Sarai, стр. 20
“Jamie, I’vetold you before that’s not possible”
Jamiepouted. He’d never thought he’d pout, but there it was — he waspouting. To compensate, he glared at Alekyn, eyes narrow slits,mouth lemon-sucked thin.
“It is toopossible,” he snapped. “You and your friends go out every day. Sodo the visitors I’m never allowed to meet.”
Yeah, ‘costhat was another thing. Whenever Clan Furis had visitors over,Jamie was confined to his room. Locked in his room, like a kid. Itwas outrageous and he’d told Alekyn that. Then he’d hit him in thechest when the big lummox had tried to sweet-talk him. Which thathad led to other things. He blushed. The sex he and Alekyn hadafter that had been pretty spectacular, and had distracted himtotally from his anger. Dammit, it was happening again — thisstupid desire just to get down and dirty with Alekyn rather thandealing with the real problem, his continued captivity.
“I’msick to death of being stuck inside. I mean it,Alekyn,” he said warningly. “You can’t keep humans locked up allthe time. We go mad.”
He felt onlya little ashamed at lying, but couldn’t help covering his eyes withhis hands like a small child. “I can’t stand itanymore!”
He peekedthrough his fingers. Sure enough, Alekyn looked worried. Jamiedecided to play his trump card. He sniffed and let a tiny teartrickle down his cheek. “I just want some fresh air and to seewhere I’m living. Is that too much to ask? Would you like to belocked up all the time?”
“Jamie,” hisSarat knelt by the couch, his expression concerned, “I know this ishard for you, but at the moment, things are complicated…”
“Whatthings?”
He wasoutraged when Alekyn patted him gently. “Nothing you need to worryabout, little — oof!”
“Don’t call me little anything,dammit,” Jamie snarled, ´I’m an adult, not a child, and I want toknow what’s going on. Why can’t you take me out? I’m sick,sick, sick of always being inside.”
He reallywas behaving like a spoilt, petulant brat, but amazingly it seemedto be working. Alekyn looked really worried, and his beautiful earswere twitching nervously. Maybe he really believed humans would gomad if they were confined. Jamie felt a moment’s guilt at deceivinghim but brushed it aside. Nah, Alekyn and his pardmates were beingunreasonable keeping Jamie locked away. He’d persevere until he gotwhat he wanted. After all, as the youngest in his family, he’dlearned wheedling and cajoling worked wonders — all he had to bewas persistent until Alekyn, just like his parents, gave in just tokeep him quiet.
Maybe Matthad been right when they’d argued once and he’d told Jamie that hewas an annoying, deceptive little toad, but Matt had failed torealize, big brother that he was, that when you’re the youngest andsmallest of three brothers, you had to level the playing fieldsomehow. All’s fair in love and whatever other shit was going on,Jamie reminded himself, before turning a winsome, pathetic look onhis hapless Sarat.
“Surely you understand? Alekyn,humans don’t like to be confined. We’re not toys or puppets — you’dhate never being able to leave here, wouldn’t you?” he appealedplaintively, his eyes fixed on Alekyn’s mournfully. “You wouldn’ttell Tig he had to stay inside and not do anything, wouldyou?”
Alekynexhaled noisily, evidently frustrated. “The situation is different,Jamie. Tig is a soldier, my second in command. You are my sarai —you could be carrying my offspring —
“GeezLouise, not that again.” Jamie curled his lips bad-temperedly, hisintentions to deceive momentarily forgotten. “How many times do Ihave to tell you it’s not possible for me to get pregnant? I don’tcare what your so-called doctors think they did, it won’t affectme. I’m a human male and we don’t get pregnant, even if you one-sexwonders can.”
Alekynsighed and rubbed his face. “Don’t be insulting, Jamie. I know thisis hard on you.”
“So take me out,” Jamie insisted.“Please…just a walk, to see — oh, I don’t know — some shops or havecoffee or whatever you people have — just something other thanbeing stuck here!”
“Coffee?That is referenced many times in your world’s compnet.” Alekynlooked down his nose. “An addictive drink beloved by humans. Itwould be better for you to have öte.”
Jamieside-eyed him. Öte tasted like weak, milky tea — undrinkable andflavorless, but it was the only hot drink Alekyn had allowed him tohave. He brooded on that resentfully — to his chagrin, Alekynhadn’t allowed him alcohol. When he’d tried to sneak some on thesly — just to taste it and to prove he was an adult — Tig hadcaught him and turned him over to Alekyn, who’d sent him to hisroom like a kid in disgrace. Again.
Still, ifagreeing to drink öte at a café, or the Naferi equivalent, was theprice he had to pay to get out of the den, he’d take it. Or atleast drink it. Yuk.
Once he wasoutside the den, he’d keep his eyes peeled for a way to gethome.
Hesighed. And pigs might fly, he thought,though if he miraculously found a space shuttle, he’d take a chanceon heading for outer space. Surely flying a spacecraft couldn’t beall that much harder than flying a plane? Not that he could fly aplane, but, seriously, how difficult could it be? He knew fromhearing Alekyn and his pardmates talking, that Eled was theirpilot, and Eled didn’t strike Jamie as the smartest Naferi in thekindle. He sighed, sudden misery eating at him. He was going to bestuck here forever …
Alekyngrunted and Jamie sniffed again, trying to look pathetic. To hisastonishment, his acting seemed to be working.
“All right,Jamie,” Alekyn raised a hand authoritatively. “But you will behaveand stay close to me. Many Naferi are very interested in yourspecies and some might try to steal you from me.”
Jamie lookedat him incredulously. He had to be joking, but then again, whoknew? “I’ll behave,” he promised solemnly.
“What isthat you’re doing with your hand, sarai?” Alekyn askedcuriously.
“Justcrossing my fingers,” Jamie replied. “Humans always do that whenthey’re excited.”
“Howpeculiar,” Alekyn responded. “I can see there is much for me tolearn about you and your kind, my sarai.”
Jamie smiledangelically. You never spokea truer word, he thought. Then hewondered why his emotions