Climate of Change Read Online Free PDF Page A

we seldom need them.”
    â€œYou would do this to me? Knowing that I wish you no harm?”
    â€œI will be good for you, Hero,” she pleaded. “I know how to forage and keep a house. I will play music for you, and kiss you and part my legs for you whenever you want it. You will never be ashamed of me.”
    â€œExcept that I am trying to help my family. I can’t settle down until they are secure. Just as your brother can’t settle until he knows you are placed.”
    She suddenly stopped walking. He paused, turning back to her. “Are you all right, Crenelle?”
    â€œGo, before I change my mind,” she said tightly. “Go.”
    â€œYou are letting me go?” he asked, stupidly amazed.
    â€œGet away from me!” There was a catch in her voice.
    He remained nonplussed. “Are you crying?”
    â€œYou fish-brain! Tears are a weapon too. Get away from me now, or I will have you forever.”
    It was the truth. But he could not do it. “It is not safe for you out here alone. Come back to the house.”
    â€œYou are too stupid to save yourself!” she cried. “So I must save you.” She ran to the side, into the darkness.
    He pursued her, moved by her flash of decency. He had made an analogy with her brother, and it was clear that she truly loved her brother. “Crenelle, wait!”
    â€œOh!” He heard her fall. She had tripped over something.
    He caught up to her, and knelt beside her, dropping his weapons. “Are you hurt?”
    â€œDon’t try to comfort me. I can’t save you from yourself.”
    He ran his hands over her body, feeling for injuries. She seemed to be all right. “We must go back to the house.”
    She caught his head in her hands and hauled it in to her face. She kissed him savagely. His head reeled, and his desire for her became overwhelming. They fell back to the ground, tangled together. Then she thrust his face away. “This is your last chance,” she gasped. “Get away from me before you succumb. You know I can make you do it.”
    â€œI know. But maybe it would be worth it.”
    She slapped him. “Get away, get away, you utter fool!”
    He caught her hands. “Please, Crenelle!”
    â€œI’ll scream.”
    Suddenly it came together in another way, and he started laughing, helplessly, still holding her beneath him.
    â€œWhat is the matter with you?” she demanded. “You’re about to rape me for real, destroying your commitment to your family, and you laugh?”
    â€œThat’s what’s so funny. You have goaded me into truly raping you—and you’re trying to stop me, though it’s what you want.”
    She relaxed, laughing herself. “You’re right. This is weird. But you know you shouldn’t do it. Now I’ll give you a count of ten fingers to let go of me, before I kiss you again and rip off your loinskin and wrap my legs around you. This is truly my last warning. One. Two. Three. Four.”
    But then she paused, and so did he. For they both heard something else. In sudden silence, they listened.
    It was the sound of something bounding through the brush toward them. It was an animal, a large one.
    There was a snarl. “The leopard!” Crenelle cried, horrified.
    Hero let go of her and grabbed for his weapons. “Stay down and quiet,” he said. “I’ll stop it.”
    She didn’t argue. She went still and silent. He stood over her, his spear poised in his right hand, his staff in his left. He tracked the leopard by sound alone, and this was good enough, for he was experienced in night hunting as well as day hunting. He braced to meet the onslaught.
    The creature sprang—and Hero thrust with his spear, going for the head. He felt the impact, but it wasn’t right; he had caught skin rather than mouth.
    The body came up against the staff, which Hero held crosswise before him, defensively.