“Wow.” I let the audience leave to avoid getting caught up among them again.

  “What?”

  “Just turn down your Motlander vibe. It makes you sound like a girl.”

  “I’m hot.” She pulled at the blue hoodie and blew down the front. My mom and sister hadn’t thought this through. It was August and we were in the middle of a heat wave. Devina would be the only one wearing a sweatshirt and she would be dying before noon if the heat continued to rise.

  “Let’s keep you hydrated.” I got up and counted on her to follow me.

  A man waited by the stairs, and as we passed him, he smiled at her. “Hey there.”

  I put a strong hand on her shoulder and guided her in front of me.

  “Oh, I see, I didn’t realize that you and the boy were a couple.”

  To be accused of being gay in public was a first and I scowled at him. “We’re not, but he’s under my protection, so fuck off.”

  He was tall but not as well-muscled as most men. “Don’t worry, I can keep a secret. Let me know if you want company.”

  I didn’t have time to respond because Devina hurried down the stairs and I followed.

  Finding a food stand, I bought her a large bottle of water and pressed it into her hand. “Drink this.”

  “You have money?”

  “Uh-huh. Do you want something else?

  “No, I meant that it’s surprising to see actual money notes. We got rid of the monetary system more than eighty years ago. Now there’s a fair distribution of resources through the point system I talked about. Meaning that people contribute in any way they can and in return everyone is taken care of.”

  “Wouldn’t you rather have money, so you could buy stuff?”

  She looked around at the men passing by us. “I’ve never thought about it.”

  “Money and prestige are why so many are risking their lives in this tournament.”

  She took a sip of the water and gave me a piercing look. “I thought they did it to marry Wilma and find love.”

  I straightened up. “Yeah, that too of course.”

  Raising her chin, she assessed me. “Which comes first?”

  “Love.”

  “You sure?”

  “Marrying means the chance to start your own family and to me that’s everything.”

  “Are you going to marry then?”

  I looked down and dried off droplets from my water bottle. “If I’m lucky. There’s a tournament next year that I’m considering, but…”

  “But what?”

  I shook my head. “I don’t want to talk about it.”

  “Why not?”

  Shrugging my shoulders, I didn’t answer.

  “Is it because you worry about getting killed?”

  “No. It’s just that…” I sighed and shifted my weight. “You wouldn’t understand.”

  Devina pulled at her sweatshirt like she wanted to take it off and then she walked over to sit on a bench that stood in the shade of a tree. “What does it matter if I understand? I’m here for research and you’re my source of inspiration. I’m trying to get inside your head.”

  “Ha!” I laughed and joined her on the bench. “Trust me, you don’t want to know my thoughts.”

  “Maybe I do.”

  I leaned back on the bench and rested my arms behind me. “You’ve read the five pages I sent you. You know what’s on my mind.”

  “Ehh… you mean sex?”

  I gave her a wicked smile.

  “Okay, so would you say that sex crosses your mind sometimes, often, or all the time?”

  Leaning forward I placed my elbows on my thighs. “You sure you want the truth?”

  “I’m not scared of the truth.”

  “Well, in that case the truth is that when I’m around you, sex is pretty much all I think about.”

  “Hmm…” She crossed her legs. “I wondered about that because you never answered the question in my last letter.”

  “Spread your legs.”

  “Excuse me?”

  “A boy doesn’t fucking cross his legs like that. Spread out and look masculine.”

  She uncrossed and leaned back while spreading her legs. “Better?”

  “Yeah.” I was scanning the area making sure no one was on to her. “I got your letter. I just haven’t had time to answer you.”

  “You could do it now.”

  “All right. We do have sex-bots, but they are expensive to use.”

  “Have you tried one?”

  “Uh-huh. But I imagine it’s nothing compared to the real thing. What about that in-and-out massage you talked about. How often do you get it?”

  She didn’t even hesitate before answering me, “I used to do it twice a month but since I came back, I haven’t had any.” Taking another large gulp of her water she frowned at me. “Why are you grinning like that?”

  “Because never in a million years did I think you’d answer me. I can’t believe how casual you are about sex.”

  “Massage isn’t sex. It’s just a way to satisfy a physical need and release stress.”

  I moved a little closer and lowered my voice. “If you really feel that way then how about you let me massage you?”

  “Are you qualified?”

  “Very!”

  “No, I mean did you have training?”

  “Do you need training to finger a woman?” Putting out my hands in front of me I turned them around. “I have strong hands and I guarantee that my fingers are longer and bigger than any of the ones you’ve tried in the Motherlands.”

  I expected her to move away or get offended, but Devina’s voice danced with humor. “There’s a technique to it and since you have no experience with massaging women, I don’t consider you qualified.”

  “Then teach me.” There was a raw eagerness to my tone.

  My eyes were fixed on her as she moved her body toward me and for a moment we just stared into each other’s eyes. We had done it before but always as a sort of power struggle when we disagreed. This time it was different and we both had small smiles on our faces.

  “Please, Devina.” It came out as a whisper.

  “Why would you want to?”

