Secret Matter by Toby Johnson

Author:Toby Johnson
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Tags: first contact, SF, gay
ISBN: 9781590210178
Publisher: Lethe Press
Published: 2005-11-01T07:00:00+00:00

Chapter Ten

As 'Bel led him into the heart of the city, Kevin found that the differences began to outweigh the similarities.

"I guess I'd better warn you," 'Bel said as they were driving down the slopes of the Visitor world's equivalent of Twin Peaks. "You don't like surprises."

"That depends," Kevin answered. He was smiling now. The shock had worn off, but not the curiosity.

"I should explain about clothing," 'Bel said.

"Am I dressed wrong for meeting the Judges?" Kevin asked.

"That's part of it, honey," 'Bel laughed. "Look," he pointed at a group of people they were approaching as he maneuvered the car onto a wide street.

Kevin noticed most of the people walking along casually were wearing long capes. As he looked closer, he realized that's about all they were wearing. Many of them wore the colorful scapulars he saw on the gatekeeper last night. A few wore something like kilts. Most of the females had short capes over their shoulders and loose halters to support their breasts. But that was all. "Oh my Lord," Kevin exhaled nervously. "They're all naked."

'Bel reached over and affectionately massaged Kevin's thigh, as if to reassure him things were not threatening. "In a world in which skin pigmentation is part of communication, it doesn't make any sense to wear clothing. It'd be like your people wearing ear-muffs to the symphony."

"Well, when it's cold, we do wear ear-muffs," Kevin answered. "Clothes are for warmth and protection."

"That's what the cloaks are for. And if it were colder today, you'd see people in heavier robes, but, well, it's a pretty day--"

Kevin was just amazed. He was a little embarrassed by the distraction all the naked bodies caused him. He was having a hard time paying attention to 'Bel. Most of the people on the street, male and female, looked relatively young and in good physical shape. It occurred to Kevin that in a world without clothes there was an obvious incentive to keep in shape. "Isn't it hard to, uh, to concentrate?" he giggled with embarrassment.

"You'll get used to it. We got used to wearing those overalls in your world."

"Did you really? I thought you said the communication problems were driving you all crazy," Kevin answered, intentionally turning his attention back to 'Bel and the business at hand of inter-species relations.

"Maybe you're right," 'Bel acknowledged. "It hadn't occurred to me that our ways might be as hard for you to adjust to as your world's ways were for us."

They drove on in silence a few more minutes. 'Bel's color was kind of greenish. Kevin worried he'd said something that hurt him. Finally 'Bel broke the silence. "We need to make a decision. We can go back to my house and change clothes, I mean, if you'd prefer to look less, well, conspicuous. Or we can leave the car here and take the subway system on downtown. Or--we've still got more time--we could eat or drive out to the beach... You're the guest of honor. What would you like?"

"I'm not sure I'm ready to, uh, change clothes, quite yet.

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