Station, стр. 17
But this wasn't then. This wasn't the Before. As faras he could tell, this wasn't even the Earth he knew. Maybe hisvows didn't apply here; he certainly didn't feel them pressing onhis chest the way he used to. Perhaps he was finally rid of theirhold on his life.
Sliding his underwear off, Hadder stepped onto thecommunity shower floor and was greeted by the warm mist. Movingcloser to the center, he saw specks of color dancing in the steam,rainbows that not only touched his skin, but awoke somethinginside. Standing in the middle, Hadder said water, andgentle cascading waterfalls fell upon him. As the only bather, notonly did the water from directly above him strike him, but liquidfrom other far away nozzles began to bend impossibly in the air,some at 90-degree angles, to touch his feet, legs, hips, and back.Hadder felt the glittered water open his pours, soften his skin,smooth age lines, tighten fat deposits, and thicken his hair.
Head down, letting the magical water wash away thepast years, Hadder began to gently weep, not only in gratitude forthis new life but in mourning for the life he was leaving behind,placing it firmly in the Before. Although in recent years theBefore had given him nothing but pain and loss, he had grown todepend on that pain, to define himself by it. Without it, who washe?
Who was Marlin Hadder now?
"You're one of us now," Hadder heard softly behindhim, a simple answer to his difficult question. Reena had enteredthe community shower and now stood before him, naked save her LightCrown, which continued its rotations and appeared even moreenchanting as it cut through the water. She, too, had the prismaticwater moving at strange angles to wash her. With half the water onHadder and the other half on Reena, it looked like two crystallinearms pushing them together, needing them to connect under a glassygaze. Reena reached up slowly to softly touch Hadder's cheek beforecupping her hand behind his head and pulling it in for a sensualkiss. Her tongue darted into his mouth, and he tasted tropicalchemistry as it flicked his own, sending shockwaves through hisbody as it shrank pupils and enlarged something else. Hadder nearlyfell over from the sensation but was kept upright by Reena, whoseemed to anticipate this reaction.
"What about Jonny VV," Hadder managed weakly, barelypulling the words from a foggy mind.
"This is Station, Marlin. We all belong to eachother, but none to one. Relax."
And Hadder did relax as their lips met again,sending waves of ecstasy through his body, a mere precursor of thepleasures to come. Hadder fell out of time as his and Reena'sbodies intertwined. At one point, he laid on the warm shower floor,Reena astride him as two jets of water met her back, a true angelnursing him back to health. In that warm embrace, Hadder driftedaway from the Before forever, floating softly to land in Station'spermanence.
"Welcome home," Reena whispered in his ear, and allwent white.
Hadder came to completely dry on one of the sidebenches. He rose his head and saw Reena, already dressed, waitingnear the front shower doors.
"How are you feeling?" she asked.
"Alive" was the only response he could formulate,and she laughed.
"I hope you don't mind; I took the liberty of havingthe system dry you while you slept."
"How long was I out?"
"Not long at all."
Hadder became suddenly embarrassed. "I'm so sorry, Ishouldn't have passed out like that. I…"
Reena stopped him. "Happens to everyone the firsttime they take Awakening." She saw his confusion. "The chemicalthat was on my tongue. Better you experience it first with afriend, the stuff is going to be all around you tonight." Reenapointed to the nearest locker. "I already picked up your suit fromthe lemma. It's hanging up. There's a full-length mirror by thedoor here. I'll wait for you in the hall."
When she exited, Hadder tried to get up, butimmediately fell back onto the bench laughing. His legs were jelly,and his heart was beating like a lab rat's, but he felt trulyfantastic. Composing himself, he rose again, this time remainingupright, and moved over to the locker that held his newclothes.
Hanging in the locker was an eloquentsingle-breasted suit made of a strange sterling material that swamlike quicksilver. Below the hanging suit, folded nicely, was a pairsoft, form-fitting underwear and socks. As he dressed, Haddermarveled at the material used for everything. Light and airy, itfelt as if he wore nothing at all. The pants and white button-upshirt stretched to accommodate his large form without being tight.The jacket was a perfect fit, hugging his shoulders but giving wayeasily as he moved. Soft, elegant cognac dress shoes and beltcompleted the look.
Moving towards the full-length mirror, Hadder wasshocked by the man who stared back. The suit was as Reena said,fashionable but loose, skillfully tailored for a man who wanted togive the impression that he really didn't care to try hard. It wasperfect.
But it wasn't just the clothes that had changed. Theman who stood in the community shower had a light in his eyes, oneHadder thought to be extinguished long ago, never to be reignited.After straightening clothes that probably never needed smoothing,Hadder ran a hand through his wavy brown hair and left through thedouble doors, a smile plastered on his face that would take a puttyknife to remove.
Reena, true to her word, waited in the hallway. Sheinhaled deeply as Hadder came into the light. "Well, well, I mustsay. I have really outdone myself with this one. You look amazing.The women are gonna hurt themselves falling over you."
Hadder tried to find the words to thank thismagnificent creature. "Reena, I…"
Understanding flashed in her eyes, and she quicklygrabbed his arm, pulling him back down the hall. "Not necessary andno time anyway. We're late, and they're waiting to meet you."
"Who is?"
"Everyone, silly."
Down the hall,