An adult stories – Loneliest Man Who Ever Lived Ch. 12 by GaryLMMartin,GaryLMMartin [Note: This is a romance story with some erotic scenes. It is not a story with erotic scenes in every chapter. Some chapters have incredible sex scenes, but many others have none.]
Chapter 12: The Society
It took several hours to get to their destination, a small island presumably not far from the Bahamas. During that time they were required to stay below deck. Jerri apologized for the inconvenience.
“A group of Fourthers… on a Caribbean island,” said Goldie. “They must have an incredible swim team.”
Harry said nothing.
“Do you think they’re going to help us, I mean you, Harry?”
“Me?”
“Well, in case you haven’t noticed, I’m not a Fourther,” said Goldie.
“I’m sure everything will be fine.”
“If you’re sure, Harry, then I’m very sure,” said Goldie. She wrapped her arms around him. “Hold me,” she said.
Harry hugged her tightly.
********
It was mid afternoon when they arrived. They were on the dock of a small island dotted with palm trees. Several domed shaped structures loomed in the distance.
When they got off the boat, Jerri said, “Come with me, please.” But when Harry and Goldie started to follow, Jerri said, “Just you, Harry.” A tall, blonde man with big shoulders approached. “Liam, please see to Harry’s female.”
“No,” said Harry instinctively, grabbing Goldie to him.
“It’s all right, Harry,” said Jerri. “Your female will not be harmed.”
Harry looked at Jerri, and the men all around them. They really had no choice.
Goldie gently disengaged herself from Harry. “It’s all right, Harry. Like the lady said, your female will not be harmed.”
Harry gave her a look of longing as she followed the man named Liam off the dock. “Where are you taking her?”
“To freshen up. Nothing will happen to her.” She started leading Harry to one of the domes. “You seem very attached to her. We noticed the connection between the two of you during our observations. Surely you can’t have real feelings for her.”
“Why not?” Harry asked.
“She’s a Low, Harry.”
“A what?”
“Sorry. What you might call a Normal. She’s not like us. She can never be one of us,” said Jerri.
“So everyone here on this island….”
“All Fourthers, Harry. Just like you.” She smiled at him seductively. “Well, maybe not exactly like you.”
Harry had long ago noticed how well Jerri filled out her yellow bikini. She had large, firm breasts and a well rounded ass, and long, shapely thighs. She reminded Harry a lot of Goldie’s sister, Claire, except Claire had a rounder face and even brighter blonde hair. Harry followed Jerri’s delightfully wiggling ass into one of the domes. There he was set in front of a console. A mathematical problem appeared on the screen.
“What’s this?” Harry asked.
“We need to verify your identity.”
“You know who I am,” said Harry.
“Maybe it would be more accurate to say that we need to verify what you are, Harry,” said Jerri. “Please take the test, Harry.”
Harry turned and looked at the equation. He studied it and quickly typed out a solution.
Then another problem appeared, and more after that. Some were mathematical in nature, other were logic problems, and still others involved pattern recognition and analysis. Harry was aware of a timer on the side of the screen, counting down. He worked rapidly, solving each problem as fast as he could. He sensed a crowd of people forming behind him but was too busy to turn around and look.
Finally, when the timer hit zero, there was a loud buzzer, and the screen went blank. And then, in large numerals, the number 234 appeared on the screen.
Harry heard the crowd gasp around him. Harry looked up at Jerri, who looked similarly surprised. “Well, did I pass the test?”
For a moment, Jerri looked like she was at a loss for words. Then she said, slowly, “Yes, Harry. Yes, you did.”
********
Thomas Dolan was a tall, dark haired man. He greeted Harry with a firm handshake. “So glad to have you here.”
“So glad to be here,” said Harry warily.
Dolan detected his wariness and smiled. “I’m sorry about the circumstances of your extraction, but we have learned to be careful. I gather you have extricated yourself from a similar situation where Fourthers were being abused.”
“Yes, from a group called The Foundation. Have you ever heard of them?”
“The Foundation.” Dolan paused, and considered. “No, I’ve never heard of a group like that.”
“I found your name on an internal list,” said Harry.
“What kind of organization is it?”
“I’m not really sure,” said Harry. “They recruit Fourthers, and work on methods of mental conditioning. Brainwashing.”
The crowd murmured.
“That’s very disturbing, Harry,” said Dolan.
“They have a fellow Fourther… the sister of my companion, Goldie MacPherson. We’re trying to find out where they are, so we can rescue her.”