  My eyes grew a little. “Why? Look around you. Most of these men will live a whole life without ever touching a woman’s soft skin. To massage you would be a dream.”

  She looked thoughtful. “We’re not talking about sex, you understand that, right?”

  My throat felt so tight like I was afraid of saying the wrong thing. If there was the slightest possibility that this beautiful woman would let me massage her, then I would die a happy man. “No, I know. Just a massage.”

  Devina exhaled and looked around at the people passing us. “Maybe one day if we’re alone.”

  “I can arrange for us to be alone any time you want to.”

  For the first time, she nailed the obstinate teenage look when she crossed her arms and leaned back. “My altruistic nature feels that it’s only fair that I let you explore too. After all, you’re risking your life to let me research what it’s like on this side of the border. Letting you massage me seems like a minor thing, but I worry that you might not be able to control yourself if I’m naked in your hands.”

  My Adam’s apple jumped in my throat. “Did you say naked?”

  She looked away when she spoke. “Yeah. I know how strong you are and that if you decide to take it further than I wish to go, I won’t have a way to stop you.”

  “You’re messing with me, aren’t you? You wouldn’t really be naked.”

  She frowned. “Who gets massages with clothes on?”

  “So, you’re not messing with me?” My hands ran through my hair. “I’m so confused.”

  “Where I come from a massage requires that you take off all your clothes. Nudity isn’t a big deal to us, but if that makes you uncomfortable…”

  “No!” I shook my head. “No, of course not. I mean, I’d probably be a little nervous, but damn… the thought alone.”

  She sighed. “You’re making it sexual. I told you it’s not.”

  Leaning back, I held up a hand. “No, it’s not. I promise!”

  For a moment she didn’t speak, but just looked around us, taking in all the people walking in all directions. I was watching two men pranking their friend by pulling his pants down and laughing. They were young and foolish, but their friend laughed with them and tried to trip one of them up in retaliation. My attention was pulled back to Devina when she spoke again.

  “This morning when you said that we Motlanders are asexual, I know you meant it as an insult, but it’s true. I mean, there are couples of course, but most of us fill our lives with friends and family.” The moment she said family a ghost of sadness swiped across her face.

  To hide the sadness, she leaned her head back and drank more of the water.

  “You okay?”

  “Yes, except...” She began looking all around her. “I really have to use the bathroom.”

  CHAPTER 19

  Bathroom Break

  Devina

  “Oh shit. Do you think you can hold it for a few more hours?”

  “Hours?” I’d just drunk a liter of water. “Don’t they have bathrooms here?”

  Tyton shook his head with a small grin. “Yeah, but here’s the dilemma. There’s one area dedicated to women and you can’t go in there with you being disguised as a boy. That leaves one of the men’s bathrooms which are more like a large row of urinals with a few stalls.”

  “All right, then I’ll just take one of the stalls.”

  “You sure you want to do that?” Tyton looked skeptical. “They’re disgusting and if I can, I always hold it until I get back home.”

  “I just have to pee.”

  He scratched his ribs and the contact between the gray t-shirt and his skin made the fabric moist. Clearly, I wasn’t the only one sweating from the heat.

  “We could take the drone and fly to a private place.”

  “You mean your house?”

  “No, that’s too far. I mean somewhere quiet like a field or bush where you can relieve yourself without anyone watching.”

  “Except for you.”

  He gave me a wry smile. “I promise to turn my back.”

  “I don’t know… it sounds like a lot of work to fly away. How about we try the bathrooms here first?” I was here on an adventure and seeing a nitty-gritty detail like the toilets at a bridal tournament seemed like solid research.

  Even with Tyton’s warning, I was still hit by the strong stench of ammonia in the bathroom. At least twenty men stood in a long row and peed down a long metal-colored basin of sorts. I hadn’t understood what he meant by urinals since standing up while peeing was a new thing to me. My dad and brother had always sat down like normal people. I knew because with one bathroom and eight of us in the house, it hadn’t been unusual to have a family member come in to pee while I was taking a shower.

  For a moment, I stared at the way the men held their penises in their hands and then shook them before tucking them back in their pants.

  “Stop staring.” Tyton elbowed me and it made me move past the men to a stall. As soon as I opened it, I backed out again. The stench was unbearable and made me want to gag.

  I tried the two other stalls, but they made me hold my breath and cover my nose with my sleeve.

  Keeping my right hand down I hurried to the only sink in the room and washed my hands. Having touched anything in this place gave me the creeps. Tyton came and pushed at my side, signaling for me to give him space to wash his hands too.

  “Feces isn’t supposed to smell like death and rot. It’s all the animal-based products you people eat.”

  “Ha, and now you want me to believe that vegan poop smells of wildflowers and roses?”

  I ignored his comment and frowned. “Why is there only one sink for all these men?”

  “You’re asking the wrong question. Do you see people lining up to use the sink?”

  I looked back over my shoulder and only a few were waiting to wash their hands.

  “You people really need to work on hygiene.”

