Descending Road - MANY JOININGS TO DO by Dana W. Paxson

MANY JOININGS TO DO

15r63 4D

When Marra couldn’t eat any more, Aoriver spoke in her. To celebrate, we must join again. But first, I offer you this. Marra closed her eyes as another cascade of pleasure wound its way up her spinal cord like a growing vine, exploding into flower in the depths of her mind. It is for my thanks. And the blossoms fell from the vine, turning corkscrews of joy in Marra‘s chest, tumbling down to set her mount of Venus glowing. Deen smiled down at her, and then helped her to her feet.

The aliens took them, and they made love.

They awoke. “Where are we?” Marra asked. Two radiant figures, clasping each other close among leaves like living jewels, stared at her. She shielded her face from their eyes burning like suns. Deen‘s arm circled her waist.

“This is another part of our world,” one of the figures sang softly. “Your andros call it innerspace.”

“Who are you?” Deen asked.

“I am Oortonel; she is Aoriver.”

“You look like this?”

“Like what? Here, we are as you see us. In other places, no.”

Marra looked around. “It is so beautiful here.” Gold-tendrilled flowers grew wings and lofted away into a pale orange sky. “And things change when I think about them.”

“Look!” Deen said, pointing up. The flowers dived, spiralling black sparks, turned into flaming birds that shrieked; the cries became words that spun and spread a net of stars from horizon to horizon.

A trickle of water made Marra turn her head. Droplets fell from jade leaves above her. She opened her mouth and took them in, and they filled her belly with shining laughter. “I’ll never leave here,” she said.

“For now, for qaqanhialh, this is yours,” the Aoriver figure said. “But we must go back now for a while.”

“But how long is… qaqanhialh?” Deen asked.

“Several days. You will have time to come back here. We have many joinings to do, we four.” And the garden faded; Deen‘s arms held her, and the cart bed lay under her again. As she opened her eyes, Deen‘s eyes opened to hers also. They smiled at each other. Marra began to cry and laugh.

Story List	SURPRISE ME	Author Page
USER SURVEY	PUZZLE ME	MAKE ELM MARK

HOVER Lucida Bright BARE	HOVER Lucida Bright FULL	HOVER Palatino Linotype BARE
HOVER Palatino Linotype FULL	HOVER Times New Roman BARE	HOVER Times New Roman FULL
PAD Arial BARE	PAD Arial FULL	PAD Lucida Bright BARE
PAD Lucida Bright FULL	PAD Times New Roman BARE	PAD Times New Roman FULL


	MANY JOININGS TO DO 15r63 4D When Marra couldn’t eat any more, Aoriver spoke in her. To celebrate, we must join again. But first, I offer you this. Marra closed her eyes as another cascade of pleasure wound its way up her spinal cord like a growing vine, exploding into flower in the depths of her mind. It is for my thanks. And the blossoms fell from the vine, turning corkscrews of joy in Marra‘s chest, tumbling down to set her mount of Venus glowing. Deen smiled down at her, and then helped her to her feet. The aliens took them, and they made love. They awoke. “Where are we?” Marra asked. Two radiant figures, clasping each other close among leaves like living jewels, stared at her. She shielded her face from their eyes burning like suns. Deen‘s arm circled her waist. “This is another part of our world,” one of the figures sang softly. “Your andros call it innerspace.” “Who are you?” Deen asked. “I am Oortonel; she is Aoriver.” “You look like this?” “Like what? Here, we are as you see us. In other places, no.” Marra looked around. “It is so beautiful here.” Gold-tendrilled flowers grew wings and lofted away into a pale orange sky. “And things change when I think about them.” “Look!” Deen said, pointing up. The flowers dived, spiralling black sparks, turned into flaming birds that shrieked; the cries became words that spun and spread a net of stars from horizon to horizon. A trickle of water made Marra turn her head. Droplets fell from jade leaves above her. She opened her mouth and took them in, and they filled her belly with shining laughter. “I’ll never leave here,” she said. “For now, for qaqanhialh, this is yours,” the Aoriver figure said. “But we must go back now for a while.” “But how long is… qaqanhialh?” Deen asked. “Several days. You will have time to come back here. We have many joinings to do, we four.” And the garden faded; Deen‘s arms held her, and the cart bed lay under her again. As she opened her eyes, Deen‘s eyes opened to hers also. They smiled at each other. Marra began to cry and laugh.