Звезда Пандоры

Justine neither heard nor saw any of the Tolthorpe troupe’s finest hour. In the darkness and peace of her bedroom, her own body was performing the most erotic, sensual acts she could physically achieve. She had forgotten what it was like to be adored so completely, so unselfishly. He was so much more responsive now, matching the pleasure she gave with ease, willing and eager to satisfy her. They could be gentle and slow with each other, moving in tender rhythm, or fierce, almost fighting to bring themselves to climax. It didn’t matter, both kinds of lovemaking were right for them. Time after time amid the silky shadows she watched his enraptured straining features soften into a smile of unbearable joy, only to lose herself in the same delirium. For once there were no chemicals or programs to help. This was real.

When the dawn cast its bland gray illumination into the bedroom she smiled at their bodies, still wrapped together, sweat mingling on their skin, faces inches apart, sharing perfect secret contentment.

“I love you,” he said fearfully.

“I love you.”

“I won’t let you go again.”

She smiled in admiration at the conviction in his voice. “What are you doing here on Earth?” She knew the answer she wanted, that it was for her and her alone.

“There was a chance that I could see you. How could I ever let that go by?”

“My wonderful love.” She put a finger on his thorax and slowly drew a line down his sternum, playfully following the ridges of hard muscle. His body was fabulous. How long would it have taken a boy born into low grav to build himself up to handle standard gravity? The effort he’d made, the determination. She was rather glad she’d kept up her own aerobics classes and maintenance diet, still slim and trim.

“It will be difficult to get away to see you, but I will manage it.”

Her finger stopped just as it reached his navel. Already, she knew this was going to be bad news. “Get away from whom?”

“The Guardians, of course. I’m here on a mission.”

“Oh, Christ.” She pushed at him, slithering herself over the sheets until she was an arm’s length away, and stared at him in dismay. Already his youthful sympathetic face had produced a puzzled expression.

“A mission,” she croaked. “You’re here on some kind of Guardian mission?”

“Yes.”

“Oh, Kazimir, no; no you can’t do that kind of thing here. This isn’t Far Away. You have to stop.”

“I cannot stop. This is our time. This is when the planet will have its revenge on the Starflyer. I’m a part of that, Justine. Bradley Johansson chose me.”

She wanted to put her head in her hands, or maybe belt some sense into him. “Kazimir, listen to me. We have a navy now, which has a branch dedicated to stopping Johansson. Hundreds of officers are working on the case. They will catch you. They will.”

His kindly smile was one that told her she simply didn’t understand. “They won’t. We’re perfectly safe.”

“Kazimir, this is not a game.”

“I am the one who has always known that. And now you have become a victim of the Starflyer, too. I wept when I heard its creature had murdered your brother. How cruel that fate: that of all the people in the Commonwealth, it hurt the only person I love.”

“No, God no, this isn’t happening. Kazimir, please, there is no Starflyer. My brother was killed by his rivals. It’s ugly, and brutal, and shocking, and it’s never happened in Commonwealth politics before. But it is not the fault of a secret alien.”

“Politicians are its creatures, too. They are the easiest of all humans to corrupt.”

“Listen to yourself. You’re just repeating student slogans. Johansson is an evil old man who’s using you, and all the other clans back on Far Away.”

“Justine, I’m sorry, but it is you who cannot see the truth in this.”

“I can’t believe we’re having this argument. You have to stop, Kazimir, just walk away. I’ll clear any problem with your involvement. God knows, you’ve been indoctrinated since birth. Nobody will blame you.”

“How could you ask me that?” he demanded, shocked and hurt. “I had hoped you would help us. The planet’s revenge can be your revenge as well, if you let it. You can make sure the Starflyer is defeated.”

“What? What are you talking about?”

“Get the cargo inspections lifted.”

“What?”

He couldn’t have appalled her more if he’d slapped her. “Is that why you came?” she asked.

“No!” he protested. “I risked everything to come to you. Everything. I love you, Justine, I am fighting to save your world.”

She leaned forward and grasped his hands, desperately conscious of how young and idealistic he was, how much he had to prove himself. “I don’t want you to, not like this. Kazimir, it is a far braver and nobler thing to admit you are wrong. I know, I’ve had to do it many times. Please, just consider leaving the Guardians to manage without you for a while. You and I can talk this through.”

“You can browbeat me, you mean.”

“That’s not what I mean at all. I just want you to learn that there are other viewpoints than the Guardians’.”