Worlds Collide Page 7

  “How beautiful,” Velia said, awestruck. She reached toward the thick pole, then retreated, afraid of causing offense by touching what could be priceless art.

  “Do you think so?” Jape sounded surprised.

  “Are you kidding? Tell me where the shops are so I can buy one to take home to Earth.”

  “I don’t sell them through a guild. I don’t sell them at all, for that matter.”

  Velia spun to face him. “You did this?”

  Risnar’s king of grouchiness had created this masterpiece? This beast of a bad-tempered thug? Velia stared into the striped facade, searching for some sign that Jape did possess the soul of an artist.

  She could almost believe it when his strong features softened in modest pleasure. He sounded gratified at her approval. “It took a long time to carve. I spent five years on it, sharpening three knives until they were too diminished to use any longer.”

  Velia went wide-eyed with shock. “You did not carve all this by hand. Tell me this is machined. You had some kind of powered tools, right?”

  Jape’s shoulders squared with pride. His beaming exposed his earlier smiles as fake. “It would have been faster with powered blades, but carving is a great pleasure. It’s special to work the wood, to shape it. I plan to do another.”

  Velia turned again to the pole and was freshly struck by how the images seemed ready to draw breath. “You’re talented, Stripes. Are these animals real? What do you call this? It’s the creature we saw run behind the enforcement dome. Is it a Butch?”

  “Bonch. Yes, these are representative of animals and plants of Risnar. I’ll have to show you the actual items for you to compare them to. Maybe it’s not as good as you think.”

  “Forget it. It’s spectacular and you know it.” She moved all around the pole, viewing the shaft from every angle. Velia was positive that if she dared to touch it, she wouldn’t find the hardness of wood. It would be warm flesh and flexible plant life.

  She was so enthralled that she forgot to notice the rest of Jape’s home until he walked past her. Ready to be delighted anew, Velia stepped away from the carving.

  She peered around. The clear roof, with its pie-wedge panels, displayed a magnificent view of the night sky. With Cadi gone, the stars glittered. The pie-wedge theme was repeated in the interior space of the dome itself, walls cutting the circular whole to form rooms around an open center that boasted a stone chimney. Beneath that was what Velia assumed to be a burn pit, where a fire might blaze in colder weather. The space was wide open, except for a partition which she hoped contained a washroom.

  Velia wandered, peeking in the various spaces. She was amazed to note how similar Risnarish furnishings were to what she was familiar with. Here and there, more wondrous carvings decorated tables and the walls. All impressed her, though the pole remained the most ambitious project.

  Remembering Jape’s reaction when she’d eyed his computer, Velia decided to cut her self-guided tour short. He was suspicious of her motives. Don’t poke the striped bear.

  Velia joined him in the room he’d entered, keeping her distance. The devices scattered on a pair of long counters made no sense to her, but the smells told her this was the kitchen. Jape took some cubes of what had to be meat out of a gadget and dropped it into broth filled with other colorful chunks, making a stew. Jape placed the deep bowl into a large appliance and punched a few buttons.

  “We’ll have dinner soon. The other Earthlings on Risnar appreciate our food.” He wandered closer to her as an incredible smell wafted in her direction. Jape’s grassy aroma drifted to her, as well.

  I spent the day in the desert. Good night, I must smell like a sweat sock.

  “Hey, if it’s not a problem and there’s time before we eat, can I clean up?”

  “I’ll show you the shower.”

  “Just what I need. Thanks.”

  He ushered her to the closed-off partition, which proved to be a lavatory. He demonstrated the shower stall with its myriad controls. Water spray, soap spray, and the temperature could be controlled with verbal commands. To her relief, he left her alone to wash.

  Thank goodness he doesn’t find me attractive.

  Nevertheless, Velia washed fast. She was unsettled about being in a strange man’s home. Jokes about alien butt probes weren’t so humorous when a gal was stuck on an alien world.

  She toweled off and frowned over having to wear her gritty, sweaty clothing. It couldn’t be helped. She wasn’t prancing out in her birthday suit, even if anal probes weren’t present. Velia wondered how Jape would react if she strolled out naked.

  He’d probably scream and run away. Eek, female parts! She giggled at the idea.

  Velia went to the kitchen. She gawked at Jape, whose back was to her.

  He was taking the stewpot out of its cooker with one hand, pulling out bowls from a cabinet with the other, taking spoons out of a drawer with a tail, and pulling cups out of a second cabinet with another tail. Startled anew by his alien-ness, Velia stared at his butt. At the striped tails above the crack of his well-shaped ass. The slender, dexterous tips placed the spoons and cups on the countertop without a rattle.

  They retracted, disappearing into the base of his spine. Now there was nothing to look at but his too-fine derrière.

  Oh my. I could bounce a quarter off that.

  Jape swiveled, and Velia snapped her jaw shut. She yanked her gaze up to his face before he could catch her staring.

  For an instant, his frown made her think she’d failed. “I suppose you need your clothes cleaned.”

