Chapter 14 — Experiments in intercourse

           Whenatlastwehadmadeanendofeating,theSeleniteslinkedourhandscloselytogetheragain,andthenuntwistedthechainsaboutourfeetandreboundthem,soastogiveusalimitedfreedomofmovement.Thentheyunfastenedthechainsaboutourwaists.Todoallthistheyhadtohandleusfreely,andeverandagainoneoftheirqueerheadscamedownclosetomyface,orasofttentacle-handtouchedmyheadorneck.Idon’trememberthatIwasafraidthenorrepelledbytheirproximity.Ithinkthatourincurableanthropomorphismmadeusimaginetherewerehumanheadsinsidetheirmasks.Theskin,likeeverythingelse,lookedbluish,butthatwasonaccountofthelight;anditwashardandshiny,quiteinthebeetle-wingfashion,notsoft,ormoist,orhairy,asavertebratedanimal’swouldbe.Alongthecrestoftheheadwasalowridgeofwhitishspinesrunningfrombacktofront,andamuchlargerridgecurvedoneithersideovertheeyes.TheSelenitewhountiedmeusedhismouthtohelphishands.

           “Theyseemtobereleasingus,”saidCavor.“Rememberweareonthemoon!Makenosuddenmovements!”

           “Areyougoingtotrythatgeometry?”

           “IfIgetachance.But,ofcourse,theymaymakeanadvancefirst.”

           Weremainedpassive,andtheSelenites,havingfinishedtheirarrangements,stoodbackfromus,andseemedtobelookingatus.Isayseemedtobe,becauseastheireyeswereatthesideandnotinfront,onehadthesamedifficultyindeterminingthedirectioninwhichtheywerelookingasonehasinthecaseofahenorafish.