- Trak'zor -

“Dead?”

I raise my head to look at her, worried that those sounds she made that I thought might be noises of pleasure were in fact death rattles. Nobody told me Worshiping her might kill her! It's not a part of the prophecy I have been told about. But of course I was also never told that The Woman would attempt to kill me.

Her softly curved abdomen rises and sinks fast. So she's still breathing, at least. And when I place my fingertips gently on the side of her neck, her heartbeat seems to be quite regular. Incredibly rapid, though. Much faster than anyone I've known, except little children.

My blood freezes to ice and my arousal vaporizes. I ignored her anguished noises, thinking it was pleasure. Holy Ancestors, is this turning into a disaster?

I bounce to my feet. There might still be time to run and get the Magic.

Then Aurora opens her eyes to little slits, and I think I can see a small smile on her alien mouth. “Almost. Not really. But Trak'zor worship Aurora, make feel much good.”

She stretches and yawns. Well, that doesn't look like any dying person I've ever seen.

I start breathing again and retrieve my sword and loincloth from the edge of the water, still keeping an eye on Aurora.

The joy I felt gradually returns. I have Worshipped The Woman! And it turned out to be much more wonderful than I had ever dreamt. The sounds, the smell, the flavor, the feel of her silky folds – it was all beyond description.

She slowly sits up and smiles at me. “Trak'zor enjoy Worshipping Aurora?”

“I did. Much more enjoyable than the shaman told us.”

“Aurora enjoy too. So much enjoy!”

She puts her garments back on. Somehow she's just as attractive with them on as when they come off.

Fine. I have Worshipped her. Now I want to give her everything in the world.

I turn around and take in my island. Before, it seemed perfect. I had prepared everything for the arrival of The Woman. Now it looks ludicrously primitive and ugly to me. Now that I've met her, I realize that a radiant being like her can't be satisfied with this.

I shield my eyes from the sun and look over at New Island. As always, its dark shape shines with some inner power. Surely there is a connection here. There must be something on that island that Aurora will need. Something important. Why else was it placed there so recently?

She gets up and stands beside me. “Very strange island.”

“Strange,” I agree. “It is new.”

“New?”

“It was suddenly there. I was away on a hunt, and when I came back, that island was there. Three seasons ago. I call it New Island.”

She frowns. “Suddenly there? How?”

I shrug. “One day it was there.”

“Tats ouirdas fuk,” she says in some alien language.

“That happen before?” she continues. “Island suddenly there?”

“No,” I say and turn my back. I can never go to that island. The Water Bigs will kill me if I try.

I start walking back to my house, and she follows. According to the Prophecy, I must now give her a Gift. But I trust the Prophecy less now. And anyway, I have nothing to give that she hasn't seen already.

Well, this island is plainly inadequate for Aurora. And the Prophecy does state that The Woman will bring back all the lost women.

To the tribe. Not to the man who finds The Woman.

I've never thought this far ahead. I was pretty sure I'd find The Woman, because I'm the only one from my tribe who realized that of course we have to search for her. But now that she's here, I will keep her to myself and the tribe can live in disgrace.

They don't deserve women.