Ar'Tok - Alana Khan Page 0,34

When I bump against him, his muscles seem softer, as if he’s letting down his guard inch by inch.

The smile on his face is calmer, more genuine. It’s not like he’s straining anymore; it’s coming naturally.

“You’re not going to tell me where we’re going? I read that keeping secrets isn’t good for a relationship,” he chides.

“Well, I read that secrets are bad, surprises are good. I’m keeping a surprise, and you’re going to love it.”

I can’t withhold the surprise for too much longer, the vast ocean is now visible through the wide front window.

“I can’t believe how enormous it is,” he breathes. “Limitless. I can’t see the other side.”

Nor can I. Growing up on the satellite I knew only two things in relation to space: the size of our dwelling, and the infinity of space. Now that I’m on a planet, I can experience other spatial relationships, but this boggles the mind.

Even though the hover is enclosed, I think I smell the ocean.

“Here you are,” our driver says when we land. “I’ll wait for you by the bar. Over there,” he points, “is food and drink.”

I have my credits card in the slim pocket of my suit. “This is the bomb!” I say as I grab Ar’Tok’s hand and pull him toward the water.

“Madam and Mister!” our driver shouts. The tall, thin insectoid male scurries toward us. “Forgive my boldness, but I’d suggest you pay the ten credits each for those chairs with umbrellas. The attendant will make sure no one steals your things. See that station?” He points. “For one credit it will spray you with a mist that will keep your skin from burning in the sun. You,” he points his chin at Ar’Tok, “will be in pain in minimas if you don’t protect your pale skin. Have fun at Paragon’s finest beach.” He gives us a wide toothless smile and shambles back to the shack that serves alcohol.

“Thanks,” I call after him. “Let’s remember to tip the male,” I tell Ar’Tok.

As much as I want to run straight into the water, we follow all the recommended steps.

After the preliminaries, we’re standing about a foot from the water, holding hands, just taking it in.

“You’ve never been to the ocean, right?” I ask as I feel the breeze ruffle my hair.

“No.”

“As I remember, though, that night when I was on the Misfit you described this perfectly, down to the smell. How’d you do that?”

“I spent my life in a ten-by-ten cell. When I finally got access to books, I learned how to picture other worlds. In my mind, it’s like I’ve visited the ocean hundreds of times in the past.”

“Well, let’s see if you imagined the feel and taste correctly,” I say as I drop his hand and step into the water. It’s cool, far cooler than I’d thought it would be considering the ambient temperature is perfect. It’s not too chilly to swim, though.

I forge ahead until the water’s up to my waist, then gasp a shocked breath at how cold it is. My toes squelch into the sand under my feet. Closing my eyes, I enjoy the full-body experience of cold water and salt air and squishy toes and lapping waves. I’ve read my share of books, too, but I never could have envisioned it with this level of detail.

I imagine Ar’Tok behind me, cautiously inching in, maybe up to his ankles by now. When I turn to see him, he’s not there. Where’d he go?

Then a huge water animal surfaces at my side with a wet grunt, has the audacity to give my cheek a dripping kiss, and then stands on his feet laughing in excitement.

“How’d you do that?”

“As soon as I could slide under the water, I just . . . I have no idea. I think I was swimming.”

As if the wet kiss wasn’t bad enough, he shakes his head at me, flinging water from his cirr like it’s lethal projectiles.

“Ah!” I hold my hands up between us which does absolutely nothing to stop the barrage.

He dives into the water, only inches under the surface, and flutter-kicks away. Pivoting to watch, I feel my face stretch into a smile. I wonder about the Simkin race, did they evolve from the water? Here’s a guy who’s been out of his cell a total of two months, and acts as if he was born for this.

I inch farther out, so I’m up to my boobs, and just watch him for long minutes as he dives and