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{\plain \fs20 \fs20 t seemed to Charles Moreland that it had been a \softline
long, long time since he had had a woman. He was \softline
hungry for one, but despite his persuasive speech, \softline
his lameness handicapped his chances of being able to \softline
overtake a lone woman and {\u8220\'93}have his way{\u8221\'94} with her.
}{\plain \fs20 \fs20 \tab This did not deter his wishing, nor his \softline
frequenting such a hangout for the local misfits as {\u8220\'93}The \softline
Club,{\u8221\'94} otherwise registered with the authorities as \softline
{\u8220\'93}Adam{\u8217\'92}s Eden.{\u8221\'94} In this place almost anything, save \softline
murder, overt rape or lack of funds was permitted, \softline
almost encouraged. The proprietor did not mind that his \softline
place of business enjoyed a dismal repute, nor that the \softline
low-brows of many surrounding locales made it their \softline
home away from home. As long as money flowed from \softline
the customer side of the bar into his cash drawer all was \softline
well.
}{\plain \fs20 \fs20 \tab On the particular evening which began \softline
Charles{\u8217\'92} renaissance, the place was fairly quiet. There \softline
were no screaming arguments, only a few sloppy drunks \softline
and few druggies in evidence. No weapons were \softline
visible. An untypical slow evening.
}{\plain \fs20 \fs20 \tab {\u8220\'93}Adam,{\u8221\'94} for so the proprietor wished to be \softline
known although all his clientele knew well that was not \softline
his name, actually came from behind the bar to sit with \softline
Charles as the latter nursed his tall drink and mused on \softline
his sorrows.
}{\plain \fs20 \fs20 \tab {\u8220\'93}Chuck?{\u8221\'94} a name by which Charles hated to be \softline
addressed, {\u8220\'93}What seems to be the matter, ol{\u8217\'92} man?{\u8221\'94} \softline
Another term which Charles abhorred.
}{\plain \fs20 \fs20 \tab Charles raised bloodshot eyes to the man, if \softline
such he could be called.
}{\plain \fs20 \fs20 \tab {\u8220\'93}Adam, I am distraught. There is no cure for \softline
my trouble in these distilled waters, not even in your \softline
scintillating conversational presence. Ah, but were you \softline
a bit more charming, a mite more appealing to the eye, \softline
Adam, old sod, I might appreciate you to a fair degree. \softline
In short, good barman that you are, you are not a pretty \softline
woman.{\u8221\'94}
}{\plain \fs20 \fs20 \tab {\u8220\'93}Oh? How do you know, Chuck?{\u8221\'94}
}{\plain \fs20 \fs20 \tab {\u8220\'93}Adam, the thought that comes to mind is {\u8212\'97} \softline
would be, I should say, were it remotely possible that \softline
you are of the sex...I cannot say {\u8216\'91}fair,{\u8217\'92} for such an \softline
adjective to describe what I have ever been able to see \softline
of you, you poor sod, in the poor excuse for \softline
illumination with which you flood the place, would be \softline
a most grievous misuse of the language which we \softline
occasionally speak {\u8212\'97}.
}{\plain \fs20 \fs20 \tab {\u8220\'93}In short, old master of the house, were you of \softline
the female persuasion, I should be more than surprised, \softline
I would be shocked, d{\u8217\'92}you hear me, shocked!{\u8221\'94}
}{\plain \fs20 \fs20 \tab {\u8220\'93}Now, look, Chuck, there{\u8217\'92}s no need to come \softline
on like that. Yes, I keep the lights low, more for the \softline
clients than for myself, as you well know.{\u8221\'94}
}{\plain \fs20 \fs20 \tab The proprietor{\u8217\'92}s voice changed subtly, and \softline
something about the very presence made Charles look \softline
more closely at this shadow...within which he began to \softline
perceive a face, a slender neck and the upper part of a \softline
female...yes, female...attractively nude...torso!
}{\plain \fs20 \fs20 \tab {\u8220\'93}Chuck, trade is slow, the help can take care of
the bar. Shall we take a little stroll?{\u8221\'94} went on the \softline
apparition in more dulcet tones.
}{\plain \fs20 \fs20 \tab Charles felt a strong inclination to go along \softline
with this ploy, whatever it might be, if only to satisfy \softline
his growing curiosity.
}{\plain \fs20 \fs20 \tab {\u8220\'93}My dear old sod...lady {\u8212\'97} if what I dimly \softline
perceive can possibly be true, against all the odds {\u8212\'97} I \softline
shall accompany you to my doom...but stay! I shall \softline
require yet another beaker of this distilled pig-swill \softline
which you purvey disguised under the much sullied \softline
name of gin...or is it vodka today?... ere I set forth on \softline
this perilous venture.{\u8221\'94}
}{\plain \fs20 \fs20 \tab {\u8220\'93}Do you want to come, or not, Chuck?{\u8221\'94} The \softline
words were harsh, the tone not, rather sweet in fact.