“Well, that’s very… commendable of you, Harry,” said Dolan, choosing his words carefully. “We have a lot of resources here. Give us some time, and I’m sure we’ll come up with something. In the meantime, would you and your companion join us for dinner?”
“Sure,” said Harry. “But first I’d like to see my female–Goldie.”
“Harry!” said Goldie. She suddenly appeared, wearing a red dress covered with images of flowers. “What do you think? Nice, eh?”
“Very nice,” said Harry, relieved to see her. “Are you all right?”
“I’m fine,” said Goldie. “Liam just gave me a tour of the wardrobe. It’s incredible, Harry!”
“We’ll be happy to stay for dinner,” Harry told Dolan.
“It’s settled, then.”
The crowd of Fourthers descended on Harry. They had so many questions. Harry found himself the center of attention. He engaged in multiple conversations at the same time. He talked about his paper about the origins of the universe with one man who was not only familiar with it, but had some suggestions for expanding the theory. He talked to another man about new developments in particle theory. And a woman held discourse with Harry about developments in ray shield technology.
It was all so terribly exciting, and stimulating. Even at The Foundation, Harry had never felt truly immersed in so many brilliant minds. If only he had known these people years ago! He might have avoided years and years of loneliness.
But at one point he looked for Goldie, and found her sitting by herself. No one was talking to her. “Excuse me,” he said, to the three people he was talking to. He went over to her. “Hey,” he said.
“Hey,” she said, smiling bravely as she nursed a drink.
“Are you all right?”
“Sure,” said Goldie. She looked up at him. “Go and talk to your new friends, Harry. Go and some fun.”
“Are you sure?” Harry said.
“Of course I am,” said Goldie.
Harry went back to talking to the other Fourthers. After a while a young man came over to Goldie, a short dark haired man. “Hello,” he said.
“Hi,” said Goldie.
“How are you?”
“Are you sure you want to talk to me? I’m probably the dumbest person in the room,” said Goldie.
“That’s all right,” said the young man. “Because I know I’m the second dumbest person in the room.” He extended his hand. “Emilio. Emilio Dolan.”
Goldie extended her hand. “Goldie. Your last name is Dolan?”
“Thomas’s little brother. The dumb one,” said Emilio.
“What do you mean?”
“My IQ is only 135. I don’t really qualify to be here,” said Emilio.
“Then why are you here?”
“Tom keeps me around,” said Emilio.
“Do other people avoid you, too?” Goldie asked.
“Mostly,” said Emilio.
“That must be very lonely,” said Goldie. She followed Emilio’s eyes. He was staring at a redhead, who was chatting it up with another dark haired man.
“It can be,” said Emilio.
“Do you like her?” Goldie asked.
“Who?” Emilio asked.
Goldie laughed. “The woman you’re staring at.”
“Annie?” Emilio said.
“Is that her name?”
“Annie is selected for Bruce,” said Emilio.
“Selected?”
“She’s an upper quartile Fourther,” said Emilio.
“What does that mean?” Goldie asked.
Emilio felt the eyes of his brother on him. “I’ve said too much. Excuse me, please.” He got up and left.
********
That night Harry and Goldie went to the room they were assigned.
“Interesting people,” said Harry, getting into bed.
“I can see that,” said Goldie.
“I imagine this must be a little uncomfortable for you,” said Harry, taking her in his arms.
“No, I’m fine. We’re here for a purpose, right?”
“Right. To find your sister,” said Harry. “We’ll stay a few days, and see if they can find out anything for us.”
“And if they don’t?” Goldie asked, trying to hide the anxiety in her voice.
“Then we’ll leave,” said Harry.
She reached up and kissed Harry. He responded. Then she kissed him again. He kissed her back. But he didn’t try to touch her breasts. He didn’t try to take off her clothes. “Hey,” he said. “It’s been a long day. We’d better get some rest.”
Goldie nodded, and rolled over to her side of the bed.
********
The next morning, they had breakfast together, and then Harry went off to chat with some of his fellow Fourthers. Goldie noticed that most of the people he was talking to now were women. There were three of them in particular, a tall leggy brunette named Debra, a redhead named Sondra, and the very blonde and very leggy Jerri Thomas. Goldie was sure that Harry was having a stimulating discussion about particle wavelength theory, from the way he was smiling at them.
And they smiled back at him. They all seemed to be competing for his attention, touching his hand, laughing at whatever he said, standing close to him, and brushing their hair self-consciously. To Goldie it looked like a feeding frenzy for women who hadn’t seen a man in years. Which was ridiculous, of course, because this island was full of men as well as women.
