are here," Donald told him. "I might have killed you." "That's enough," Perry said. "No more baiting and no more fighting. This is ridiculous. You're both acting like children."
"Idiot!" Donald added. He shook off Perry's restraining arms and straightened his satin tunic. "Jerk!" Richard retorted. He moved away from Suzanne and turned to his three women friends. "Come on, girls!" he said. "Let's go to my room, where I won't have to look at this guy's ugly mug." Richard took a few unsteady steps toward the women, but they shrank back. Then, without another word, they fled out the open end of the room into the night. Richard hurried after them but stopped at the edge of the lawn. The women were already halfway back to the pavilion. "Hey!" Richard yelled through cupped hands. "Come back! Meeta . . ." "I think it's time you went to bed," Suzanne called after him. "You've caused enough trouble for one night."
Richard turned back into the room, disappointed and angry. He slammed his open palm down on the tabletop hard enough to make everyone in the room jump. "Shit!" he shouted to no one in particular.
As Perry pushed open the door of his cottage with a trembling hand he did his best to hide and let Luna enter before him. It had been a long time since he'd been alone with a woman like this. He had no idea whether his anxiety was from marital guilt or from recognizing Luna's inappropriate youth. On top of that he was tipsy with drink, but even more intoxicating than the crystal was the fact that an absolutely
gorgeous young woman found him attractive.
As Perry struggled to conceal his nervousness he was sensitive enough to notice that Luna was agitated herself.
"Can I get you something?" Perry asked. "I'm supposed to have food and drink available." He watched as the girl went over to the pool and bent down to test its temperature. "No, thank you," Luna said. She began to wander aimlessly around the room. "You seem upset," Perry said. For lack of anything better to do, he went over and sat on the bed. "I am," Luna admitted. "I've never seen a person act the way Richard did." "He's not our best ambassador," Perry said. "Are there many people like him where you are from?" Luna asked. "Unfortunately, his type is not uncommon," Perry said. "Usually there's a history of abuse that gets handed down from generation to generation." Luna shook her head. "Where does the stimulus for the abuse come from?" Perry scratched the top of his head. He'd not meant to get into a sociological discussion nor did he feel capable at the moment. At the same time he felt he had to say something. Luna was looking at him intently. "Well, let's see," he said. "I haven't really thought about this too much, but there's a lot of discontentment in our society from heightened expectation and a sense of entitlement. Few people are ever really satisfied."
"I don't understand," Luna said.
"Let me give you an example," Perry said. "If somebody gets a Ford Explorer the next thing they see is an ad for a Lincoln Navigator, which makes the Explorer seem unappealing." "I don't know what those are," Luna said. "It's just stuff," Perry said. "And we're conditioned through relentless advertising to feel it's never the right stuff."
"I don't understand that kind of covetousness," Luna said. "We don't have anything like that here in Interterra."
"Well, then it's hard to explain," Perry said. "But anyway there's a lot of discontentment that especially comes to a head in poor families which have even less stuff than everyone else, and within families people tend to take it out on each other."
"It's sad," Luna said. "And frightening." "It can be," Perry agreed. "But we're kinda conditioned not to think about it since it all drives our economy."
As Perry struggled to conceal his nervousness he was sensitive enough to notice that Luna was agitated herself.
"Can I get you something?" Perry asked. "I'm supposed to have food and drink available." He watched as the girl went over to the pool and bent down to test its temperature. "No, thank you," Luna said. She began to wander aimlessly around the room. "You seem upset," Perry said. For lack of anything better to do, he went over and sat on the bed. "I am," Luna admitted. "I've never seen a person act the way Richard did." "He's not our best ambassador," Perry said. "Are there many people like him where you are from?" Luna asked. "Unfortunately, his type is not uncommon," Perry said. "Usually there's a history of abuse that gets handed down from generation to generation." Luna shook her head. "Where does the stimulus for the abuse come from?" Perry scratched the top of his head. He'd not meant to get into a sociological discussion nor did he feel capable at the moment. At the same time he felt he had to say something. Luna was looking at him intently. "Well, let's see," he said. "I haven't really thought about this too much, but there's a lot of discontentment in our society from heightened expectation and a sense of entitlement. Few people are ever really satisfied."
