“I am sad that I cannot have a discussion with her. I’m sure she is a brilliant conversationalist.”
“She doesn’t have lips, Gorg. She can’t talk.”
Gorg cocked his head and considered the large creature in the tank. “You are right. She has a beak, but would not be able to pronounce very many words. Perhaps she speaks octopi, a different language than American English. Or perhaps she is telepathic.”
“Maybe. Or maybe she’s just a fish.”
The guide interrupted them. “Pardon me, sir, but Gumball isn’t a fish. She’s a cephalopod, and very intelligent.She can change her color depending on her mood or surroundings. She plays with toys and can regrow arms that have been lost, and if we didn’t coat her tank with a special solution that prevents it, she would find a way to escape it.”
Gorg gasped. “She is a prisoner?”
“No,” Ebenezer said. He shot a smile at the girl and then dragged Gorg away before things could get ugly. “She’s an exhibit. She’s here so humans can study her, watch her, appreciate her…um, beauty.”
“I don’t like the idea that she’s held here against her will.”
“I am sure she’s very happy here. She’s well-fed, so she doesn’t have to hunt for food, and she doesn’t have to worry about predators. Doctors take care of her if she gets sick. She can live a full and happy life here.”
“Maybe. I am not convinced.” Gorg didn’t look happy.
“Come on. You wanted to meet an octopus. I brought you to meet one. Now, let’s go get some supper.”
Gorg nodded, although he seemed down, which Ebenezer found disturbed him more than he normally would admit.
Chapter 6
“This is the guest room,” Ebenezer said. He’d shown Gorg to a room in the house with a rectangular bed and some storage units. “It has a bathroom adjacent.”
“A what?” Gorg wasn’t familiar with the term.
“A bathroom. A toilet? The head? You know…where you, um, go. Do your business. Pee. Poop. Deposit whatever waste products your body might produce.”
“Oh! Goodness, you have an entire room for that? We take a pill. It turns all bodily waste into flatulence.”
“You must come from some really gassy people.” Ebenezer wrinkled his nose. “That’s sort of gross. Anyway, we don’t have any of those fart units on earth, so you’d better start using the bathroom for whatever it is you do with your waste.”
Gorg shook his head in amazement. “In some ways Earthlings are so advanced, having invented things like sodaand pizza, and yet in other ways, you are an incredibly primitive people.”
“Well, while you’re here, keep your advanced bodily functions to the bathroom, okay?” Ebenezer said. “And I’m sorry, but I don’t have any pajamas that would fit you with your tentacles.”
“Pajamas? This is another term I am not familiar with.”
“They’re clothing you sleep in.”
“You have clothing especially made for sleeping? Why?” Gorg was so confused. “Isn’t that what skin is for?”
Ebenezer just nodded. “I suppose it might be. I sleep in the nude, too. It’s just that not everyone does.”
“Why not?”
“I don’t know. Because they’re more comfortable in pajamas? Because of societal norms? Because they’re a little more inhibited than others? Who the hell knows? Who the hell cares?”
“I am sorry, Ebbie. I am asking too many questions,” Gorg said. He knew he had a habit of posing an infinite number of inquiries about any subject that intrigued him, and he found humans to be very,veryinteresting beings. More so even than octopi. Especially Ebenezer.
“No, that’s okay. I’m just tired. Have a good night, Gorg. See you in the morning.” Ebenezer left, closing the door behind him.
Gorg stood there staring at the closed door long after Ebenezer left. He hadn’t wanted Ebenezer to leave. He’d wanted Ebenezer to take off his clothes, lay down on that big, soft-looking bed with Gorg, and teach him how Earthlings had sex. His cock had been hard all day under that heavy overcoat, and all because of how close he was to Ebenezer. There was just something about Ebbie that made Gorg rock-hard — the wayEbbie moved, or smelled, or smiled, or laughed. Something. Everything.
He suddenly realized what was going on. It was Renewal Season on Jizm, and Gorg was in full rut. He burned to mate with Ebenezer. Why had Ebenezer not seen how much Gorg wanted him? Could he not smell Gorg’s need?
