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outside the open doorway. “If you want to get cleaned up, the soap is there on the ledge.” He pointed at the forest-covered wall. “Just tell Captain when you’re ready to dry off.”
    Kim’s jaw dropped as she realized that the “image” of the forest was real. “Th-thank you.”
    He replied with a nod and left. The door slid shut in his wake.
    Kim stepped gingerly across the room to the edge of the forest. A slight humming was the only clue that a force field had parted to let her pass, which explained why the birds were in the forest and not in the bedroom. Onca might insist that this was “just a house,” but the enormity of his wealth stunned her like a pulse blast.
    The trees were alive, as was the grass that covered the ground. Looking up, she saw open sky where the ceiling should have been and watched as several birds flitted in and out of the trees. As she approached the waterfall, she noted that the floor beneath it was actually a stone catch basin, and the excess water drained away through a notch near the cliff face to become a gurgling stream that wound its way through the trees.
    The forest was dimly lit by the morning sky above, but the moment she gazed at the “shower,” thinking she needed more light, the catch basin and the rocky wall behind the cascading water slowly illuminated. Putting out a tentative hand, she tested the temperature of the water, which was cold at first, then gradually became warmer as it washed over her skin.
    Kim could see the ledge Onca had referred to now—a shell-shaped depression held a bar of soap. Stripping off the tunic and the few scraps of satin that formed the rest of her attire, she stepped into the basin.
    The closest she had come to taking a shower in many years involved standing out in the rain, and though the climate on Rhylos was warm as a rule, rainfall was infrequent and slightly chilly—something to be avoided rather than enjoyed. But now, as hot water deluged her body, plastering her curls to her head, Kim couldn’t imagine a greater pleasure—although the meal she had just eaten came close.
    She picked up the soap, which formed a thick, foamy lather at her slightest touch. Smoothing it over her skin was akin to washing herself with an addicting drug—soft, creamy, ecstatic…
    Ecstasy. Although she had heard that term used in reference to sex and the effects of various drugs, she had never fully understood the meaning of the word until now. Kim had never taken any illegal street drugs—or any of the legal ones, for that matter—and sex had left her cold. Food and other essentials were far more important. Still, if she’d known soap could elicit this kind of response, she might have stolen some of it sooner. As it was, she considered taking this bar with her when she left—as she fully intended to do.
    She couldn’t stay here. Not when her friends were suffering. She almost despised herself for taking this time away from her search to indulge in something so blatantly selfish. Never mind that she probably wouldn’t have any luck finding them during the daylight hours.
    Well…perhaps a short nap would be okay. Even the most dedicated detective had to sleep sometimes. Brains tended to work better when they weren’t running on insufficient sleep. Not having spent much time in school, there were plenty of things Kim didn’t know, but this was one lesson experience had taught her.
    Rinsing off the last of the soap, she stepped out of the basin. “Um, Captain. I need to dry off now.”
    Half expecting a towel to drop from the sky, she was startled when a warm breeze wafted around her instead. Within a few seconds, she was completely dry. “Great. Could I borrow a comb?”
    “Unnecessary,” Captain said. “The dryer was already set for Zetithian hair.”
    Whatever that meant. Curious, she ran an experimental hand through her curls, amazed to find that her fingers met no tangled resistance whatsoever. Obviously there were advantages to being