Chance encounter

"Fuck me!" Martin exclaims. "You're direct."

"Sorry, I don't mean to offend you."

"No, no, you haven't." He thinks for a moment. "Yes," he says simply. "I am afraid. I've been afraid from the moment I awoke on that slab, and the first thing I saw was this otherworldly vision, standing there, looking back at me. And with every minute we've spent together since. You've been so kind to me, so patient, so open." He shakes his head ruefully. "I've come to care for you, and it hasn't even been a goddamned day! I was hurt when that man was fucking you--and so angry at myself for feeling that hurt. It isn't fair to you or me. I know you aren't her. I know you're guileless."

"I-I will take that as a compliment."

"I meant it as one. The point is, as much as we've already spoken, I don't really understand you or your world, or you me. I don't want see either of us accidentally break the other, even if we had no intention of doing so."

I take a deep breath. "I do care for you, too, you know."

"Right, but what does that mean?"

"That I think you'd make a good fuck, for one," I say simply, a playful smile quirking the edges of my lips. "And maybe something more. But as you say, it has only been a 'goddamned day'. Maybe we do not have to figure everything out immediately."

"God, I'd hope not." Martin smiles back at me. "Well, baring my soul like this has hardly helped things, I imagine. Should we move on?"

We continue to talk as we walk down the path, sticking to topics a little less laden. I point out interesting features in the landscape as we pass them--the heat reservoirs, the gas regulators, woodland reserves, pollies specialized in certain crops or manufacturing processes. When Martin's questions become too specific or technical for me to answer, Auto is always available to provide clarification.

Far ahead, the waters of the Great Lake fall towards us--and Lakepolly, of course, a polly like no other, hundreds of structures nestled against the shore. Martin's eyes seem fixed upon the sight.

Around half-waning, we reach a group of people in a field, tending to some plant I do not recognize. A woman appears to oversee the operation; she stands beside the path, her arms crossed beneath her bubs, watching the others. She looks well over a hundred and fifty hundreds old--her hair graying, but her body very fit with few signs of sag. I'm struck by her exotic face, and her skin--it's darker than any person's I've ever seen. That's what causes me to realize what she is...

"Oy, there," I say as we reach her. "I'm Marissa."

"I'm Jane," she responds.

"You're a sleeper," I state. "So is my friend, Martin, here."

She turns to give us her full attention. "I am." She smiles warmly at Martin. "Been awake long?"

"Only since yesterday," he says.

"Oh...wow! You must be proper fucked in the head about now!"

"You...could say that," he says weakly.

She laughs. "So what do you think of the natives? Bunch of freaks, aren't they?"

"I am standing right here," I say.

"Yes, I see you, dear," she says sweetly before pivoting back to Martin. "Loveable freaks. Good-hearted freaks. Like my Dahlia there." She points to one of the women working on her hands and knees in the field. "Though maybe they're a little too reliant on that AI."

"I think that's a fair assessment," he says. "So what about you? How long have you been here?"

"I guess it's been...God!--ten years now. Auto woke me to deal with some unexpected mutations in the wheat strains. Could have led to a serious blight, but the solution turned out to be straightforward. Probably didn't even need me. And now this is my life." She sighs. "It sucks that the deep sleep is once-a-lifetime. I'd been hoping to see a proper planet again, before I die."

Martin and I exchange glances.

"So anyway," Jane continues, "if you awoke only yesterday, then Auto must have some critical task for you, too. Perhaps the reason why you're travelling?"

"He does," says Martin uncomfortably, "but I'm sorry. I'm afraid I can't talk about it right now."

"Fair enough." Jane clears her throat. "Well, it's been great meeting you, Martin. And you, too, Marissa. But I should get back to it."

"I appreciate the time, Jane," says Martin. "But before we go, I have to ask--any advice you can offer a fellow sleeper?"

Jane's eyes flit knowingly between Martin and me. "Follow your head. Follow your heart. And if the two disagree, God help you." She walks off into the field towards the others.

"That did not seem like particularly helpful advice at all," I say.

"Hmm," Martin responds.

We arrive at the outskirts of Lakepolly not long after. The sunstrand still has a third of the way to wane. "It looks like we have plenty of time to find food and somewhere to sleep," says Martin. "I assume things work much like they do at your polly."

"Indeed," I respond. "But before we do anything else, I'm off to take a dip."