Emilio came over to Goldie. “Which one do you think he will select?”
“Select?” said Goldie.
“For reproduction,” said Emilio. “Sondra has a head for mathematics, Debra for linguistics, but Jerri has the highest IQ of them all.”
Goldie gave Emilio a withering look. “What makes you think Harry will reproduce with any of them?”
“That’s why you’re here, isn’t it? To join the Society?”
“What does it mean, to join the Society?”
Emilio looked exasperated. “I thought you knew. That’s what we’re all about. All of us, all Fourthers, are matched up to their level of ability. The Highest quartile Fourther men are matched to the highest quartile women, and the next highest to the next highest, and so on. Your friend Harry has the highest IQ of any of us.”
“He does?”
Emilio nodded. “He scored higher on the test yesterday than any of us. They will surely want him to reproduce.”
“Well, that’s up to Harry, then,” said Goldie. She looked at Emilio. “And what about you, Emilio? Do you want to reproduce? Was that you doing a little reproductive activities on the beach last night?” She had gone walking on the beach last night, and had nearly stumbled across Emilio, kissing and hugging a woman behind a sand dune. “Was that Annie I saw you with last night?”
“No, you must be mistaken. Annie is a third quartile female. I don’t even qualify as a Fourther,” said Emilio. “She’s been paired off with Clifton.”
“Sorry. I’ll have to get my eyes checked,” said Goldie.
“If you have not come to the Island for the mating, you should not be here,” said Emilio. He gave her a sharp glance, and then walked away.
Goldie went over to talk to Harry. Just as she got there, she saw Jerri, wearing an orange string bikini, approach Harry in the company of two men.
“Harry, Mr. Dolan would like word with you,” said Jerri.
“All right,” said Harry, nodding to Goldie.
“Just you,” said Jerri.
“No,” said Harry.
“His words are meant for you.”
Harry looked at Goldie. “If he wants to talk to me, he can talk to both of us.”
Goldie looked at Harry and felt very proud of him. He was her man, and he was standing up for her. She put a hand on his arm, and he smiled at her.
Jerri shrugged. “Follow me.”
They followed. Goldie’s pride in Harry was mitigated by his eyes, which seemed focused on the wiggling inside Jerri’s orange string bikini.
When they got to the main dome, Dolan said, “I asked for Harry only.”
“You can speak to both of us,” said Harry.
Dolan wet his lips. “Very well. Harry, we were wondering if you would like to join us.”
“Join you?”
“Our Society is full of the highest IQ individuals on the planet. When you took our initiation test, you scored higher than anyone.
“Higher than anyone?”
“You, Harry, have the highest known IQ on the planet,” said Dolan. “Consider that for a moment. It’s your duty to pass down such unique genes.”
“What do you mean?”
“Part of our purpose is to encourage reproduction among similarly qualified individuals. We divide Fourthers into levels of ability, four different classes or quartiles. You, Harry, are obviously in the highest quartile. There are women here who would be delighted and honored to bear your child.”
Harry looked at Goldie. “I’m… I’m….”
“I’m sure your female is very alluring to you, but, with no offense to her, the chances of her producing a brilliant child are much less than if you reproduced with one of your own kind. Surely you realize that?”
“Yes,” said Harry.
“And did you not tell us yesterday that this female has been programmed to enjoy your company? Did you not tell us that once she is deprogrammed, she will have no further interest in you?”
“Yes,” said Harry, with a heavy heart.
“Then stay here with us, and let her continue on her way.”
Harry looked at Goldie. She seemed to be expressionless. “I… I don’t know.”
“Take some time and think about it, by all means,” said Dolan.
“Have you come up with any more information on The Foundation?” Harry asked.
“No, but our sources are tracing leads even as we speak,” said Dolan.
Goldie looked up at Harry. “I think we should talk.”
********
They walked on the beach. For a while, neither of them said anything. Then Goldie said, “Harry, I think you should seriously consider this.”
“What?” said Harry.
Harry didn’t know. He didn’t know that Goldie was sterile, that she had been stricken with Grimwave’s Syndrome as a child which had sterilized her. Even now, Goldie couldn’t bear to tell him the awful truth. So instead she said, “It’s like you said, Harry. I’m going to get deprogrammed at some point. And then I’m going to stop loving you. Wouldn’t it be better to be with someone who genuinely wants you? Especially one of your own kind?”
Harry looked at her. “I can’t believe I’m hearing this from you.”
“Why, Harry?”