"I don't understand," Luna said.
"Let me give you an example," Perry said. "If somebody gets a Ford Explorer the next thing they see is an ad for a Lincoln Navigator, which makes the Explorer seem unappealing." "I don't know what those are," Luna said. "It's just stuff," Perry said. "And we're conditioned through relentless advertising to feel it's never the right stuff."
"I don't understand that kind of covetousness," Luna said. "We don't have anything like that here in Interterra."
"Well, then it's hard to explain," Perry said. "But anyway there's a lot of discontentment that especially comes to a head in poor families which have even less stuff than everyone else, and within families people tend to take it out on each other."
"It's sad," Luna said. "And frightening." "It can be," Perry agreed. "But we're kinda conditioned not to think about it since it all drives our economy."
"It seems strange to have a society that encourages violence," Luna said. "Violence is shocking for us
since we have none in Interterra."
"None?" Perry asked.
"No, never," Luna said. "I've never seen a person hit another. It makes me feel weak." "Then why don't you sit down?" Perry said. He patted the bed next to him, feeling self-consciously transparent. Nonetheless Luna came to the bed and sat down beside him. "You don't feel dizzy, do you?" Perry asked, struggling to make conversation now that she was so close. "I mean, you're not going to faint or anything?" "No, I'll be all right."
Perry looked into Luna's pale blue eyes. For a moment he couldn't speak. When he could he said, "You know, you are very young."
"Young? What does that have to do with anything?" "Well . . ." Perry said, searching for words. He wasn't sure himself whether he was referring to her reaction to Richard's behavior or his reaction to her. "When you're young you haven't had as much experience as when you are older. Maybe you haven't had time to see violence." "Listen, there's no violence here," Luna said. "It's been selected against. Besides, I'm not as young as you probably imagine. How old do you think I am?" "I don't know," Perry stammered. "About twenty." "Now you seem to be upset."
"I guess I am a little," Perry admitted. "You could be my daughter." Luna smiled. "I can assure you I'm over twenty. Does that make you feel better?" "Some," Perry admitted. "Actually, I don't know why I feel so nervous. Everything is so nice here, but it's still quite unnerving."
"I understand," Luna said. She smiled again and raised her palms toward his. Self-consciously Perry put his against hers. "What is this with our hands?" he asked. "It's just the way we show love and respect. You don't like it?" "When it comes to showing love I'm partial to kissing," Perry said. "Like Richard was doing this evening?"
"A bit more intimately than Richard's technique," Perry said. "Show me," Luna said.
since we have none in Interterra."
"None?" Perry asked.
"No, never," Luna said. "I've never seen a person hit another. It makes me feel weak." "Then why don't you sit down?" Perry said. He patted the bed next to him, feeling self-consciously transparent. Nonetheless Luna came to the bed and sat down beside him. "You don't feel dizzy, do you?" Perry asked, struggling to make conversation now that she was so close. "I mean, you're not going to faint or anything?" "No, I'll be all right."
Perry looked into Luna's pale blue eyes. For a moment he couldn't speak. When he could he said, "You know, you are very young."
"Young? What does that have to do with anything?" "Well . . ." Perry said, searching for words. He wasn't sure himself whether he was referring to her reaction to Richard's behavior or his reaction to her. "When you're young you haven't had as much experience as when you are older. Maybe you haven't had time to see violence." "Listen, there's no violence here," Luna said. "It's been selected against. Besides, I'm not as young as you probably imagine. How old do you think I am?" "I don't know," Perry stammered. "About twenty." "Now you seem to be upset."
"I guess I am a little," Perry admitted. "You could be my daughter." Luna smiled. "I can assure you I'm over twenty. Does that make you feel better?" "Some," Perry admitted. "Actually, I don't know why I feel so nervous. Everything is so nice here, but it's still quite unnerving."
"I understand," Luna said. She smiled again and raised her palms toward his. Self-consciously Perry put his against hers. "What is this with our hands?" he asked. "It's just the way we show love and respect. You don't like it?" "When it comes to showing love I'm partial to kissing," Perry said. "Like Richard was doing this evening?"