}{\plain \fs20 \fs20 \tab {\u8220\'93}Ah, sweet lips that summon me to...what I \softline
know not, but I come, I come with the bated breath of \softline
pleasures unknown, yet anticipated ere this night be \softline
o{\u8217\'92}er.{\u8221\'94}
}{\plain \fs20 \fs20 \tab {\u8220\'93}Sweets, cut the bull-crap and let{\u8217\'92}s go...if you \softline
have the nerve...you po-et!{\u8221\'94} That was an epithet in \softline
Adam{\u8217\'92}s vocabulary as Charles well knew, delivered in \softline
the same low, contralto tones..
}{\plain \fs20 \fs20 \tab {\u8220\'93}Aye, I come. Barmaid, once more fill the \softline
flowing bowl, that I may go to my...pleasure more \softline
happily.{\u8221\'94}
}{\plain \fs20 \fs20 \tab {\u8220\'93}Oh, I think you{\u8217\'92}ll be happy...before the \softline
night{\u8217\'92}s over, Charles. Come.{\u8221\'94}
}{\plain \fs20 \fs20 \tab Charles, tall drink in hand with chunks of ice \softline
(an ice-pick was a handy weapon) clinking against the \softline
silver sides of the vessel {\u8212\'97} Charles had not been far off \softline
the mark with his {\u8220\'93}flowing bowl{\u8221\'94} {\u8212\'97} followed after the \softline
somewhat shorter, indistinct form of {\u8220\'93}Adam{\u8221\'94} through \softline
a doorway that Charles had never before seen, and \softline
ascended a short flight of stairs in almost total \softline
darkness...to what Charles perceived as a landing \softline
perhaps a half-story higher than the bar. Charles, by no \softline
means drunk with the alleged alcohol he had earlier \softline
consumed, nor as yet bereft of his senses, took another \softline
sip of his drink and looked about as best he could. \softline
There was, where he now stood, a dimness, not exactly \softline
light, but less dark than the stairway.
}{\plain \fs20 \fs20 \tab To his quickly suppressed shock {\u8212\'97} he }{\plain \fs20 \i\fs20 had}{\plain \fs20 \fs20 \softline
tensed a bit {\u8212\'97} Charles felt his clothing begin to \softline
evaporate...could it be? Certainly he experienced an \softline
increasing sense of nakedness which had begun at his \softline
waist, moved slowly but inexorably up his belly and \softline
lower chest, down across his lower belly and privates. \softline
As the feeling of nakedness passed his penis, that began \softline
to stiffen, and Charles thought he could feel a hand, or \softline
fingers, stroking him softly, thus encouraging the \softline
erection.
}{\plain \fs20 \fs20 \tab {\u8220\'93}Uhm...? I can{\u8217\'92}t see you...Adam, is it?{\u8221\'94}
}{\plain \fs20 \fs20 \tab {\u8220\'93}Do not be afraid, Charles. I said you{\u8217\'92}d be \softline
happy, did I not, Charles?{\u8221\'94}
}{\plain \fs20 \fs20 \tab {\u8220\'93}Ye-es. Th-that voice...I don{\u8217\'92}t believe you are \softline
Adam, are you? And if those fingers are yours, oh \softline
mystery voice, I }{\plain \fs20 \i\fs20 know}{\plain \fs20 \fs20 you are not Adam...or at least \softline
you{\u8217\'92}re not male.{\u8221\'94}
}{\plain \fs20 \fs20 \tab {\u8220\'93}How very perceptive of you, Charles,{\u8221\'94}
laughed the voice. {\u8220\'93}No, but perhaps I am Adam{\u8217\'92}s... \softline
}{\plain \fs20 \i\fs20 better}{\plain \fs20 \fs20 half?{\u8221\'94}
}{\plain \fs20 \fs20 \tab {\u8220\'93}Uhm,{\u8221\'94} Charles managed to get out, his throat \softline
for the moment constricted, {\u8220\'93}d{\u8217\'92}you mean...Eve?{\u8221\'94}
}{\plain \fs20 \fs20 \tab {\u8220\'93}Oh, no. D{\u8217\'92}you not know of Adam{\u8217\'92}s }{\plain \fs20 \i\fs20 other}{\plain \fs20 \fs20 \softline
mate, Charles. I thought you erudite!{\u8221\'94}
}{\plain \fs20 \fs20 \tab {\u8220\'93}Ah...yes, I know of another {\u8216\'91}wife{\u8217\'92} Adam may \softline
have had...or who may have had Adam...indeed, of \softline
considerable repute she was, not so?{\u8221\'94}
}{\plain \fs20 \fs20 \tab {\u8220\'93}Yes. You do nicely, Charles. I think you \softline
finally deserve to be happy...you were }{\plain \fs20 \i\fs20 so}{\plain \fs20 \fs20 sad when I \softline
saw you below stairs. But...I must give you a \softline
choice...{\u8217\'92}Adam{\u8217\'92}s choice,{\u8221\'94} I believe it was once called.{\u8221\'94}
}{\plain \fs20 \fs20 \tab Charles{\u8217\'92} penis had swollen to monstrous \softline
proportions, far longer and thicker than he had ever \softline
experienced, yet he was responding more sensuously to \softline
the slow, light strokes than he had dreamed his body \softline
capable of responding to any stimulation again. His hips \softline
were slowly and pleasantly gyrating in syncopation with \softline
those strokes. He desperately did not want \softline
this...whatever {\u8220\'93}this{\u8221\'94} was...to end, yet his mind told him \softline
that he was courting, if not actually about to experience, \softline
extreme danger.