He stopped and caressed her face. “Because if you are programmed to love me, you wouldn’t say such a thing. You’d want to be with me at all costs.”
“Harry, you were so convinced I didn’t really love you. Now are you starting to doubt that?”
“I don’t know,” said Harry. “I don’t know what to think.”
“Harry, we’ve had some good times together,” said Goldie. “But I think you’re right in one respect. It pains me to say it, but I think you have no future with me. You’d be better off… better off with one of them.” It hurt her to say it. She felt like she was going to cry.
“Let me… let’s think about this,” said Harry. Us. he said us.
Harry spent much of rest of the day talking to the Fourthers. He had animated conversations with them. But he also took off time to a take a long walk on the beach. He saw Goldie, sitting on the beach. He walked right by her. He felt like a barrier had been erected between them. She looked so sad. It broke his heart to see her like this.
Goldie saw Harry walking alone. Rather than being with his new friends, he chose to be alone. He was obviously thinking seriously about their offer. Goldie wondered what she would do if Harry took them up on it. She would have to leave the island alone, and look for Claire on her own. She would be very sad. Harry was the first man she thought she might possibly… no, maybe he was right. Maybe it wasn’t meant to be.
They slept in the same bed that night, but didn’t touch, and didn’t talk.
The next morning, Harry talked to Dolan again. There were no further leads on The Foundation. He asked Harry if he had made a decision about joining them. That’s how he referred to picking a woman to have sex and impregnate. To join them.
Harry had seen all the gorgeous, brilliant women on the island. Such an offer would have been a paradise to him, just a week ago.
But now he had Goldie.
It was a terrible choice to have to make.
In his heart he knew that once Goldie was reprogrammed, that she would want nothing more to do with him. She would recoil at the very sight of him. And yet, even knowing that, he was not ready to give her up. Was he?
Later that morning, they heard a gong sound. Once, twice, thrice. Harry noticed a commotion of people going to the great dome.
“What going on?” he asked one of the Fourthers.
“Someone is sitting in judgment,” said the man.
They followed the crowd.
It was Emilio Dolan. He along with the red headed woman Annie seemed to be on trial. The process was already in progress when they entered the dome.
“The identity of the fetus has been confirmed, Doctor Farb?” Dolan asked.
“Yes,” said a tall dark haired man. “Genotyping confirms that the baby was parented by Emilio, not Bruce.”
A gasp went up from the crowd.
Thomas Dolan looked at his brother. “Why, Emilio, why? You knew Annie was assigned to Bruce?”
“Assigned. But there was no love,” said Emilio.
“But Emilio, you still could have slept with Annie, as long as you took precautions. All that was forbidden was pregnancy,” said Dolan.
“I don’t care,” said Emilio. “I love her, and she loves me. She only wanted to have my child.”
A murmur went through the crowd.
“But Emilio… you barely qualify as the lowest grade of Fourther, if even that, to be kindly,” said Dolan. “You don’t remotely qualify to reproduce with Annie.”
“I don’t care about that,” said Emilio again.
Dolan turned to Annie. “Annie. Tell us truthfully. Did you intentionally try to get pregnant from Emilio?”
Annie hesitated for a moment.
“Tell it true, Annie,” said Emilio quietly.
“We both knew what we were doing,” said Annie. “I love Emilio, and only want his seed inside of me.”
The crowd gasped again. There were mutters of “abomination!” and “miscegenation!” from the gathered Fourthers.
Dolan shook his head sadly. “You both put me in a terrible situation.” He paused, looking very distraught. This was his own brother! But still, the law was the law. “Emilio, you are not to see Annie again, in any capacity. If you are caught procreating with her, you will be unrolled.” He paused. “And you, Annie. You are ordered to be renewed.” The crowd gasped. “After which, you will return to Bruce and carry out your duties.”
Men pulled Annie away, while others held Emilio back as he yelled her name. “Annie, Annie!” he cried.
“What’s happened? What’s happening?” Harry said. He turned and saw Jerri Thomas, with a tear running down her eye. “Jerri?”
“Emilio… if he offends again, he will be unrolled.”
“Unrolled?”
“Castrated,” said Jerri.
“And Annie?”
“She is to be renewed,” said Jerri.
“Renewed?” said Goldie.
“Her fetus will be removed. She will be required to mate with Bruce again, to produce another.”
“No… no,” said Goldie, self consciously holding her stomach. “Don’t let them do this.”
“It is regrettable,” said Jerri, restraining a sob.
