WHERE ANGELS FEAR TO TREAD - Part One

by Allan Argus

Angelique walked out upon the Earth, leaving her ship parked among huge boulders at the edge of a sandstone canyon. The machine was a sleek-surfaced disk with a golden sheen. To avoid discovery, she covered it with brush, and other organic debris she found in the vicinity. Then she raised a flask to refresh herself. Embossed into the metal was a likeness of Billy Akklon. "The Wrong God," many in the Universe called him. Yet, Billy was her boss and so the only God she had. Actually, working for Billy Akklon wasn't a bad job. He was the Most Hip God of the Paladin quadrant. This quadrant included over sixty galaxies and hundreds of thousands of solar systems, including Argus sector, where Earth, the planet she'd just landed upon, was found.

Billy sent her on junkets, often forgetting their purpose, forgetting when he'd sent her or when she was due back. Usually, Angelique's assignment was to gather copious data using her electro-emulator, a small computerized databank which could store the structural analogs of any specimen or object she thought Billy might be interested in. He liked collecting de- evolved throwbacks, kinky mutations and other grotesqueries of bizarre form and purpose. These he catalogued and maintained in his holographic projection memories. Billy quickly tired of his many unique specimens and so kept Angelique scouring the universe for more. Blinking at her through lashless eyes he'd say "bring me something really funky this time." Not surprisingly, Billy Akklon smoked a lot of Cobalt Blue and his records were a mess. Angelique didn't care. Being an Angel, it was her job to do Billy's bidding. Besides, on many of the planets she visited, there was good sex to be found and always the entertainment of dominating entities with limited brainpower.

As for "Earth," Billy had recently received it as payment on a gambling debt owed by Zeemer, the God of the 544th Sector. Angelique had come to find out just exactly what her boss had won, collect experiences with her electro-emulator and to stir up a little excitement for herself. She had another swallow of her elixir, swished the liquid in her mouth and spit it out.

"This alien atmosphere has spoiled my drrink," she said aloud, rolling her r's in what mimicked a Scottish burr. She emptied the black liquid onto a rock. As it trickled off into the sand it smoked. In seconds there was no trace of it, but the rock glinted with a subtle coppery sheen.

Pausing at the edge of a precipice, Angelique gazed out over the landscape and flared her small white wings. She wore a tight fitting costume with a short skirt that showed off her smooth, brown thighs. She splayed her toes on the sun-warmed rock and bared her teeth. Her thick eyebrows were slightly arched over large round eyes. Her nose was prominent but well formed and her lips were plush. Her breasts were small and firm and mostly muscle with nipples as dark as burnished walnut. Her hair was brown with rainbow reflections, depending on how the light hit it. With her wings folded and hidden by clothing, she was humanoid in appearance, though anything but conventional.

She poured a few Zo crystals into a tube-like inhaler and dragged deeply. Immediately her senses were sharper, her thoughts clearer. At the cliff's edge she spread her long, strong legs and leaned back against a rock to let the rays of the Big Heater pour down over her body. Big Heater was her word for any sun worthy of its photons. She looked directly into this one and smiled. It had a lovely creamy color and put out formidable warmth, unlike some of the puny cinders or lukewarm red giants she'd experienced before. She flexed her calf muscles, enjoying the sensory feedback. On the way in from the edge of the solar system she'd watched enough Earth television to know that, measured by the norms of this planet, she was built like an Olympic athlete. But then she had always been a very physical girl. She liked to bend metal whenever she got the chance. Or throw heavy rocks against the puny dwellings of subnormal beings who dwelt on the hundreds of worlds she had visited. Usually, the rock throwing got the bastardy on their knees real quick. Then she could choose amongst the local males the most virile of the bunch and take him off into the bushes. For she, Angelique, was a woman with strong physical needs.

"The ride in has excited me," she said in her clear, loud voice. It was her custom to say aloud what she wanted to do, or what she desired, or how she felt. "While I am here to record the essence of earth culture, I may have time to become a roller derby queen!"

Angelique couldn't get the idea out of her head. She had watched this odd sport on her monitor one night while orbiting this world. The thought of crashing into other muscled women and knocking them into a screaming audience, and then attacking the referee with a metal folding chair had a special appeal to her. But there were other tasks to do before she could consider such an indulgence. The first was to find a roadway and arrange a ride to the nearest town. Slipping on her Rooberian jacket, she began the climb out of the canyon.