  Ugh, he was working that pouting tone again. “I didn’t get a chance to pack before you ripped me from my world.” As Jape’s expression went stormy, Velia held up a hand. “I know. You feared for your life and needed me for a hostage. I’ll tell you what, Stripes. I won’t say mean stuff to you if you don’t say mean stuff to me from now on. Can we make that deal?”

  He appeared contrite. “Of course. Let’s do that.”

  He offered the smile Velia had figured out was fake. At least he was trying. “What can I put on in the meantime? Or is Risnar so advanced that you can clean my clothes while I wear them?”

  “Come stir this for me. I will find cloth you can wrap yourself in while your clothes are cleaned.”

  She did so, inhaling the delicious-smelling stew and salivating in her eagerness to eat it. She didn’t know what was in the pot, and she didn’t care. The savory aroma was divine.

  While she stirred, Velia covertly watched Jape as he rummaged in a set of shelves in the next partition. Despite their shared antagonism, he fascinated her.

  Conspiracy theorist. Grumpy jerk. But also heartbroken. Artist. Cook. She wondered what other surprises the lug might have in store.

  Hopefully they’d be good surprises from that point forward.

  Jape brought her a swath of cloth that Velia assumed was a sheet. The silkiness of the fabric surprised her. “Thanks.”

  He nodded. Politely.

  Baby steps, Velia counseled herself as she ducked into the lavatory again. She and Jape were essentially negotiators for hostile countries. It was going to take some serious searching for common ground. Could she coax him to view the matter from her perspective?

  As Velia puzzled over her next move, she wrapped the sheet around herself. She was reminded of a toga party she’d gone to in college...one of the few wild nights she’d allowed herself. Terror of her father finding out she’d behaved like a university student had discouraged Velia from most such debaucheries.

  I got drunk as a skunk that night. I’m not even sure how I got back to my dorm.

  She snickered as she left the bathroom, and not because of memories of a college. Velia had buried her panties and bra between the pants and blouse she carried. Just like at the gynecologist’s office. Why do women do that? Do men hide their drawers from the pro
ctologist?

  Shaking her head at the vagaries of being a clothes-wearing Earthling, Velia joined Jape again. “Okay, ready for the wash.”

  It had to be her imagination, but she thought Jape’s gaze lingered on the dark cleft between her sheet-wrapped breasts. Most men tended to notice her cleavage, which was why Velia rarely wore blouses with low necks.

  Big boobage strikes again, stunning males in two different galaxies.

  Jape motioned her over to the counter. He swung open a section, displaying a barrel opening with three plastic-looking cylinders within. At his nod, Velia tossed her clothing in then quickly grabbed her pants.

  “Oops. Forgot.” She fished her passkey out of a pocket. The golden ticket that had opened more doors than she’d anticipated.

  She tossed her pants back in. Jape closed the top, and a low hum emitted from the machine.

  “Soap?” Velia asked, wishing she could watch the washer operate.

  “The sensors determine what to use, water level, and agitation required based on the wash load and fabric analysis. You don’t have such devices?”

  “Not at that convenience level. It figures that the species who wears the least laundry has the best way of cleaning it.” Velia rolled her eyes.

  The corners of Jape’s mouth quirked. The next moment he scowled, as if irritated that his face had dared to display warmth. “Our meal is ready. We will sit in the visiting room.”

  He led the way. Furnishings identifiable as chairs, a couch, and a collection of tables sat in a circle, with more of Jape’s carvings to decorate the space. Velia wiggled her bare toes on the deep rug.

  Jape took a chair, upholstered in rich green fabric. Velia sat on the high-backed matching sofa across from him. He gave her a bowl and they ate.

  They did so silently. At first, Velia was too busy enjoying the stew, which was as delicious as it smelled. As her stomach began to fill, she still wasn’t sure what to say to Jape. Conversation turned into conflict too often where he was concerned. At a loss, Velia paid attention to her surroundings once more.

  A large carving was the focal point on the table between her and Jape. It was a leaf, its edges curled so that it formed a bowl shape, yet to say it was only a leaf would have been insulting to the effort Jape had put into it.

  It resembled an oak leaf, with all but its outer edges, veins, and stem cut away. It was the finest scrollwork she’d ever seen, astounding her with the delicate lines that seemed too ephemeral to be solid. The unpainted wood had a white-silvery cast, as if it had been laced in a spider’s web.

  “I cannot get over how amazing your carving is,” she said, breaking the silence. “Do you take the wood from the few trees around here?”

  “Some of it,” he said. He lit up as he discussed his craft. “There are too few, and their branches do not break off often. I send requests to other villages for most of my materials.”

  “You wait for branches to break off? You don’t cut trees down for any of this, then. It’s all found material?” Velia was more impressed than before. If that was the case, Jape wasn’t able to pick and choose pieces for his projects.

  “The piece by the entrance came from a tree knocked down during a storm. I wouldn’t feel right about killing a tree just to obey an impulse to carve.”

  They finished the meal talking about Jape’s woodworking. His number of genuine smiles increased as they chatted. He laughed when he spoke of helping Hahz Village overcome the hive near its borders.

  “I had to choose between the Monsudan queen’s head or a log to carve the second pole. I could fit only one in my dartwing’s hold. After due consideration, I decided a giant Monsudan head hanging on the wall might not make a warm welcome for my guests.”