“Regrettable?” said Goldie. She made eye contact with Harry. They made their way outside.
********
“We’ll leave first thing tomorrow morning,” said Harry. It was almost nightfall now, and he didn’t think they would send the boat out at night.
“You’re not taking them up on their offer?” said Goldie.
“No,” said Harry.
“Would you have… if not for this?” Goldie asked.
“I… I don’t think so,” said Harry.
Goldie grabbed him and hugged the stuffings out of him. “I love you, Harry Crater.”
“And I love you, Goldie MacPherson,” said Harry. But how long will you love me?, Harry wondered. It seems he was doomed to love women who could never love him.
There was a knock on the door of their room. They both froze. Could Dolan be coming for them?
There was a second knock.
“I think they probably know we’re in here,” Goldie whispered.
Harry nodded, straightened his back, and moved to the door. But when he opened it, he saw Emilio.
“Emilio!” said Goldie. She gave him a hug the minute he stepped through the door. “How are you?”
“Not well,” said Emilio.
“Is there any chance to save Annie?” Goldie asked.
“The procedure has already been done,” said Emilio.
“Emilio, are you sure?”
“The procedure has already been done,” Emilio repeated. A tear dropped down his cheek.
“I’m so sorry,” said Goldie.
“I’m not here because of me,” said Emilio. “I’m here for you.”
“Me?” said Goldie.
“Both of you. You are both in great danger,” said Emilio.
“What do you mean?”
“My brother made you an offer, did he not?” Emilio asked.
“Yes,” said Harry. “He asked me to join your Society.”
“And what is your answer?”
Harry looked at Goldie, who smiled at him. “My answer is no.”
“It cannot be,” said Emilio.
“What?” said Harry.
“He will not let you go. You have the highest IQ we have ever seen. He will not let you go at least until you impregnate one woman. Perhaps more.”
“He can’t force me to,” said Harry.
“Actually, he can,” said Emilio. He looked at Goldie. “Normals, or Lows, as we call them, are not allowed here.”
“What are you saying?”
“If you do not do as they ask, they will refuse to let you go. And they will hurt Goldie until you do.”
Goldie gasped and Harry hugged her tightly. “No they won’t!”
“You will be unable to stop them.”
“Then… we’ll steal a boat! Go with us, tonight!”
“The dock is protected by a force field, and is well guarded,” said Emilio. “There is no way out. You must tell my brother that you agree. It is the only way to protect your woman. They will not harm her while they need your cooperation.”
“Harry,” said Goldie, clearly sounding torn.
“I’ll do it,” said Harry. He turned to Goldie. “I’m so sorry.”
“Don’t be,” said Goldie. “I love you, Harry.”
“And I love you, Goldie.”
********
Harry met with Dolan the next day. He no longer asked about the search for The Foundation. Emilio had told them that Dolan knew all about The Foundation. He simply had no interest in helping them.
“Harry, good morning!” said Dolan. “I’m sorry you had to witness that unpleasant business yesterday. But every society has rules, even ours, and rules cannot be broken, or else society can’t survive.”
“I completely understand,” said Harry.
“Good.” Dolan stared at him intently. “Have you given any thought to joining us?”
“I have,” said Harry. “And I agree to it.”
Dolan looked at Harry. It was obvious he wasn’t very happy about it. Harry probably realized the truth of his situation. Well, it wouldn’t matter, as long as he obeyed. “Very good,” said Dolan, clapping him on the back. “That makes me happy, Harry. That’s going to make all of us here so happy.”
“Just one condition,” said Harry.
“What is that?” Dolan asked.
“I can’t just jump in bed with a woman and have sex with her. My mind is not build that way,” said Harry. “I need to get to know her a little first, to establish an emotional connection.”
“Say no more, Harry! You will have all the time you need. Within reason, of course,” said Dolan, thinking to himself that a few days should suffice. He punched up a holo of a dark haired beauty. “We have some excellent upper quadrille females for you to select from. There is Debra. Debra is brilliant in mathematics. Although of a slender build, she had wide, child bearing hips and I’m sure she will perform quite well in reproduction.” He punched up a holo of a redhead. “This is Sondra. Her expertise is linguistics. She is incredibly fertile, and ovulates regularly like clockwork.” And then came a familiar blonde. “And this as you know is Jerri. Jerri has the highest IQ rating of the three, and has large mammary glands, which will not only give you more pleasure in the mating, but will be quite useful when it comes to nursing offspring.”
Harry realized that it was no coincidence that his three choices were all women who had pursued him from the moment he had set foot on the island. This had all been planned.
