Chapter VII
My First Extraterrestrial LoveIt was a little pa st nine when I arrived in Acaya. I went
to the back of the hotel to check on the police motorcycle.
It was there, covered with burlap, where I had left it
earlier that evening.
The hotel was in complete darkness. The diesel
motors which produced electrical power for the whole
complex had broken down. I went back to my car to get a
flashlight and then walked to the restaurant to see if
Rama wa s there. She wa sn't.
I remembered she'd said she would be coming up for a
swim, but I'd had a full day and wa sn't in the mood for
swimming. Since Rama had said we should work and
sleep whenever we wanted to, I picked up a few candles,
the keys to the bathhouse, and a gas lamp and went to
my room.
After lighting a candle, I lay on top of the bed with my
clothes still on and fell asleep. I was awakened by Rama's
touch as she tenderly massaged my forehead and the
sides of my head with the palms of her hands. She was
wearing a heavy parka jacket with synthetic fur around
the hood.
I hadn't even heard her come in. I checked my watch; it
was a little after 11 p.m., still Saturday. She'd lit another
candle as the one I'd had burning was melted down to its
holder.
In the soft candlelight, Rama's exotic beauty seemed
to stand out in relief in the room. Her dark, almond
shaped eyes gazed at me penetratingly. Her looks
fa scinated me, not quite oriental or Chinese, a mysteri
ous blend of human cultures organizing in the features
of one beautiful face.
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