Hidden in Sight by Julie E. Czerneda

Author:Julie E. Czerneda
Language: eng
Format: epub, azw3, mobi
Publisher: Penguin Group US
Published: 2010-08-30T16:00:00+00:00

The Prumbins had, eventually and painfully, managed to scrape my nether end off the outside wall of their restaurant. Naturally, they’d ignored everything I said and proceeded to escort me to the office of Greeter Neram Marenelli Holdswisely, since her stamp showed so marvelously well against the glowing green of my humiliation.

Paul and his companion had been given another table. The only reaction from my Human had been to cover his mouth with one hand, quickly. I presumed he’d stifled a laugh; I didn’t expect to find him still amused when I returned to our suite.

The Greeter hadn’t been amused at all. She’d flared a solid crimson as the Prumbins had explained the situation and apparently intended to remain that color for the rest of the night. In its way, the red was every bit as intimidating as one of Ersh’s famed silences while deciding what to do with me.

At least the water let me dump heat without any problems, though I had to be careful to stay down current from the Greeter. As this was only polite, given the situation, I felt in no danger of being exposed as anything but an utter disgrace to the Oietae species.

“If you were that interested in watching others mate,” Greeter Holdswisely said, for the seventh time, “you could have gone to the upper level and joined the other aquatics in the wet half of the restaurant, sparing us this embarrassment.”

“Yes, Greeter.” I found it amusing the Oieta hadn’t considered for a moment that I might have been more interested in watching a pair of air-breathers, mating or otherwise, but kept the reaction to myself. It never paid to show you were entertained by those scolding you, especially if the scolding was for your own good.

“However,” she continued furiously, “such interest is completely unseemly in the Too-Young. You should still be attached to your cluster!”

“Yes, Greeter.”

“You know what this means, I trust?”

I couldn’t help a little blue of curiosity. Finally, something new. “What does it mean?”

Her red sides flushed with the purple of authority. “You will be sent home on the next Busfish. Fortunately, there is one leaving tomorrow. Your Soft Companion has been notified, in case you think you can avoid this penalty.”

This didn’t have quite the impact it might have had, given Paul would doubtless be satisfied with that decision.

“Yes, Greeter,” I said dutifully, turning myself a doleful beige.

I managed to elude the Prumbin assigned to return me to my room by the simple, if impolite, strategy of swimming just fast enough to make keeping up with me a significant effort. It had finally waved me on in disgust, veering away into the current of the next wet corridor. Doubtless another green smudge on my record—not that it mattered, now that I was being expelled from the Happy House.

Which, I thought with a twinge of irreverent pride, could be a first. Certainly Ansky had accepted a broad range of questionable behavior from her guests, so long as no one else was damaged.

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