Under a Starless Sky novel Chapter 82

Orton’s ‘no’ was not from a place of honor, but from fear. He feared being rejected for all time if he protested too much.

“How do you escape it?” Orton asked, Arne.

“I am clear,” Arne said.

“That’s not helpful. And you?” Orton asked Shen.

“You can’t rape the willing. They come at me at like that, they get fucked,” Shen said.

“Your wives tolerate it?” Orton asked.

“I suspect they have come to some kind of arrangement,” Shen said. He paused for a moment and communed with a tree. He leaned against the tree, touching his forehead against it. The exchange was unnecessarily private, an update on the creatures of the forest.

Their walk of the forest, outside the gates, was usually their only time to recharge- men time, reasonably alone. Uffe and Erico had returned to their homes, likely because their wives had insisted. Shangri-La had more of a commune feel, not precisely hippies; more like a Kibbutz in Israel. It had a democratic feel, people came to a circle and made decisions together. The castle was busy with people, with Avatars, and ghosts. Outside the castle, the Irk had been scarce, likely having had numbers dwindled after the harsh winter. Irks had crossed paths on occasion with Valkyries, scouting the forest- and out of deference to Shen’s request, none were killed. Assuming numbers were down, he wanted them to have a chance to repopulate. If the present company was at risk of encountering Irks, the escort would intercept and direct them away from the men.

The Valkyries found many reasons to come talk to Shen on his walks, and the presence of Irks was one of them. Like the Tamorians, the Valkyries traveled in three’s. Unlike the Tamorians, there was a fourth that walked with them in spirit, watching from ‘Third Sight’ which was their term for ‘Remote Viewing.’ Sometimes the forth was visibly present, like a ghost.

Shen came out of the tree, took a moment to orientate. Arne was there, and Orton, quietly waiting. He was aware of the tree spirit, and the invisible fourth.

“Where were we?” Shen asked.

“We were talking about sex and arrangements,” Arne said.

“I wish I was healthy as you,” Orton said.

“Oh, fuck you. I am not healthy. I am still operating from an outdated, economic paradigm,” Shen said.

“I don’t understand,” Orton said.

“I come from a world where men are catered to- to the degree they could care less if the partner is satisfied. Typically, the more self-sufficient the man is, the more likely he is to be self serving in all domains. I was not that guy. I had to work to get partners, and work to satisfy partners, and consequently I became hyper-sensitive to their needs, meaning an unhealthy balance where I would neglect self. Unhealthy balance always leads to decline in quality of the relationship. I would eventually lament not being appreciated and when someone left, I found myself frequently annoyed they hooked up with someone less sensitive to their needs because I believed I was doing more for them. And I was. But I wasn’t taking care of myself. Their next partner would be more into themselves and that relationship will like be unstainable for her, too.”

“Women don’t like clingy or needy,” Arne echoed.

“Fuck you,” Orton said.

Shen touched Orton’s arm. “He was talking about me, brother, not you. There is that, Arne. I was certainly that in my twenties. But the opposite of that is also not a suitable partner. I am more the opposite of clingy with the Valkyries. I still likely to accommodate any request, but mostly- I am just accepting a fuck. Unlike my world, if the Valkyries take advantage of any generosity, it is not because they are malevolently manipulative, but because they make an assumption that all people, even men, will take care of their own needs. They don’t even recognize there is economic exchange going on. They’re just engaging in fun. There is love in their playfulness.

“Orton, in the perfect world, men and women are equally confident, and in that confidence they negotiate how to serve each other- but that ideal can only come from a place where people are equal in some domains, not all. The ideal relationship comes from balance…”

There was a noise like thunder, but there was no evidence of rain. At this depth in the forest, it could be raining above the forest, and take hours before the water began to filter through the canopy. Their escort was suddenly in the clearing with them.

“We need to return,” Imly said.

Shen tuned into TL. She was there- with explanation. “There was an attack, Jon. A missile.”

“Seriously?” Shen asked. “You intercepted?”

“No,” TL said. “Someone else did.”

Ghosts arrived in the clearing, blocking all the perceived paths out of the clearing. The Valkyries took up point around the men. Each planted their staffs, illuminating them as if that would shield them against the ghosts if they were hostile. Arne placed his hand on the hilt of a sword.

“What?” Shen asked him. “You’re going to draw on ghosts?”

“Why is the sky blue?” Orton asked.

Shen blinked- aware of the blueness around them. He had been ‘here’ before, when he had confronted the Irk and first used magic. This was when he was holding the orb Oa had given him. The trees stood out from the background of each other and sky, framing a surreal blue- it was not sky, but more like sustained lightening.

“State your business,” Imly said.

One of the ghosts came forwards. She was the girl with the cell phone. “Mother wants to speak with you.” She was looking at Shen.

“Your mother?” Shen asked.

She held out the cell phone. Imly went to intercept the object but the ghost stepped back. Shen came forwards and Imly blocked him.

“They’re ghosts,” Shen said. “How can they harm me?”