“So who will it be, Harry?”
Harry shrugged. “All of them.”
“All of them?”
“I’d like to get to know each one of them,” said Harry. He saw the expression on Dolan’s face. “Is it unreasonable to want to get to know the woman I am to have a child with?”
Dolan gave a forced smile. “Of course, Harry. Your way is probably best. We’ll give it a try, and see how it works. We’ll start with Debra, then.”
********
Harry walked with Debra on the beach. For years he had fantasized about being with beautiful women who were also brilliant like him. Debra was smart and pretty, with flowing dark hair, an hourglass figure, and a beautiful smile. She would have been Harry’s dream come true just a few weeks ago.
But now, every woman he met, like it or not, was automatically compared to Goldie. She was his yardstick of comparison now.
And Debra was boring. Not boring, in the sense she was dumb. Indeed, she was highly gifted, as Harry learned, especially in the area of mathematics. He had several interesting discussions with her about implications of Goldberg’s Theorem of Parallelism that he had never considered. She was fascinating to talk to.
But she was boring in the sense that Harry didn’t feel any attraction to her. Harry knew, just a few weeks ago, he would have fallen head over heels in love with such a gorgeous, smart woman. But now, compared to Goldie, he found her lacking.
They went for a walk on the beach, and at one point walked by Goldie, who was sitting with Jerri Thomas. Harry gave Goldie a sad look, and she smiled at him, making him feel better. Harry wondered what she was doing talking to Jerri about.
After they had passed, Jerri said, “She doesn’t seem to be making any headway with him.”
“That’s because she’s not doing it right,” said Goldie.
“Oh? And what is the right way to get to Harry?” Jerri asked.
“To yell at him,” said Goldie.
“Really?” said Jerri.
“Harry loves to be yelled at, and belittled. It turns him on.”
Jerri’s eyes narrowed. “Are you telling me the truth?”
“You’re supposed to be a genius, right? Double my IQ and all. You tell me. Am I lying?” Goldie stared at Jerri with an absolutely impassive face.
“I am not sure. He is a very unusual man,” said Jerri.
“On that you are correct,” said Goldie.
“Why do you cling to him? Surely you’d rather be with a…”
“A Lower?” Goldie smiled.
“A Normal like yourself,” said Jerri.
“Some Normals like a little bit of Abnormality in their lives. That’s what attracted me to Harry.”
“I was told that you were programmed by The Foundation to be attracted to Harry,” said Jerri.
“No,” said Goldie. “I was only programmed to seduce him, to get him into bed.”
“And how did you do that?” Jerri’s tone was quick and eager. A little too eager.
Goldie scratched her head. “Pain.”
“Pain?”
“Harry likes having his balls squashed with a hammer. It really turns him on.”
Jerri gave Goldie a skeptical look. But she wasn’t absolutely certain that Goldie was lying to her.
Goldie saw her confusion and smiled.
********
That evening, Goldie and Harry took a walk on the beach.
“I took a look at the dock. It’s protected by a force field, like Emilio said,” said Harry.
“What if we swim around it?” Goldie asked.
“The force field is on all four sides. It even goes into the water.”
“Is that possible?”
“I saw it,” said Harry.
“It sounds like we’re going to need a genius to figure a way out of here, Harry.”
“Do you know where we can find one? At this late hour?”
Despite the tenseness of the situation, Goldie laughed and raised her head. Harry knew what she wanted and gave it to her. After their lips parted, she said, “So how was Miss Birthing Cow number one?”
“Brilliant. Cute. Very likeable.”
“And?”
“She’s no Goldie.”
That earned him another reward, longer, this time.
“What did Jerri want with you?”
“Blondie wanted some hot tips for tripping you up.”
“What did you tell her?”
“That you like having your penis smacked with a tire iron.” She smiled and made him laugh.
“She actually reminds me a little of your sister Claire.”
“No, if it was really Claire, she would have stolen you away from me by now.”
Harry stopped her and turned her to face him. She looked so beautiful in the moonlight. “There’s no one who can do that,” he whispered. He kissed her passionately, and she hugged him tightly.
********
Harry spent the next day with Sondra. Sondra was a gorgeous red head. Her breasts were smaller than Debra’s, but more pointy. She wore a red bikini to accentuate her points. They stuck out like headlights on a car.
“Subtle, isn’t she?” said Goldie, as she and Jerri watched Harry and Sondra walk by. Harry smiled at her, and she smiled back. He wondered again why Jerri was spending time with Goldie. Were they becoming friends?