By the time she'd gone five miles, Angelique had seen and electro-emulated twenty-three lizards, fourteen rabbits, ten hawks and half a dozen crows, not to mention a variety of unfamiliar botanical wonders including a type of cactus she'd never observed on any world. After eating one of the rabbits whole, she had another hit of Zo crystal and set off again. She liked her work. She liked to trespass onto other worlds. She enjoyed pushing her weight around, rubbing up against the degenerate idiots that dwelt on the profusion of lost clods orbiting equally lost suns amongst the wide splay of the countless galaxies. She was convinced that being an Angel was more fun than being a god.

Angelique had just come over a low rise when she saw a woman sitting under a tree with a book and a viewing device through which she was making observations. Angelique realized this female was watching the small, feathered creatures earthlings called birds. After watching the flight of one of these birds, the woman would flip through the pages of the book she had and then scribble furiously beside the corresponding picture. A quaint practice, Angelique thought. The woman's skin was pink from exposure to the Big Heater and she was damp with perspiration. Angelique had picked up her musky scent on the breeze and found herself stimulated. She watched her for a few minutes longer before stepping out from behind a boulder.

"Wha ...?" the woman exclaimed, jumping to her feet.

"Tell me your name," demanded Angelique.

The woman clutched her notebook to her chest. "I'm Janice. Who are y-you?"

"That is of no importance," Angelique said, smirking, "though you may call me Angelique if you wish."

"Are you with the Forest Service?" Janice asked, smiling in a friendly way.

"Yes. And I want to have sex with you." Angelique triggered her electro-emulator and laid it on a rock so it would collect every detail of the encounter. Then she stripped off her jacket and flexed her wings. The earth woman put down her viewing device and backed up. As Angelique started toward her, Janice ran, strewing notebook and pencils. Angelique swept after her, through brush and boulders. When the earthling tried to climb up an embankment, Angelique gave a powerful downward thrust with her wings, locked her thighs around the frightened woman's waist and carried her to a shady area of packed sand.

"Ohhhh!" Janice squealed as she was wrestled onto her back. Angelique twisted her fingers in the woman's thick blond hair. The human had bepissed herself and the aroma excited Angelique all the more.

"You didn't think you'd get away, did you?" Angelique pushed her tongue deep between Janice's sun-cracked lips. Janice's mouth tasted cool and minty and her struggles were stimulating. Finally, Janice went limp and Angelique loosened the pretty blond's cotton shorts and jerked them down along with her panties. Janice's white belly heaved with fear. Angelique noted that though she was frightened, she had much suppressed sexual energy and that her pubes were plump and moist. Janice gasped when she saw Angelique strip, exposing her prehensile genitalia.

"You're not from the Forest Service, are you?"

"Perhaps not."

"What are you g-g-going to do now?"

"Considering the polymorphic capability of my vulva, I can do anything you could possibly imagine."

"Anything?" Janice whimpered, her chin trembling.

"Let me demonstrate a few options."

As their anatomies tangled in extraordinary ways, Janice's blue eyes went wide with wonder and she drew a long, shuddering breath.

"Oh, my God!"

Angelique proceeded gently, using techniques gathered from hundreds of worlds.

"You shouldn't do things like that with your t-t-tongue!" Janice cried, writhing in the sand. Then she closed her eyes and dug her fingers into Angelique's shoulders. "But since I can't do anything about it ..."

An hour later, Angelique stood and stretched. She'd been on the planet half a day and already had sex with a native as well as gathered many specimen analogs. Billy Akklon would be pleased. He could replay the electro-emulation of Janice's ravishment as well, enjoying the encounter as if he were experiencing it himself. Janice, who lay sprawled amongst strewed articles of her clothing, opened one eye and gave Angelique a weak smile.

"This is very strange. I generally have a difficult time reaching an orgasm, but with you it was different ..."

"You had seven. I know. You don't need to thank me."

" I really don't know what to say."

"Then don't say anything," Angelique replied.

"Your accent is vaguely familiar. You wouldn't be Scottish, would you?"

"No." Angelique could see how high Janice was. The poor little thing didn't know that in the exchange of precious bodily fluids, she had absorbed ten or twelve ecstatic substances unknown on any ordinary planet. If they had been known, they would have been outlawed immediately of course. Because, from what Angelique had researched, the government of the U.S.A. limited the pursuit of happiness to official pleasures only. If anyone tried anything that was too much fun, that person was quickly incarcerated before others might get the same idea.

