“Why not?” Perry whispered leaning toward her. “We’re supposed to be enjoying ourselves, and the diver emergency has passed for the time being.”

“It will be just for a moment,” the man said.

“What do you mean, ‘in private’?” Suzanne asked. She took in the stranger’s chiseled features and liquid eyes and felt her heart skip a beat. She’d never seen a man quite so classically handsome, much less spoken with one.

“Well, not really in private,” the man said with a disarming smile. “I thought we could just withdraw a few steps or perhaps climb the stairs to the balcony. I only wish to be able to speak to you alone for a moment.”

“Well, I suppose,” Suzanne said. She looked back at Perry.

“I’ll be right here,” Perry said, “with Luna.”

Suzanne let herself be led up the stairs.

“My name is Garona,” the man said as they climbed.

“Mine is Suzanne Newell,” Suzanne responded.

“That I know,” Garona said. “Dr. Suzanne Newell, to be precise.”

They reached the top of the stairs and leaned against the balustrade. Below, it was apparent the gala was a great success: laughter and lively conversation drifted up from the throng. Most people were milling around the central pool area where the divers and their harem were the focus of attention. The crowd was orderly, gracious, and respectful. Those closest to the dancing were constantly giving way so that those on the periphery could move up to get a close-up view.

“Thank you for giving me this moment,” Garona said. “It’s unfair for me to monopolize your time.”

“It’s quite all right,” Suzanne said. “It’s a relief of sorts to step back and get this overview.”

“I had to talk with you to tell you I find you irresistible,” Garona said.

Suzanne peered into Garona’s handsome face. She expected to see at least a faint vestige of a sly smile. Instead he was regarding her with a warm, smiling intensity that suggested utter sincerity.

“Run that by me again,” Suzanne said.

“I find you absolutely irresistible,” Garona repeated.

“You do?” Suzanne asked. She chuckled nervously.

“Truly,” Garona said.

Suzanne’s eyes wandered back to the crowd to give her a chance to process this unexpected encounter. She hesitated before turning back to him. “You’re very flattering, Garona,” she said. “At least I think you are. So I’m sorry if I seem skeptical, but with all these absolutely gorgeous and flawless females, I find it a bit hard to believe you’d be interested in me. I mean, I know my limitations. In the irresistible arena, I’m no competition for any of these women here.”

Garona’s smile never faltered. “Perhaps it is hard for you to believe,” he said. “But nonetheless it is true.”

“Well, than I am sincerely flattered,” Suzanne said. “But perhaps you could tell me why you find me so irresistible.”

“It’s hard to put into words,” Garona said.

“At least give it a try,” Suzanne said.

“I suppose I’d have to say it involves your freshness or your innocence. Or perhaps it’s your alluring primitiveness.”

“Primitiveness?” Suzanne echoed. “That’s how Arak characterized Richard.”

“Well, he definitely has it, too,” Garona said.

“And that’s supposed to be a compliment?” Suzanne asked.

“Here in Interterra it is,” Garona said.

“What exactly is Interterra?” Suzanne asked. “And how long has it been in existence?”

Garona smiled patronizingly and shook his head. “I’ve been warned against answering any questions other than purely personal ones about myself.”

Suzanne rolled her eyes. “Sorry,” she said with a touch of sarcasm. “I guess it just slipped out.”

“It’s quite all right.”

“So, I have to think up some personal questions?”

“If you’d like,” Garona said.

“Well…” Suzanne said as she tried to think of one. “Have you always lived down here?”

Garona roared with laughter, loudly enough to attract the attention of two men on the floor below. They looked up, waved when they recognized Garona, and began making their way toward the stairs.

“I’m sorry I laughed,” he said, “but your question underlines how wonderfully innocent you are. It’s so refreshing. I’d love to get better acquainted. When you have had enough of the festivities and you want to leave, let me know. I’d love to take you to your room. We can spend some intimate time together pressing palms, just you and I. What do you say?”

Suzanne’s mouth slowly dropped open as the true meaning of Garona’s proposal dawned on her. She laughed mockingly. “Garona, I don’t believe this,” she said. “Only a short time ago I thought I was going to die. Now I’m in a fantasyland with a great-looking guy making a pass at me and wanting to come to my room. How am I supposed to respond?”

“Just say yes,” Garona said.

“I’m afraid I’m a little too stunned to reply so smoothly.”

“I can appreciate that,” Garona said. “But I can comfort you and make you relax.”

Suzanne shook her head. “I don’t think you understand. I’m having trouble just thinking straight.”

“You excite me,” Garona said. “You enthrall me. I want to be with you.”

“I have to give you high marks for persistence,” Suzanne said.

“We will talk more later,” Garona said. “Here come two of my friends.”

Suzanne turned to see the two men who’d been roused by Garona’s outburst of laughter mount the top step of the main stairway and approach. She couldn’t help but notice that both were as attractive as Garona. They walked arm in arm, like two lovers.

“Greetings, Tarla and Reesta,” Garona said. “Have you met our honored guest, Dr. Suzanne Newell?”

“Not yet,” the two men said in unison. “We were hoping to have the honor.” They both bowed elegantly.

Suzanne forced a smile. This was all so enchantingly odd. She felt it all had to be a dream.

Richard knew he was drunk, but he’d certainly been drunker in the past. His inebriation didn’t seem to deter any of the women who were still flocking around him. He was aware the faces of the women changed as he danced, meaning there was a rotation of sorts, but it didn’t matter since they were all so beautiful.

Without meaning to, he bumped up against Michael hard enough to knock both of them off balance. They collapsed to the floor, too limp to hurt themselves. When they realized what had happened, they laughed so hard, they brought tears to their eyes.

“What a party!” Michael cried when he’d recovered enough to speak. He wiped his eyes with the back of his hand.

“Nobody’s going to believe us when we get home,” Richard said. “Especially when we tell them that every single chick is available. I mean, it’s like a turkey shoot. It’s unreal.”

“The men down here just don’t care,” Michael said. “Hey, look at that girl over there.”

“Which one?” Richard asked. He rolled over and tried to follow Michael’s line of sight through the milling crowd. His eyes finally came to rest on a statuesque redhead walking arm in arm with a young boy.

“Wow,” he said.

“I saw her first,” said Michael.

“Yeah, but I’m going to get her first.”

“No way.”

“Screw you,” Richard said as he scrambled to his feet.

Michael reached out and grabbed one of Richard’s legs and tripped him. He fell head first and skidded off the edge of the platform, striking his forehead on the floor. He wasn’t hurt, but he was angry, especially when Michael tried to run past him toward the girl.

Richard managed to put a foot out in time to trip Michael. As he tried to get up, Richard threw himself on top of him. Then he grabbed the front of his tunic and punched him in the nose.

The sudden violence caused the party-goers to shrink back in alarm. A collective gasp was uttered as Michael’s nose began to bleed.

Michael bucked Richard off his body and got his legs under him. Richard tried to do the same, but Michael caught him on the side of the head with a blow that sent him sprawling back to the floor.