  Bending forward and taking time to scrub his hands clean, Tyton muttered. “I guess they didn’t grow up with germophobic moms who taught them the importance of washing their hands.”

  “And you did?”

  “Uh-huh. Joan is all about hygiene.”

  When we left the bathroom, I held my head down and avoided eye contact. I’d been trying to hold my breath for most of the time in there and now that we came back out, I was feeling overheated and dizzy. “I’m so hot.”

  “I know, but you can’t take off your shirt. Come on. Emmerson’s fight is about to start, and I gambled half of my savings on him.”

  “Is Emmerson the one Wilma was hoping would make Champion?”

  “Yeah, he’s among the youngest of the fighters and a charming lad, but he’s up against a strong finalist who made champion in the last tournament with me and Frederick. That’s why the odds are against him and I can make a fortune on his victory.”

  “What happens if he loses the fight?”

  Tyton groaned. “Ehh… my sister will be disappointed, and I’d lose thousands of dollars.”

  “At the last tournament… how many fights did you win to make champion?”

  “Five.”

  I leaned my head back to look up at him. “And still it wasn’t enough?”

  “No. In the end, Starr chose Frederick.”

  “Do you know why?”

  He shrugged as we walked to the nearby arena. “I’ve wondered about it, but it’s bad manners to ask such questions of a woman, so the truth is that I have no idea.”

  “What time is it?”

  “Nine forty-five.”

  Tyton stopped by the entrance to arena four where a guy was selling snacks and beverages “Do you want some more water?”

  “No. I still have to use the bathroom, remember.”

  He frowned. “But you can hold it, right?”

  “I’ll try.”

  “Look, if you can hold it for this fight, we can take off and find a spot where you can also get that thick hoodie off for a little while.

  Rolling up my sleeves, I looked up at the sun. We had found seats that were in the shade from the cover of the arena, but it was only a matter of time before the sun would move and leave us bathed in the pressing heat.

  When Wilma arrived with the rest of her family, everyone stood up and bowed their heads to her.

  Like a princess from a forgotten time, she waved her hand and smiled at them while keeping her back straight and her head high.

  “Is that Frederick?” I asked when a man pulled out a chair for her.

  “Yes. Next to him is his wife, Starr, and then there’s my middle sister Claire behind them with her husband, Lucas. And the last couple is Marni and her pain of a husband, Henry.”

  “Where are all their children?”

  “The only one old enough to come is Marni’s son Knight, but he got in trouble with Henry yesterday so they’re probably punishing him by making him stay home with his younger brothers.”

  “Did you say his name was Night?”

  “Yes, but with a k in front.”

  “Ahh, like a king’s knight. I get it. You Nmen have the most peculiar names, but I’m happy to hear that at least you don’t submit young children to watching public killings.”

  Tyton rolled his eyes. “No, typically, we wait until they’re twelve years old.”

  A large man came out in the fight arena and was received with cheers. A presenter introduced him, but I didn’t catch his name. From Wilma’s reaction to his opponent as that one stepped up in the arena and raised his hands to the audience, I knew the large man had to be Emmerson.

  “Didn’t you say he was young?”

  “He’s twenty-six.”

  From our seats back in the arena, he looked older with his enormous size, beard, and all those tattoos on his bare suntanned torso. His shoulder-length hair was braided close to his head and he stood with such confidence that I already felt sorry for his opponent, who looked to be at least ten years older.

  “I can see why she likes Emmerson better,” I whispered.

  “Yeah? And why is that?” Tyton squared his shoulders and straightened up in his seat.

  “He’s younger and better-looking.”

  Despite Tyton’s being quiet, I sensed his displeasure, so I turned my head. “What’s the matter?”

  “Nothing.”

  “Then why do you look like I dunked your head down one of those disgusting toilets that they have here?”

  “I don’t.”

  “You’re angry about something. Did I say something that upset you?”

  “I just don’t appreciate you pointing out your attraction to other men when I’m around.”

  I stared at him like he’d lost his mind. “I’ve never been attracted to a man in my life.” Somewhere in the back of my mind a little voice began questioning that, because there had been that erotic dream the other night.

  “Okay, but then be honest. If you were to choose between me and Emmerson, who would you pick?”

  I laughed and shook my head.

  “Who would you choose?”

  Since it was clear as glass that this meant a lot to Tyton, I went with the polite answer. “I would choose you of course.”

  “You would?” There was such relief in his almost boyish smile that it made me laugh, and people turned around in their seats to see what was going on.

  Tyton and I had been so engulfed in our bubble that we hadn’t noticed people coming close enough to hear us.

  The moment we realized that several were watching us, I closed my mouth and shrank in my seat.

  “Hey, boy, what’s so funny?” one of them called out.

  I ignored him and kept my eyes on Emmerson and his opponent, who were preparing for the game by riling each other and the audience up.

  “Aren’t you hot with that thick sweater on?” the same man asked. “Who wears a hoodie when it’s this hot?”

  Tyton leaned forward, blocking the man’s view of me. “The boy has a condition. It’s nothing for you to worry about.”

 

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28