It seemed minutes, but it was many hours I had been in tank. I dressed, to the kitchen, began breakfast. The messager gave me the time. The client was thirty minutes away! I ran with the food to Simon's room. He lay on his back, I touched his arm; "Please wake, Simon. Wake and eat. Then bathe, the client is coming..." I hurried into the Office, it had not been cleared! I opened the vents, I grabbed up room scents, straighted the covers on the cushion. They were stained! I found another cover, put it over the cushion, shouting at the A.I. to opaque the house and default the entrance, as I quickly put the stained cover into the cleaner. I checked the plugs, the camera, while the A.I. told me the customer arriving. I scarcely made it into the entrance hall before Shutona appeared with the tank. She didn't even try to engage conversation, stomped out within seconds. I looked at the tank, just looked at it. Finally got my hands to open it. Naphala Jujuspi stood up. She was nearly my complexion, taller, a few years younger.
She must know important people, so had been able to jump the queue. Women as young as Naphala are last choices. Those as old as Halca are first. Naphala could be a Scout, that she wasn't made me believe she held a high post in government. I gave her the usual speech, led her to the anteroom, she looked at the Simon and Fitinala record. I went to get Simon. He was sitting in the tank looking at the water. I didn't have to call him. He rose, rubbed the oil on his skin, walked into the Office. Just as yesterday he arranged himself, but this time, looked at me and made a go ahead nod. I went out, brought in Naphala. She looked at him with adoration, he looked at her with an unreadable expression. It wasn't as before. Naphala didn't sit waiting for Simon to move, she began. He, unlike before, kissed her, let her kiss him, let her hold him, let her move him on the cushion. I could see her hands on his back, pressing, afraid she would crush him, I came in, she felt, then saw me. I shook my head, moved my arms apart, mouthing the words "don"t hold him!' and she understood. Her hands now floated above his back, scarcely touching. I saw him shudder. I had the plug in my hand, gestured. She put up a hand to stop me from pulling him off. I counted to five, took another step, went to speak, but Simon had tossed himself on his back. She put her hand on his face. He pulled back, then stood. She called out she had time left, that he should remain, but I didn't translate. When he was gone I told her, "He is very delicate, you almost killed him with your embrace! If his ribs are damaged, you'll pay for tomorrow's appointment!" "I didn't mean to hurt him!" she started to cry, "I love him!" "Don't bother with that! If I hadn't stepped in, he'd be dead! Dead! Didn't I warn you twice!" I was making much more of it than I should, but felt as if I would hurt her. I knew it illogical, but I was having trouble escaping the feeling that burned in me, seeing Simon and Naphala together. I loved him and wanted him forever, exclusively.
I had as much chance of that as I had in taking him back to Earth tonight. Naphala was crying, how cruel could I be to spoil her one and only contact with a man? "I'll check on him, return to tank." "Please tell me he's alright!" she cried. I waited until she was inside, locked the tank, summoned Shutona, did the necessaries, and when alone, went to check on Simon. He was sitting in the tub, but not as he had before, this time he was leaning back, only his face exposed, his eyes closed. "Simon....?" "Hmmmmm?" "You are alright?" "Uh huh." "She didn't hurt you." "No," his voice faded. "Are you sure?" I say, sitting on the rim, concerned. "Yes," he breathed. The way he was lying there I didn't believe him. But didn't know what to do. I was about to leave; "Aren't you going to bathe me?" he asks. "Are you teasing?" I snapped. "No," he replied. "I will, then." I say, for he has given me a great gift, "do you want me to wash your hair?" "Full treatment," he replied, his mouth in a touch of smile. I gathered his long hair in my hand, put it in the recess behind the tank. I soaped it, massaging his scalp, then rinsed, and covered it with gel. I went to his body, bathing him slowly, efficiently, and he responded to me. I found it very strange, and so I stopped, washed the gel out of his hair, then carried him to the bed, placed him so his hair would hang over the side, began to comb it.
"This is very nice," he says. "You see what you have been missing?" I tried to joke. "Why did you ask me if I was alright?" "I thought she might have hurt you..." "No, she didn't." "Do you want to sleep?" I asked. "For a little while..." he mutters. I wrapped his hair in a cloth, then tidied the bathroom. I didn't want to leave Simon. I wanted to lie beside him, hold him in my arms. I wanted to...
