Diplomacy
(continued)
Morale in the Sex Corps of Europa Station was about as low as it could fall. Everyone except Ling Po gathered in Sonja's quarters to lament the situation. "I don't have any family left," said one prostitute, a large, soft girl originally from Canada. "Boy was I dumb to become an American."
"Yeah, only Ling Po can't be pushed out," said
Dream, who was from Puerto Rico.
"Why does anyone have the right to make me change
my life because of their stupid personal beliefs?" asked Kitten.
Sonja was cool and collected as usual, though only on her toughened surface.
"This has all been said before over a zillion issues. What's the
point of hashing over it? Save your energy for figuring out where we're
all gonna go. I have sisters in Ames, but they probably don't remember
my name. And if they did, would they want a whore around? Moving into
a new territory is dangerous. How many women end up with their throats
slit? I might consider going into something else. Maybe I'm tired of being
treated like an untouchable anyway."
"They don't have those anymore," said Ling Po,
suddenly appearing in the doorway, her hair like black silk hanging over
her shoulders.
The rest of the women were silent.
Ling Po said, "If you go, I go, too. No way will I
stay here without you."
They all jumped to embrace her.
The women continued to work, but their performances were listless and the plumbers complained. When word of this reached Chief Westweiller, he called a meeting in the mess hall. It was 20:00 hours when one shift was ending and another starting. Only about a fourth of the plumbers showed up, looking irritable.
"I've called you here to inform you that the prostitutes
will soon be leaving. I've been assured that the Senate will pass the
bill to outlaw prostitution on Europa Station. It's only a matter of days.
While you may be upset about this at first, aftera while, you'll be glad
they're gone. Their presence here is unwholesome and carries the risk
of disease, in spite of what the doctors tell you."
There was a low rumbling among the plumbers.
"I want you to think about your families at home,"
said Westweiller, his face red. "Your wives, mothers, sisters and
daughters! Think what they would say if they knew what you were doing
here!"
"Most of us don't have any wives!" yelled one man.
By this time, the plumbers were standing up and leaving.
Only five remained in the cavernous room, but the Chief kept on ranting.
The next week, a fight broke out in the mess hall, and a day later, someone stabbed a screwdriver into the thigh of an electrician on deck nine. There were rumors that the plumbers were forming a union, though unions were strictly prohibited on Europa Station.
The prossies were starting to pack, including Ling Po, when a strange
voice announced itself outside Sonja's door. She had given up on work
at this point, that day taking only one man to her bed, and that was gratis.
It was Zed, her old friend from computing. He was still there, sleepily
sipping a strong cup of tea when Sonja, now dressed, addressed her door.
"Enter," she said.
She was awestruck when the visitor stooped to come in. "Good
evening, Sonja Breeze."
Zed held his tea mug in midair, eyes gaping. Before them stood the female
of the Vashni couple, seven feet tall, arrayed in her habitual white robe,
her red gold hair hanging to her shoulders. Her eyes were larger in proportion
to her face than those of a human, wide apart and of a startling violet-blue.
"I-I-I'm honored," Sonja managed to stammer.
The Vashni's head almost grazed the ceiling. Sonja struggled toremember her manners. "Please take a seat," she offered, gesturing towards the only easy chair she had. Zed was still seated, wrapped in Sonja's robe, at her small dining table.
"Thank you, but I prefer to stand," said the Vashni.
"You may call me Jadwa. May we speak in privacy?" The huge blue
eyes slid to Zed, who immediately jumped to his feet, clattering his tea
mug.
"I was just leaving," he said, grabbing at his
clothing and, without a thought, disappeared out the door still in the
robe, his things in a bunch over his arm.
As the door swished shut behind him, Jadwa said, "You are aware that
this station is being created for the purpose of diplomacy?"
Sonja, who still stood herself, feeling too awkward to
sit, replied, "Yes. When we meet alien races."
"Correct," smiled the Vashni. Her tone and demeanor were mildly
parental. "That is about to happen. Headed this way is a vessel bearing
a contingent of Plaoriks from the Gambean system. They worm-jumped from
their section to materialize outside of your system and will arrive at
Europa within days."
There was a long silence during which Jadwa gazed at Sonja, the large eyes scrutinizing and speculating. Sonja, in turn, rather pleasantly terrified, was relishing the chance for a close-up of the alien female. She could not, however, for the life of her understand what this all had to do with her.
"You wonder how this concerns you," said Jadwa.
While she spoke, she held her hands clasped in front of her which created
the impression of a composed angel. "Why do you not sit down if you
are more comfortable that way? Because I prefer to stand now should not
influence your own preference."
Obediently, Sonja sat on the edge of the bed.
"The Admiral does not know what I am about to ask
you. If your response is favorable, he will know all this night."
The alien's eyes sparkled. "These Plaoriks are quite different from
your species in certain areas of communication. While humans and Vashni
depend heavily upon their senses of sight and sound for the highest percentage
of information exchange, the Plaoriks have evolved to rely more on touch,
taste, and smell. A Plaorik, when meeting a friend or new acquaintance,
will want to experience the feel, odor and taste of the individual, much
as your canines might sniff certain body areas of another animal. But
not quite as..." she broke off, noticing that Sonja was trying to
stifle a giggle. "You are enjoying this description?"
Sonja almost killed herself suppressing a guffaw and ended up producing
a hideous snort. She was appalled at her own uncouthness -- to exhibit
such behavior in front of a Vashni!
But Jadwa smiled. Just a tiny curve of the lips like that
of the Mona Lisa Sonja remembered from mid-school art class before she
left the farm.
Jadwa continued, "Perhaps not exactly as the canines, but in that general area," which only set Sonja off again. There was no choice but to allow her to work it out of her system, which the Vashni did with admirable patience.
"All right, then," said Jadwa when she observed
the prostitute settling down, her demented giggling having petered out
into occasional, weak gasps. "The situation is this, Ms. Breeze:
I am not certain that the Admiral, the Earth governments and humans in
general will be able to grasp the delicacy of this first encounter, being
as they are mired in their own sensory propensities. Someone will be needed
who is willing and able to extend a kind, thoughtful and unhurried greeting
to whichever Plaorik is in charge of this coalition."
A wild picture flashed into Sonja's mind of the Admiral and this whatever
circling each other on all fours, sniffing at derrieres, but she did not
laugh.
Jadwa said, "I want to impress into your mind, Sonja,
that how the Plaoriks deal in future with your species might depend entirely
on first impressions. They are a sensitive lot. They view life as a great
smorgasbord of pleasures, while simultaneously being extremely vulnerable
to sorrow and disappointment. Their emotions are always on their surfaces,
yet they do not give in to rage or pain in any offensive display. While
a visit to their world can be exhausting for such as you or I, we Vashni
hold them in the highest regard. An incarnation on the Plaorik world is
an education in the refinement of emotion and the senses. Vashni are cold
in comparison and humans not only cold but vulgarians, which is only to
be expected at your stage of evolution."
Sonja did not take offense. This insult, if it was one,
did not
interest her. "What does this have to do with me?" she asked.
The Vashni smiled. "I am ready to sit now," she said.
