Eighth Circle

Liala snuggled up to Bryn. Allain had left the cave to use his radio. He had a way of bouncing signals off the steel towers on the moor. That way the guardians couldn't pin down his position. He had explained the principle but he sounded like Crispin when he explained technical things. He used technical words. Anyone who could understand wouldn't have needed to ask in the first place.

'Bryn.' She whispered in his ear. 'Why can't the guardians locate Allain's position when he uses those towers?'

'Do you want a one-word answer?'

'Yes. But keep it simple.'

'They are stupid.'

'That's three words, Bryn.' She dug him in the ribs. 'You sound like my brother, Crispin, when he talks about the guardians ... but you've still not answered my question.'

Bryn moved nearer. 'The guardians depend on computers to let them know what is going on and if the computers haven't been told what to look for then they won't find it.'

'Crispin says the guardians aren't as clever as they think.'

'Your brother sounds great.'

'He is, Bryn.'

'I'd like to meet him.'

'You will. Bryn.'

'Will he help rescue my sister?'

'Of course ... he hates the things the guardians do.'

Bryn took her hand. 'I can hardly believe what has happened, Liala. I've seen you and Crispin on television talking about the things the guardians are doing for the environment. I didn't know you hated them as much as we do.'

'But you still came and fetched me in your boat.'

'I'd seen you with the dolphins.'

'And you could sense my presence?'

'I often sensed your presence, Liala.'

'Even when I wasn't there?'

'Sometimes ...'

'I often sensed yours,' Liala stroked his face. 'Especially at night when I was out on the boat with Crispin and his boring friends. I just wanted to be with you like I am now.'

'I felt like that too, Liala.'

They moved closer and their lips met. It was the first time Liala had kissed. Kissing wasn't approved of in the palace. It was regarded as an unfortunate relic from a prehuman past. She had been taught that all unnecessary touching should be avoided because it could lead to indiscriminate acts of reproduction with unforeseen consequences.

She was surprised by how natural it was. And there was nothing unnatural about other acts of touching. She felt Bryn's strong muscular arms. That was nice and it was nice to feel him touching her. He undid the buttons of his shirt.