"I know this is a ridiculous speculation," Janice mumbled, her eyes rolling around, "but could you possibly be an extra-terrestrial?"

"Now you'rre getting warmer."

Janice rubbed her eyes and stared at Angelique again. "Then this must be some kind of alien abduction."

"You could call it that. I'm an Angel."

"A what?" Janice smiled thinly.

"It isn't like you read about in your Christian myths."

"Actually, I'm not big on Christian myth. I'm more into crystals and psychics and Indian gurus. But if I recall what I learned in Sunday School, aren't Angels usually God's messengers?"

"Yes. You can think of me like that if you wish."

Janice giggled. "I should be upset, shouldn't I?"

"Why?"

"You being an Angel and all. And us doing what we just did."

"Well, you had no choice. And, besides, there is a precedent for this sort of thing. In the book your Christians call holy."

"Angels making it with humans in the bible?"

"Yes."

"Then you've been here before?"

"I haven't, but there are other Angels and many of them are as eager to copulate with natives as I am. Perhaps that scriptural passage refers to a previous incident."

"Is that the only reason you came?"

"No. My boss won this polluted dung heap." Angelique said.

"You say he won it? The whole planet?"

"Yes."

"Who is your boss?"

"A God. One of many. But I tire of this conversation and besides you'd probably not understand half of my explanation." Angelique smoothed Janice's hair. "Did you like having sex with me?"

"Did I ever! It was the best lovin' I've ever had." She took a shuddering breath. "It was a mystical experience. I feel very ... holistic. And organic too!"

"While we coupled, I noted certain aromas on your skin which indicate that you have a mate. Where is he?"

"Oh, yes. James. He stayed back at camp. He said he had too much on his mind to go with me today."

"Which direction is this place you call camp?"

Janice pointed west. "That way."

"Good," Angelique said. "Now tell me about the popular sports of your planet."

"Popular sports?"

"Yes, the ones that play to large audiences of frenzied fans. There are some where the women wear wheels on their feet. Is this not true?"

When Angelique left, Janice struggled into her clothes and picked up the things she'd dropped when the creature had pursued her. She found her canteen, then stuffed her book, pencils and binoculars into her small knapsack. At last she headed for camp, in the same direction she'd seen Angelique go.

The camp was half an hour away and Janice had to fight the urge to hurry. She didn't want to become exhausted. She wasn't quite back to normal yet and she wanted to keep her wits about her. She didn't want to stagger into camp hysterical, screaming for James. She had to center herself. She stopped and opened her canteen for a drink. The shock of something that wasn't expected made her spit the fluid out. It took her a moment to identify what she had tasted and have another sip.

"Wine!"

Not just any wine, either. This was something really good. A California pinot noir probably. Excellent. She shook her head and had a mouthful, then two. The alcohol calmed her some but from where had it come? Had this Angelique played an elaborate, incredible prank on her? Was she really an Angel, or an alien? Now she was having second thoughts about telling James of her experience. He was so stuffy. They'd been married only two weeks and this was their honeymoon camping trip but all she'd gotten from him was criticism. He was a terrible worry wart. And on top of all that, he seemed to have trouble getting in the mood for sex. Having his new wife seduced by some alien creature wouldn't be easy for his male ego to accept. It would probably be best if she kept things to herself. Janice started walking again, descending into the streambed to make better time.

When she saw the color of their tent in the distance, she hurried a little faster. Drawing closer, she heard no sounds, saw no movement. She climbed out of the streambed up to the sandstone ledge and looked around. There was no sign of James, but their large tent was still intact, the door unzipped. She did notice however, that their new Toyota 4x4 was missing. Perhaps James had gone off exploring. Then she heard a groan from the tent. Janice pushed her head through the unzipped portion of the flap. James lay naked on his back. There was a look of beatific satisfaction on his face as he opened his eyes and focused on Janice.

"Janice, darling," he said. "I've had an incredible experience."

"Yes?" she said expectantly, looking at his nakedness. She'd never seen her husband with such a terrific ... erection.

He saw what she was looking at and quickly covered himself. "Actually, it was just a dream. Yes, that's it, a dream."

"It seems to have been a nice one," Janice said, grinning.

