where their tech stumbles. They have the ability to develop other methods of energy production that would not deplete their natural resources, and yet, they do not. The plans have been filed but nothing has ever been constructed. My assessment is that they have an aversion to any mechanical device that is not powered by their own crystals.”
She dragged in a deep breath. “As all of their technology is dependent on the crystals, it would be parasitic to attempt trade with them until they are ready to leave Gol under their own power. That said, if they are willing to trade, each item on offer would have to be carefully considered.”
He tossed the pillow onto the couch. “So, they would be in danger of trading despite themselves.”
“That is my assessment based on their history going back to the earliest recordings. Even the way they record their history speaks volumes about them.”
“What about the cultured crystals?” Ioko opened his suit and started to pull his arms out of it.
“The technology isn’t far enough along. They are currently only manufacturing enough for their own immediate purposes. In the final analysis, it is their decision. I am just sharing my observations interpreted through my own experiences.”
“That is your talent. I respect it. If you say that Gol is a bad choice for direct contact, I believe you.”
She wrinkled her nose. “I didn’t say it was a bad choice for contact; it is simply a bad choice for trade. They do not pursue alternative energies and their manufacturing capabilities are limited.”
He had stripped to the waist, and he came over to sit on the edge of her bed. “What about their social peculiarities?”
She wrinkled her nose. “Oh, the back?”
“Yes.”
“Illuma didn’t make us exactly like the Golum. They have a broad swath of skin on their backs that acts as an erogenous zone in both men and women. It starts near the shoulders and ends at the hips. It is why all the public chairs and transports are so comfortable.”
He was shocked. “How did you learn that?”
“I went to the Sex Museum in Krimkat Province.” She shrugged. “I will be right back.”
She grabbed her nightshirt, went into the lav and changed. When she emerged, she put her suit in the refreshing unit.
“How did you know to go there?”
“I read the tourism information for each area. It is a tedious way to do things, but it did work. Since we got back, I looked up similar adaptations, and the Moreski spots are the closest thing I could find.”
He nodded and reached out to scratch Sookar. Her Yaluthu showed him that the blunt beak was still dangerous.
He jerked his hand back. “Still ticked, huh?”
Sookar growled.
Koara looked at the bite on his hand, and she hissed. “Damn.”
She sat next to him and took his hand. To his surprise, she put her mouth over the wound, and she licked it. He jerked, but he didn’t pull his hand away.
When she was finished, she sat up and licked her lips.
He stared at the spot where the gouge was. “It’s healed.”
“Of course. All the lower-class folks on Trimel have this adaptation. It was necessary when we couldn’t depend on getting emergency medical care in time or paying for it. So, we pay for breaks, but we treat cuts ourselves.”
“That wasn’t anywhere in the specifications for your people.”
“Of course not. Nor was the whole back issue for the Golum. Some things you take for granted. Everyone knows about them, so you just have to go to the place where they are discussing it openly as a wonder of biology.”
“You are a wonder of biology.”
She blushed. “Thank you. You are pretty as well.”
Sookar hopped onto her lap and growled at Ioko.
She held him tight while she leaned forward to kiss the Kozue on her bed.
Sookar’s growl ceased when Ioko kissed Koara in return. When they slowly parted with flushed cheeks and pounding pulses, Koara cleared her throat. “You are still consigned to the couch.”
“That
She dragged in a deep breath. “As all of their technology is dependent on the crystals, it would be parasitic to attempt trade with them until they are ready to leave Gol under their own power. That said, if they are willing to trade, each item on offer would have to be carefully considered.”
He tossed the pillow onto the couch. “So, they would be in danger of trading despite themselves.”
“That is my assessment based on their history going back to the earliest recordings. Even the way they record their history speaks volumes about them.”
“What about the cultured crystals?” Ioko opened his suit and started to pull his arms out of it.
“The technology isn’t far enough along. They are currently only manufacturing enough for their own immediate purposes. In the final analysis, it is their decision. I am just sharing my observations interpreted through my own experiences.”
“That is your talent. I respect it. If you say that Gol is a bad choice for direct contact, I believe you.”
She wrinkled her nose. “I didn’t say it was a bad choice for contact; it is simply a bad choice for trade. They do not pursue alternative energies and their manufacturing capabilities are limited.”
He had stripped to the waist, and he came over to sit on the edge of her bed. “What about their social peculiarities?”
She wrinkled her nose. “Oh, the back?”
“Yes.”
“Illuma didn’t make us exactly like the Golum. They have a broad swath of skin on their backs that acts as an erogenous zone in both men and women. It starts near the shoulders and ends at the hips. It is why all the public chairs and transports are so comfortable.”
He was shocked. “How did you learn that?”
“I went to the Sex Museum in Krimkat Province.” She shrugged. “I will be right back.”
She grabbed her nightshirt, went into the lav and changed. When she emerged, she put her suit in the refreshing unit.
“How did you know to go there?”
“I read the tourism information for each area. It is a tedious way to do things, but it did work. Since we got back, I looked up similar adaptations, and the Moreski spots are the closest thing I could find.”
He nodded and reached out to scratch Sookar. Her Yaluthu showed him that the blunt beak was still dangerous.
He jerked his hand back. “Still ticked, huh?”
Sookar growled.
Koara looked at the bite on his hand, and she hissed. “Damn.”
She sat next to him and took his hand. To his surprise, she put her mouth over the wound, and she licked it. He jerked, but he didn’t pull his hand away.
When she was finished, she sat up and licked her lips.
He stared at the spot where the gouge was. “It’s healed.”
“Of course. All the lower-class folks on Trimel have this adaptation. It was necessary when we couldn’t depend on getting emergency medical care in time or paying for it. So, we pay for breaks, but we treat cuts ourselves.”
“That wasn’t anywhere in the specifications for your people.”
“Of course not. Nor was the whole back issue for the Golum. Some things you take for granted. Everyone knows about them, so you just have to go to the place where they are discussing it openly as a wonder of biology.”
“You are a wonder of biology.”
She blushed. “Thank you. You are pretty as well.”
Sookar hopped onto her lap and growled at Ioko.
She held him tight while she leaned forward to kiss the Kozue on her bed.
Sookar’s growl ceased when Ioko kissed Koara in return. When they slowly parted with flushed cheeks and pounding pulses, Koara cleared her throat. “You are still consigned to the couch.”
“That
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