“Sondra is a genius, like the rest of us,” said Jerri. “And she has mathematically proven that the best way into a man’s pants is to make her tits stick out as far as possible.”
Goldie laughed. She was starting to like Jerri. “You’re not worried about the competition?”
“No,” said Jerri. “Not that it really matters.”
“What do you mean?”
“Do you think they’re going to let Harry off impregnating just one of us? They’ll start him off with one of us, and once they’ve worn down his resistance, he will be used to copulate with a whole bunch of us. That won’t be very popular with some of the male population of this island, but by this time next year the island will be swarming with Harry’s kids.”
Jerri saw the frown on Goldie’s face. “Sorry dear. I imagine the idea of living on a stud farm populated by your boyfriend’s seed doesn’t appeal to you very much. Just keep repeating to yourself that you don’t really love him.”
“I try to, but I can’t seem to convince myself of it,” said Goldie. “That’s the problem.” She had terribly mixed feelings. The idea of Harry having children with other women alienated her terribly. And yet… that was the only way Harry could ever have children. Should she really be so selfish in preventing Harry from passing on his genes to the next generation, especially genes so brilliant as his?
She watched as Harry walked away with Sondra. She saw Sondra’s ass sticking out of her string bikini. She imagined Harry pumping away between her legs. She tried to tell herself that it was fine, but the mere thought of it made her wince with discomfort.
********
Dolan watched Harry’s progress, or lack of progress, with distinct dissatisfaction. It was clear to him that Harry was not attracted to Debra or Sondra. But why should attraction enter into any of this? His duty was to procreate and pass on his genes. He would give Harry a few more days to do his duty, and then he would pursue more active measures.
The next day was Jerri’s turn. She didn’t show up in a string bikini, even though she had the largest breasts of the three. Instead, she wore a tight blouse which showed off her beautiful figure, and equally tight white pants. She wanted to look sexy, but not excessively so.
She sat down with Harry on a bench by the ocean. “This must be so hard for you, Harry,” she said. “I know you’re not used to our way of doing things. I know you feel forced into this. I just want to say how much I sympathize with your situation.”
Harry looked at Jerri appraisingly. She showed empathy that Debra and Sondra hadn’t.
“Tell me about your life, Harry.”
Slowly she coaxed details from him. About his years of loneliness. Isolation. Somehow she even got Harry to tell her about his spacesuit.
“That’s so awful, Harry. To live a life so isolated like that,” said Jerri. “And then… after all those years, Goldie just falls into your lap. The perfect programmed woman, the first one who doesn’t shun you. It must be hard to give her up.”
Harry looked at her, and he didn’t detect a trace of scorn in her voice; only sympathy.
“You love her. I can see that. But if she’s programmed, like you say, she can never truly love you. Is that what you want, Harry? A woman who loves you like a robot?”
“No, of course not,” said Harry.
“Why not have a woman who wants you, Harry?”
“But… you don’t really want me. You just want to have a child with me,” said Harry.
“You don’t know that,” said Jerri. She had blue eyes. Just like Goldie. Just like Claire. “I’m a volunteer, just like Debra and Sondra. None of us were forced into this. The honor of having a child with you, the smartest man on the planet, would be incredible.”
“There, you’ve admitted it. Your ulterior motive.”
“Yes, Harry, I admitted it. Because we should always be honest with each other. I want you to learn to trust me, and we can only do that if we’re honest.” And at that moment she caught Harry’s eye, and didn’t let go. “I want you to inseminate me… but I also want to get to know the man behind the organ. You’re a very, very intriguing man, Harry. I think in time I could fall in love with you. And maybe, you could fall in love with me. ” She leaned over, and did what Debra and Sondra failed to do. She kissed him. She felt his lips responding to her, not eagerly, but somewhat willingly. It was a start.
“Wouldn’t it be better to be with someone who genuinely wants to be with you, rather than someone who is programmed to love you like a machine?”
Harry nodded.
“You know, Harry, if you took the time to get to know me, you’d find we have a lot in common.”
“I know. We’re geniuses,” said Harry.
“Not just that,” said Jerri. “I was tormented as a child too. I was the only Fourther in my family. All the kids called me Genius Jerri. And they didn’t mean it nicely.”
She saw a light dawn in Harry’s eyes, as he realized for the first time that other Fourthers might have suffered as he had.