"Now that I'm awake, I've come to some decisions about our life."

"Yes, darling?" She lowered herself beside him.

"I'm going to give up the real estate business and join the Peace Corps."

"You are?"

"Just think of the adventures we can have! Sleeping in mud huts. Helping natives build schools and medical facilities. Teaching sweet brown people to play volleyball whether they want to or not."

"Maybe you'd better think it over for awhile, James." She began to undress, kicking her shorts away in a carefree manner, swinging her bra playfully. She took another swallow of wine from her canteen and offered it to him. He watched her with a sly smile.

"You're drunk, aren't you?"

"Yes, James. Are you mad at me?"

"Of course not, darling. In fact, you smell delicious. What have you been doing to yourself besides drinking wine?"

"Nothing much," she said, giving him a coy look. "By the way, James, our vehicle is missing."

He smiled. "We won't need a car in the Amazon, darling."

"I guess you're right." Strange as it seemed, the loss of their car didn't bother her anymore than it bothered James. They could walk back to the highway and catch a ride. From there, life was up for grabs. She could see a whole new world of possibilities. She settled beside him, and pressed her naked body against his. He kissed her gently, passionately. James wasn't as shy and unfocused as he had been yesterday. She sighed as she felt his erection pressing against her belly.

"Janice?" he whispered into her ear.

"Yes?"

"What do you know about the roller derby?"

"Not much," she giggled, positive now that James had also met Angelique. And then she was at him like a wild mink.

"You're different," he gasped, sliding into her.

"So are you," she gasped back, wrapping her legs around his back.

Fifty miles down the road, Angelique sat behind the wheel of the vehicle she had commandeered. It had stopped suddenly just when she was getting the hang of controlling it and she suspected that it had run out of whatever fuel it used. It was apparent that there were no vendors nearabouts to supply her with some of the fuel, since she was still in an isolated and unpopulated sector. She got out of the vehicle and began to walk westward, toward a grove of trees in the distance. She anticipated water where the greenery showed and water could very well mean more life forms to have sex with. Angelique had trekked what she estimated to be one half an earth mile, when she came to the small stream she had guessed would be there. She followed it down to where the trees were larger, casting their shade darkly on the grassy ground.

"I think I will stop and rest," she said aloud. "Perhaps I will drink and cool myself with a swim as well."

Coming around a large boulder, she was not surprised to see a human stretched out there. He didn't seem surprised to see her either.

"Good morning, ma'am."

This human was different from Janice and her husband in many ways. His dressing mode was shabby, his blue denim pants torn and frayed. His shirt was also in bad repair and his billed cap dirty and crumpled. A pair of scuffed boots and a packsack lay nearby. A small fire was glowing within a circle of rocks and Angelique saw a blackened can nestled amongst the coals.

"My vehicle has ceased to function," she said, gesturing behind her.

"Maybe you ran out of gas. There's a station about five miles on up the road. Where you parked?"

"Beyond yon hillock," she said. They continued to stare at each other for another moment or two. Finally, the man rubbed a hand across the stubble on his chin.

"Boy, been a long time since I saw a woman as good-looking as you. Are you one of them Outward Bound people? Or maybe you're training for American Gladiators?"

"I am neither of those. You may call me Angelique."

"Glad to know you, Angelique." He waved a hand at the fire. "Why don't you have a sit- down. I'll be glad to share my meal with you." The man held out his hand. "Name's Waycross. On account of that's where I'm from in Georgia."

Angelique hesitated, then held hers out too. The man took it, shook it once and let it go. Then he busied himself putting some of what was in the smoke-blackened can onto an oil- spotted paper plate.

"Beans is all I have on the menu today. Hope that's okay."

Angelique took the plate and the plastic spoon from Waycross and mimicked his method of eating, using the implement as a tiny shovel. The beans were hideous. Bland little buds floating in a watery brown fluid. But she could fix that. She pulled a small vial from her tunic and dumped some into the beany mess.

"Try this," she said to Waycross, dosing his beans as well.

"Hey, that tastes lots better!" Waycross nodded.

"This fluid gives my trans-material body all the vital elements it will need for another twenty-four hours."

"Is that a fact?" He shoveled beans into his mouth. They ate in silence for a while. Then Waycross jabbed his fork at the horizon. "You know, there are lots of UFOs out in this country."