"A bit more intimately than Richard's technique," Perry said. "Show me," Luna said.
Perry took a breath, leaned over, and lightly kissed Luna on the lips. When he pulled back, Luna
responded by touching her lips gently with the very tips of her fingers as if amazed by the sensation. "Do you dislike it?" Perry asked.
Luna shook her head. "No, but my fingers and palms are more sensitive than my lips. But show me more."
Perry swallowed nervously. "Are you serious?" "I'm sure," Luna said. She moved closer to him and looked at him with those dreamy eyes. "I find you very alluring, Mr. President of Benthic Marine." Perry wrapped his arms around her and pulled her down onto the white cashmere coverlet. Michael was in seventh heaven. Mura was the woman of his dreams. It couldn't get better than this. He didn't even mind Sart's continued presence. The boy was in the pool, leaving him to enjoy Mura by himself. Just when Michael was about to pass out from sheer delight, his rapture was interrupted by a knock at his door. He tried to ignore it, but finally staggered to the door, stark naked. He felt even drunker on his feet. "Who the hell is it?" he demanded. "It's me, your buddy Richard."
Michael opened the door. "What's the problem?" "No problem," Richard said. He tried to look around Michael. "I just thought maybe you might need some help, if you know what I mean."
It took Michael's drugged brain a few seconds to catch Richard's drift. He glanced back at Mura on the circular bed, then back to Richard.
"Are you kidding?" Michael asked.
"No," Richard said. He smiled crookedly. "Mura," Michael called out. "Do you mind if Richard comes in and joins us?" "Only if he promises to behave," Mura called back. Michael looked back at Richard with an exaggerated expression of surprise. "You heard the lady," he said with a sly smile. He opened the door wider and let Richard into the room. As the two men approached the bed Mura held up both hands. "Come on, you two primitives!" she said. "I'd love to press palms with you both." The two divers exchanged a glance of appreciative disbelief before Michael climbed back onto the bed, and Richard struggled out of his satin garments. As Richard settled next to Mura, he said, "You people are pretty free with love."
"It's true," Mura said. "We have lots of love. It's our wealth."
responded by touching her lips gently with the very tips of her fingers as if amazed by the sensation. "Do you dislike it?" Perry asked.
Luna shook her head. "No, but my fingers and palms are more sensitive than my lips. But show me more."
Perry swallowed nervously. "Are you serious?" "I'm sure," Luna said. She moved closer to him and looked at him with those dreamy eyes. "I find you very alluring, Mr. President of Benthic Marine." Perry wrapped his arms around her and pulled her down onto the white cashmere coverlet. Michael was in seventh heaven. Mura was the woman of his dreams. It couldn't get better than this. He didn't even mind Sart's continued presence. The boy was in the pool, leaving him to enjoy Mura by himself. Just when Michael was about to pass out from sheer delight, his rapture was interrupted by a knock at his door. He tried to ignore it, but finally staggered to the door, stark naked. He felt even drunker on his feet. "Who the hell is it?" he demanded. "It's me, your buddy Richard."
Michael opened the door. "What's the problem?" "No problem," Richard said. He tried to look around Michael. "I just thought maybe you might need some help, if you know what I mean."
It took Michael's drugged brain a few seconds to catch Richard's drift. He glanced back at Mura on the circular bed, then back to Richard.
"Are you kidding?" Michael asked.
"No," Richard said. He smiled crookedly. "Mura," Michael called out. "Do you mind if Richard comes in and joins us?" "Only if he promises to behave," Mura called back. Michael looked back at Richard with an exaggerated expression of surprise. "You heard the lady," he said with a sly smile. He opened the door wider and let Richard into the room. As the two men approached the bed Mura held up both hands. "Come on, you two primitives!" she said. "I'd love to press palms with you both." The two divers exchanged a glance of appreciative disbelief before Michael climbed back onto the bed, and Richard struggled out of his satin garments. As Richard settled next to Mura, he said, "You people are pretty free with love."
"It's true," Mura said. "We have lots of love. It's our wealth."
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