118 DATE WITH THE GODS
"Where are we going to do it?"
"Anywhere. It really doesn't matter. Preferably in a
place where you can be comfortable."
"This hotel isn't exactly the Holiday Inn, but it does
have a good bed and a chair if you wa nt me to be lying
down," I suggested.
"I know!" she said, brightening. "We'll do it in the
bathhouse. In the wa ter. Make sure you get the keys to
the bathhouse from the woman."
"All right, I will."
"I'll see you later. I'll come back and get you. When you
bring the motorcycle back, hide it behind the hotel. Out
of sight. I'll be spending the night with you. If you don't
mind me sleeping with you, that is."
Now I was really feeling like my old self again. "Come
on, Rama," I said, teasingly, "you know darned well I ca n
always make room for a pretty lady like you in my bed.
Besides, I thought you'd never ask."
"Now go give your mind a break," she said. "We'll see
each other tonight."
It was a little past four in the afternoon. I went to the
hotel and had a glass of sherry before going out on the
patrol bike. My head wa s aching. I realized I still hadn't
adjusted to the shock I'd experienced when Rama
revealed her startling ability to play with reality the wa y
a child plays with a toy.
My mind was racing as I got on the motorcycle and
headed toward Huancayo. I wa s excited by the matter of
fact way Rama had invited herself to spend the night
with me. Not that it would be an unusual occurrence in
my promiscuous career, but her complete trust un
nerved me.
Rama wa s very confident. And probably well able to
take care of herself. Maybe this was her way of making
me relax and feel comfortable with her. I thought about
the way she called me her pet, her little experiment. I felt