"Indeed," said Angelique, remaining neutral while she tried to recall the term. She'd studied some of the news broadcasts and popular deliriums of this world and had heard the term UFO before. Something unidentified that was seen in the sky.

"Matter of fact, I saw one just last night," Waycross went on. "It landed back in the direction from where you were walking. Did you see it?"

"No," she said, but she realized at once that he must be referring to her own landing.

"Aren't you hot with that jacket on?" Waycross asked.

"A little."

"Well, you'd better shuck it then."

"I'll keep it on." Her small, strong wings moved a little under the Rooberian material.

"Listen miss, you don't have to worry about me. I'm not trying to be fresh or anything. I just didn't want you to be uncomfortable."

"Actually, Mr. Waycross, if I take off my jacket I may shock you."

"Well, shock away."

"You asked for it," Angelique said, undoing the trynium catches. As she peeled her covering and laid it on the log beside her, the man stared, his eyes growing larger, his brows taking a funny slant.

"Is that a costume?"

"No. I am Angelique. However, you may be disappointed to discover that the Christian holy book is not accurate in its descriptions of Angels.

"You say you're an Angel? Well, I never paid much attention to the bible, but I sure like what I see." Waycross stared at her, grinning to show a chipped front tooth. "An Angel from heaven. A real Angel."

"You are admiring me as if you wish to mate," Angelique said, batting her long lashes.

"Oh, I was admiring you alright, but I can't imagine making it with an Angel."

"Weirder things have happened. I hear that sheep are sometimes used as sex partners on your planet."

"So I understand. Never tried one. Never tried an Angel either." Waycross was looking nervous. "Maybe it's dangerous. Maybe we ought to wait."

Angelique tossed her head. "What you want matters little. I was just asking to be polite. You see, I decided we would mate when I first saw you."

"You want to have sex with me?"

"Yes. Why would that be prohibited?"

"Well, I'm kinda out of practice. You see, I haven't been much for the ladies of late. They don't take kindly to the way I smell." He passed a hand down as if to indicate his dirty, tattered clothes and unwashed body. "Can't afford a bar of soap. I wouldn't blame you if you wouldn't want to touch me."

"You are a bit on the ripe side," Angelique said. "But I have something that will remedy that. Undress please."

"Well, okay."

She plucked a small packet from her waistpack and whipped out a large, pre-moistened towel. "This will clean and decontaminate you. Use it to wipe all your bodily surfaces thoroughly."

Waycross started wiping. Soon his skin glowed bright orange so it was easy to see the spots he'd missed. When he had gotten those places too, the towel still looked as white as when he'd started. "Boy, that's some invention you got there, even if it did turn me a different color. And I feel fresh as a daisy."

"The orange glow will quickly fade."

Angelique peeled her skimpy clothing, activated the electro-emulator to record the session and stood there, arms akimbo. At first glance, Waycross' sexual organ did not look capable of satisfying her. Yet, she already knew from her experience with the other human male that the human penis could increase it's size manyfold when properly aroused. She reached into her small belt pack and retrieved the metal cylinder. Turning a knurled knob, she handed the device to him.

"What's this?"

"Just put the orifice to your mouth and inhale sharply. The substance is Zo. It is compatible with your metabolism. You will like its effect."

She observed Waycross looking at the metallic cylinder. Then he laughed and raised it toward his mouth.

"What the hell, I've inhaled everything there is to inhale on this planet one time or another. Why not some Zo, eh?"

"Correct."

"Besides, if a naked Angel offers a man something he shouldn't refuse."

"Just inhale the substance, please. No further comment is necessary."

Waycross sucked hard on the cylinder, then quickly took it away from his mouth. "Christ, that stuff is cold."

"Yes." Angelique saw that the drug was working. Waycross's organ was stirring, growing longer and thicker. Now it pointed toward Andromeda. She was pleasantly surprised. Waycross was certainly endowed with more than enough heft to satisfy her. If he knew what to do with it. She watched him take another suck on the metal cylinder.

"Shee-ite Muslim!" he gasped, "I feel friskier than I have in years." He looked at her with wide eyes. "I've never made love to a real Angel before," he said.

"I think you'll like it, Waycross." Angelique stepped close. "In fact, I'm sure you will."

As Angelique's prehensil genitalia pulled him into her feverish orifice, he put his arms around her tightly. In seconds the twelve ecstatic substances were working in his brain, allowing him multiple orgasms. She wrapped her strong thighs around his skinny waist and they crashed around through the underbrush, Waycross snorting like a wild boar.