  His mischievous chuckles kept Velia from thinking too hard about him bringing such a trophy home. She found it morbidly interesting that the man who wouldn’t kill trees for art had no problem with claiming enemy heads. “A wise choice. Trophy skulls figure very seldom in most décor that I’m familiar with.”

  Jape had indeed thawed. After they finished eating, he insisted on clearing the dishes himself. When he returned from the kitchen, he carried a hinged wooden box, decorated with more of his fabulous designs. Velia had not run out of admiration for his skill. Beasts more fantastical than those in his other pieces were wrought in loving detail, along with depictions of Risnarish men fighting those beasts with weapons similar to swords, spears, and bows.

  He told her, “This is a popular pastime among the Risnarish. We play the parts of mythological creatures and ancient gods, moving about the board to complete tasks, gain weapons, and win dominance over our enemies.”

  He opened the box. It folded out to lay flat, a game board carved with trails through various settings of plains, mountains, valleys, and villages. Velia picked up the tokens. She marveled at the intricacy of the small pieces, tiny sculptures of the same men and beings that decorated the outside of the box.

  Once again, she couldn’t help but be impressed not by just Jape’s artistry, but by the similarities in their species. “This reminds me of a roleplaying type game I was into during high school and college. We would take on the attributes of a magical creature, with its strength and weaknesses, and build on those through encounters with enemies, other competitors, and situations. Whether you could win was based in both skill and chance.”

  “As this is played.” Jape acted happily surprised about her familiarity.

  “And you carved this amazing box-board? The tokens?”

  “It took almost as long as the staff at the entrance to the dome. I could have purchased one from the manufacturing guild, but I wanted to put my stamp on my favorite entertainment.”

  “You play a lot?”

  “Not lately.” Pain suffused his expression for an instant.

  Velia wondered if challenging him to a game would bring back too much grief for the friends he’d lost. Well, the worst thing he can do is say no. She hadn’t enjoyed such a diversion since university. It offered not only potential fun and a distraction from all Jape had lost, but another step toward bridging their differences. “Can we play? Would it be hard for me to learn?”

  Jape blinked. “You wish to try it?” The real version of pleasure stole over his face again, making him damned near approachable.

  Approachable? When he smiled that way, he was pure masculine beauty. Something in Velia warmed to catch him in that light.

  “I love games.” Her voice sounded huskier than usual.

  “We’ll do a trial run, to familiarize you with the basics. Once you understand—” his grin became devilish “—we’ll compete for real.”

  It was similar to the game Velia was familiar with, and she caught on quickly. She had moments of confusion, but Jape was considerate when she got stuck, giving her extra chances to recover.

  “You’re far nicer than some I’ve played against.” Velia chuckled when she’d gotten herself into a position that should have left Jape victorious. “Past opponents would have sent me packing at least three times by this point.”

  “I haven’t had anyone to play against in a while.” Another glimpse of hurt, which he quickly concealed. “If I train you right, we could go for hours.”

  “Ah, so you’re in it for your own benefit?” She kept her tone teasing.

  “Of course. I’ve been told I’m not very evolved. Why should I prove them wrong?”

  Velia laughed. “If it were the Risnarish women who told you that, I wouldn’t worry. From what I’ve heard, their level of spirituality is unattainable for us lower life forms.”

  Jape snickered. “That is the best description of our females I have heard yet. Ha! I get to take on the Beast of Birghu.” He pressed the button on the board that glowed with a series of colors. It settled on purple, and Velia cheered for his victory.

  “I have enough points to attempt
to climb the Ityms Mountains.”

  “Lucky devil. I still have to cross this swamp area.”

  “You’ll do it. You have a gift for strategy.” Jape regarded her as she made her play.

  “I have a gift for numbers and considering all the probabilities.”

  “Is that how you became interested in engineering?”

  Velia snickered. “I arrived at my career in the most roundabout fashion you can imagine.”

  “Which was?”

  “I wanted to meet aliens.”

  After a moment’s silence, Jape roared with laughter. It was a deep, astonishing bellow, one Velia couldn’t help but add to.

  When he recovered, Jape said, “I guess you got your wish.”

  “Not quite how I intended, but yes. Here I am, playing a game with an alien. I’d have given my right arm for the privilege only yesterday.”

  “You said your father encouraged it. Does he work at the same installation you were in?”

  “No, but the commander of the base was a close friend of his. I’ve known General Thomas for several years.”

  “Is General Thomas the highest authority in the alliance with the Monsuda?”

  “I assume he answers to someone in the federal government. I have no idea who that would be. It’s almost as if Camp Noname—that’s what we call the base—is a self-governing entity.”

  Jape gave her a probing look. “You’re concerned about that.”

  It had been a note of unease for her, especially after her father’s last message to her before his death. “It’s given me pause, but I trust General Thomas. He’s like an uncle to me. A close member of my family,” she amended when the translator said it had no comparable word in Risnarish.

  “Family.” Jape’s expression filled with understanding, as if some great truth had been shared.

  Velia was pleased. Family was a concept they could build on.