}{\plain \fs20 \fs20 \tab {\u8220\'93}Adam...no, that{\u8217\'92}s not right, it{\u8217\'92}s...{\u8221\'94}
}{\plain \fs20 \fs20 \tab {\u8220\'93}...the name we do not mention, Charles!{\u8221\'94}
}{\plain \fs20 \fs20 \tab {\u8220\'93}Uhm, yes, of course. Ooh, that was...}{\plain \fs20 \i\fs20 ni-ice}{\plain \fs20 \fs20 .{\u8221\'94}
}{\plain \fs20 \fs20 Charles{\u8217\'92} body jerked and shook as a wave of pleasure \softline
such as he had never known passed through from his \softline
throbbing penis to his soggy mind.
}{\plain \fs20 \fs20 \tab {\u8220\'93}Do you want to return...down the stairs, \softline
Charles?{\u8221\'94} murmured the voice, the stroking lighter and \softline
more tantalizing than before.
}{\plain \fs20 \fs20 \tab The thought that {\u8220\'93}down the stairs{\u8221\'94} was not \softline
what the voice had started to say crossed Charles{\u8217\'92} mind, \softline
and for an instant he really, really desperately wanted to \softline
break free and run screaming down those stairs...could \softline
they be found?...but his body refused, no longer entirely \softline
under his control.
}{\plain \fs20 \fs20 \tab His mind reluctantly, his tongue willingly, \softline
gave the word, {\u8220\'93}N...no, I abide what you...have for me, \softline
nameless one.{\u8221\'94}
}{\plain \fs20 \fs20 \tab {\u8220\'93}Come, then, Charles, lonely one.{\u8221\'94}
}{\plain \fs20 \fs20 \tab Charles thought he had moved to the bed...he \softline
believed it to be a bed...and felt himself grasped \softline
powerfully yet very, very comfortably by arms and legs, \softline
what felt to him like thighs around his hips, his penis,
now throbbing with almost unbearable anticipation, \softline
slowly entering a wet aperture that what was left of his \softline
fading conscious mind told himself might be a human \softline
vagina.
}{\plain \fs20 \fs20 \tab Charles felt a pumping sensation, realised that \softline
his body was performing coitus without his volition, yet \softline
he began to enjoy the feeling and returned, as best he \softline
could, the embrace with the shifting shape he thought to \softline
be under...over...around...him.
}{\plain \fs20 \fs20 \tab His mouth was opened by a smooth, warm, \softline
slippery, muscled object he took to be a tongue. It \softline
tasted momentarily }{\plain \fs20 \i\fs20 like}{\plain \fs20 \fs20 a tongue, then he no longer \softline
cared. He could feel less and less of what he had once \softline
philosophically defined as {\u8220\'93}the essential me {\u8212\'97} \softline
Charles,{\u8221\'94} while {\u8220\'93}the bod{\u8217\'92}{\u8221\'94} wrestled joyfully with the \softline
shape{\u8217\'92}s members, no longer wondering with what he \softline
was so gleefully entangled.
}{\plain \fs20 \fs20 \tab There came a time of which all that had been \softline
Charles remembered was the ultimate bliss, ultimate \softline
attainment. Then there was a clouded period, the entity \softline
passive for an indefinite time.
}{\plain \fs20 \fs20 \tab {\u8220\'93}Ah, pretty one, you have been happy, have \softline
you not?{\u8221\'94} came a voce...perhaps just a...mental tickle? \softline
in the entity{\u8217\'92}s mind. The shape standing at the bedside \softline
whispered,.
}{\plain \fs20 \fs20 \tab {\u8220\'93}Now you will be happy all the time. Set forth \softline
on your journey, and we shall meet again.{\u8221\'94}
}{\plain \fs20 \fs20 \tab Charlene gathered herself, rose from the bed, \softline
found herself already clothed in close-fitting gown, \softline
nylons, shoes. The high heels made no noise as she \softline
moved to the doorway.
}{\plain \fs20 \fs20 \tab {\u8220\'93}Through that doorway lies your future. Go, \softline
now, and enjoy...working...for me...{\u8221\'94}
}{\plain \fs20 \fs20 \tab She was back in the bar. Charlene accepted a \softline
young fellow{\u8217\'92}s hesitant invitation and moved to his \softline
table with his other friends. The group was gay, young, \softline
bent on sexual conquest or submission before the night \softline
was out. None was drunk, not even tipsy, while their \softline
minds concentrated on their hopes and fears for this \softline
evening.
}{\plain \fs20 \fs20 \tab Charlene was more than willing to oblige when \softline
the young man who had invited her to join the party \softline
proposed that she and he adjourn to another place.
}{\plain \fs20 \fs20 \tab Charlene would return alone.
}{\plain \fs20 \fs20 \tab Another soul to serve the ever hungry Adam{\u8217\'92}s \softline
. . . wife?}