Later, they lay in the shade in the comfortable afterglow of their lust. Angelique was quietly inhaling more Zo, considering her next move. Waycross was sitting in the brook, idly splashing water over his shoulders.

"I never had sex like that in my life."

Angelique glanced over. "I'm glad you enjoyed it."

"I could die right now and feel like I hadn't missed a thing." Waycross grabbed a towel and stood up. "You know, I gotta ask you something."

"Ask."

"Are you here on earth to do something bad to the bad people? Or to clean things up? Or just to have a try at the Roller Derby like you told me while we were screwing."

Angelique waved her hand. "Actually, I make it all up as I go."

"I thought with you being an Angel and all, that you'd have some message from God. That's what the Christians would bug you about, anyhow."

Angelique laughed. "Ah yes, the Christians. You know some?"

"Some of 'em are okay. Others are the meanest folks around. They preach brotherly love, but they'll shoot you if you don't agree with them. I had one spit in my face just the other day. But I was just thinking that if you're from God, maybe you have a message for them, for all of us."

"You wouldn't want to hear anything from the God I work for. He's a most degenerate swine. But he doesn't kill people who don't agree with him. There are many other Gods of course. Perhaps you refer to one of them?"

"More than one god?"

"Oh yes. There are many. What are yourr beliefs, Waycross?"

"Well, I ..." Waycross scratched his head. "When I was a kid I was dunked by the rules of the Baptist church. Never believed much of that stuff though. It never made much sense to me, g being an old man with a white beard."

"You're right. The god of Arrgus Sector is a libertine with no ethics to speak of, a degenerate salacious entity who gives hedonism a bad name. He has no beard, either, white or dark. His name is Akklon and he's exactly 408 to the tenth power old. He lives in a higher space-time region than the one you inhabit of course, but then all gods do."

"You said something about Argus Sector. Where's that?"

"You're in it. It is the sector in which this planet resides. Akklon is your god but he had nothing to do with the metaphysics of this planet. Humans make that up to suit themselves."

Waycross' eyes grew bigger. "Akklon? How did he come by ownership of Earth?"

"He won it in a game with another god."

"You don't say? Who was this other god's name?"

"Bulbosa the Third."

"Does there happen to be some god named Yahweh up there anywhere?"

"Yahweh? Oh, yes, now I remember. He was Bulbosa's lacky, an escaped psychopath and never a full-fledged god. He probably meddled in the collective unconscious of your race and that's why he is included in your Old Testament. As I recall, Yahweh was big on making covenants with primitive peoples who couldn't possibly keep them. He did this on a number of planets before the authorities confined him to the Cold Cube."

"Cold Cube?"

"That's where the insane are incarcerated. But now it is time for more sex. It invigorates me."

Waycross shook his head. "I don't know whether I'm quite up to another go-round like that last one, but if you could wait a few hours."

"With some more Zo ..."

"Give me a little time." Waycross jostled his balls. "I think I'm a bit scuffed."

"In that case, I will wait." She gazed at him. "Waycross, I think you should travel with me. There are a few fine points of your culture that I am still ignorant of. You could be a great help. And I rather like the sounds you make when you copulate."

"Might be the death of me, but it's a mighty tempting offer. Let me tell you something, though. On this planet people don't do it out in the street. They're kinda ashamed and sneaky about the whole mess, if you get my meaning. When the spirit moves you, and it seems to move you often, we'll have to rent a room somewhere or the cops'll be on our ass. Screwing in public isn't approved behavior on earth."

"I knew that of course."

"I'm relieved."

"Well, Waycross, why don't you gather your belongings and we'll be off in the vehicle I commandeered. That is, after you make it function once again."

"I don't have much except these dirty old clothes. I look pretty awful compared to you."

"Then I will clean them with my sonic cleanser. Ragged as they are, they'll smell better than they do now."

Waycross watched in wonder as Angelique unhooked a small gadget from her belt and passed it over his clothes. When he put them on, he felt cleaner than he had in a long, long time. His jeans were no longer stiff and crusty and his flannel shirt was fluffier than the day he'd found it in a dumpster.

"Angelique, you're really okay with me."

"Shall we be off?"

Part Two

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Last Updated: March 10, 1997