She had been on earth for four cycles of what these strange-looking beings called luna, and she had not eaten in all that time. She was faint from thirst. The only water she had been able to drink was the fresh rainwater in the farmer’s trough, and it had not rained since the night she arrived. The rest of the water on earth was undrinkable. She had gone into an alien feeding place, but she had been unable to stand the stench. She had tried to eat their raw vegetables and fruit, but they were tasteless, not like the succulent food at home.
She was called the Graceful One, and she was tall and stately and beautiful with luminous green eyes. She had adopted the appearance of an earthling after she left the site of the crash, and she walked through the crowds unnoticed.
She was seated at a table in a hard, uncomfortable chair that had been built for the human body, and she read the minds of the creatures around her.
Two of the beings were seated at a table near her. One was speaking aloud. “It’s the chance of a lifetime, Franz! For fifty thousand francs you can get in at the start. You’ve got fifty thousand francs, haven’t you?” She read the loud thoughts in his head. Come on, you swine. I need the commission.
“Sure, but I don’t know—” I’ll have to borrow it from my wife.
“Have I ever given you bad investment advice?” Make up your mind.
“It’s a lot of money.” She’ll never give it to me.
“What about the potential? There’s a chance to make millions.” Say yes.
“All right. I’m in.” Maybe I can sell some of her jewelry.
I have him! “You’ll never regret it, Franz.” He can always take a tax loss.
The Graceful One had no idea what the conversation meant.
At the far end of the restaurant, a man and woman were seated at a table. They were talking in low voices. She stretched her mind to hear them.
“Jesus Christ!” the man said. “How the hell could you get pregnant?” You stupid bitch!
“How do you think I got pregnant?” Your cock did it!
Pregnant was how these beings gestated, procreating clumsily with their genitals, like their animals in the fields.
“What are you going to do about it, Tina?” You’ve got to get an abortion.
“What do you expect me to do? You said you were going to tell your wife about me.” You lying bastard.
“Look, honey, I am, but this is a bad time.” I was crazy to ever get involved with you. I should have known you were trouble.
“It’s a bad time for me, too, Paul. I don’t even think you love me.” Please tell me you do.
“Of course I love you. It’s just that my wife is going through a rough period right now.” I don’t intend to lose her.
“I’m going through a rough period right now too. Don’t you understand? I’m having your baby.” And you’re damn well going to marry me. Water was coming from her eyes.
“Calm down, honey. I tell you, everything is going to be fine. I want the baby as much as you do.” I’ll have to talk her into an abortion.
At a table next to them, a male creature was seated alone.
They promised me. They said the race was fixed, that I couldn’t lose, and like a fool, I turned all my money over to them. I’ve got to find a way to put it back before the auditors come. I couldn’t stand it if they put me in jail. I’ll kill myself first. I swear to God, I’ll kill myself.
At another table, a male and female were in the middle of a discussion.
“…it’s nothing like that. It’s just that I’ve got this beautiful chalet in the mountains, and I thought it would be good for you to get away for a weekend and relax.” We’ll spend a lot of time relaxing in my bed, chérie.
“I don’t know, Claude. I’ve never gone away with a man before.” I wonder if he believes that.
“Oui, but this is not a sex thing. I just thought of the chalet because you said you needed a rest. You can think of me as your brother.” And we will try some good, old-fashioned incest.