e&tg 43

As we trudged back from the site where we'd taken the samples, i caught Yeniri nervously sneaking glances at me.  I didn't think much of it; i've worked hard at making people nervous over the last few years, so it happens even if i don't mean it to, and she was an odd duck, anyway.  We arrived at her cottage and she started working on preserving the samples while i took off my armor, stretched my muscles and did some balance exercises.

After some time, she declared, "I've finished," and stood up.  She walked towards me and said, "I."  She then blushed suddenly and fiercely, but she did not turn her eyes from mine.  "I wish you to spend the night in my bed.  If it would please you."

"Ahh, i, uh."  My brain scrabbled for words.  "Your gratitude, um, you don't have to thank me for, ah, this way, that is—"

She shook her head.  "I am not asking you to pay you back for your help.  It..."  She looked down for a beat, then at me again.  "It is a selfish thing.  You are a man with skin the color of the earth."  She reached up to touch my cheek.  The skin on her fingertips felt thick but smooth, like a polished callus.  She whispered, "So much earth in one man... to share my body with you would be a holy thing."  She pulled her hand away.  "They would kill you, you know.  Your color would be an offense to the Gods.  That's why i didn't want you to go back to the town.  Even though it is a border town and the presence of the army is minimal, i did not want you to risk yourself."

I tried not to stare.  "I... i'm flattered.  But i don't think that, i, ah."  I rubbed my scalp.  "We've just met," i finished lamely.

She looked at me for a second and nodded slightly.  "Of course."  She turned away and walked to her bed.  She sat at the edge and waited until i'd finished laying out my bedroll to put out the lantern.  I lay there for what seemed for hours until sleep came.

e&tg 43

As we trudged back from the site where we'd taken the samples, i caught Yeniri nervously sneaking glances at me.  I didn't think much of it; i've worked hard at making people nervous over the last few years, so it happens even if i don't mean it to, and she was an odd duck, anyway.  We arrived at her cottage and she started working on preserving the samples while i took off my armor, stretched my muscles and did some balance exercises.

After some time, she declared, "I've finished," and stood up.  She walked towards me and said, "I."  She then blushed suddenly and fiercely, but she did not turn her eyes from mine.  "I wish you to spend the night in my bed.  If it would please you."

"Ahh, i, uh."  My brain scrabbled for words.  "Your gratitude, um, you don't have to thank me for, ah, this way, that is—"

She shook her head.  "I am not asking you to pay you back for your help.  It..."  She looked down for a beat, then at me again.  "It is a selfish thing.  You are a man with skin the color of the earth."  She reached up to touch my cheek.  The skin on her fingertips felt thick but smooth, like a polished callus.  She whispered, "So much earth in one man... to share my body with you would be a holy thing."  She pulled her hand away.  "They would kill you, you know.  Your color would be an offense to the Gods.  That's why i didn't want you to go back to the town.  Even though it is a border town and the presence of the army is minimal, i did not want you to risk yourself."

I tried not to stare.  "I... i'm flattered.  But i don't think that, i, ah."  I rubbed my scalp.  "We've just met," i finished lamely.

She looked at me for a second and nodded slightly.  "Of course."  She turned away and walked to her bed.  She sat at the edge and waited until i'd finished laying out my bedroll to put out the lantern.  I lay there for what seemed for hours until sleep came.

more decadence

Tonight Kim cooked some smoked pork chops, and made some pesto to go with some angel hair pasta and asparagus from our garden, plus salad that contained fennel, broccoli and lettuce from our garden (and green onions from someone else's garden).  It was all fantastic, and i opened a bottle of Norman 2002 Mephistopheles zinfandel (PDF).  It's dark, rich, complex, obviously tannic for a zin but not too much so, and hot (œnospeak for "high in alcohol").  Kim then whipped up a batch of Mrs. Donnelly's Brownie Mix, which cost $20 (!), but, hey, the samples at the store were unbelievable.  And the brownies do rock, and pair very well with the wine.  I also have a Norman `02 old vine zin waiting in the rack... mmm.

more decadence

Tonight Kim cooked some smoked pork chops, and made some pesto to go with some angel hair pasta and asparagus from our garden, plus salad that contained fennel, broccoli and lettuce from our garden (and green onions from someone else's garden).  It was all fantastic, and i opened a bottle of Norman 2002 Mephistopheles zinfandel (PDF).  It's dark, rich, complex, obviously tannic for a zin but not too much so, and hot (œnospeak for "high in alcohol").  Kim then whipped up a batch of Mrs. Donnelly's Brownie Mix, which cost $20 (!), but, hey, the samples at the store were unbelievable.  And the brownies do rock, and pair very well with the wine.  I also have a Norman `02 old vine zin waiting in the rack... mmm.

a new martial art arises

Gerald Laird and Vladimir Guerrero demonstrate a Major League Capoiera dance.

a new martial art arises

Gerald Laird and Vladimir Guerrero demonstrate a Major League Capoiera dance.