“As I got older, men wanted to fuck me, and some of them did. But after fucking me once, they shunned me. They were attracted to my body, but turned off by my mind. They wanted a china doll, something dumb they could stick their dick into. Someone with a brain was a tremendous turn off to them. I had all the sex I could ever want, Harry, but zero companionship. In many ways, I was just as lonely as you.”
Harry looked at her with wonder. She used the opportunity to kiss him again. This time, he responded.
And from behind the palm trees, Goldie stood there, watching with tears in her eyes.
********
“So you like Jerri!” said Dolan.
It annoyed Harry that he seemed to know, even before Harry had talked to him. Obviously, they were being spied on.
“She’s nice,” he said.
“Great!” said Dolan. “She will be fertile soon. You must inseminate her every-”
“Just a moment,” said Harry. “I said she’s nice. I didn’t say I wanted to impregnate her. Will you at least do me the courtesy of treating me better than a lab rat, and give me a little time to get to know the woman who will be the mother of my child?”
“Of course, Harry,” said Dolan. “Take all the time you need. A few days, or whatever.”
Harry, biting his lip, nodded.
********
That evening, in bed.
“So you’ve chosen Blondie.”
“She really does look a little like your sister Claire.”
“Is that why you chose her?”
“No.”
“It’s funny, because it’s the first thing you mentioned about her.”
“I’m simply trying to describe her.”
“And now you’re going to….”
“I don’t see any other option. Do you?”
“Hasn’t your magnificent brain come up with a plan to escape?”
“No.”
“Maybe because your magnificent brain is too busy thinking about fucking Blondie.”
Harry turned Goldie over to face him. “That’s not fair, Goldie. I don’t like this any more than you do.”
“That’s funny, because you’re going to be the one doing the fucking, not me.”
“You want me to refuse to cooperate? Is that what you want, Goldie?”
“I want you to get us out of here!”
“I wish I could,” said Harry. “I just don’t see a way, not yet.”
“Try to figure out an escape plan before your kids get into college.”
“What does that mean?”
“Goldilocks let me into a portion of their plan. Her tits are simply the beginning of the camel’s nose nudging into the tent. Once you’ve banged Golditits, they’re going to have you bang Reddie and Brownie and every color of the rainbow until every last name on this island is Crater.”
“No,” said Harry.
“You’ve always wanted to have kids, Harry? Well, this is the best place in the world to have them.”
He reached out to her. “Goldie-”
“Don’t touch me,” she said sharply. “Good night, Harry.”
********
Over the next two days, Harry and Jerri took long walks around the island. In some ways, it was paradise. Jerri was really quite likeable. She was attractive. She was brilliant. She had empathy. She was very interested in him. If Harry had never met Goldie, he would have jumped into bed with her. But something was holding him back. Something was missing.
Jerri kissed him at opportune moments several times over the next two days, and he dutifully kissed her back, but she needed more. She needed him to initiate. She needed him to take things further. Jerri could try to take the next step on her own, but she sensed Harry was not ready to cooperate.
So, on the evening of the third day of her courtship of Harry, she sought out Goldie, who was sitting sullenly by a campfire on the beach.
“Hey there,” said Jerri.
“Hey there,” said Goldie. “Shouldn’t you be somewhere else? Wait, don’t tell me!” She snapped her fingers. “I know! You’re supposed to be fucking my boyfriend right now. How’s that going?”
Jerri sat down next to the campfire. “I understand this must be very hard for you.”
Goldie gave a bitter laugh. “Yeah, you understand all right.”
“But I need your help,” said Jerri.
“My help?” said Goldie.
“I want you to help me get Harry to completion,” said Jerri.
“Can’t get him in the sack, eh?”
Jerri shook her head.
“Did you try the tire iron on the penis? That always worked for me.”
“Goldie, I’m asking for your help, woman to woman.”
“Jerri, woman to woman, I’m telling you to fuck off,” said Goldie.
“Goldie, you have to help me,” said Jerri, and there was a pleading tone in her voice.
Goldie sat up abruptly. “This should be good. All right, Jerrikins, I’ll bite. Why do I have to help you?”
“Because if you don’t, Leader Dolan will take other measures.”
“Other measures?”
Jerri swallowed slowly. “He says that if Harry doesn’t begin to… perform soon, that his testicles will be… extracted.”
“What?”
“We have a technology… we have a life support system we can put testicles in, so they can continually grow more sperm. It’s not preferred, but it’s an option. Harry, strictly speaking, is not indispensible. Only his testicles are.”
Goldie stared at Jerri in horror. “You would castrate Harry?”
“I don’t want to do anything to him! I want to save him! But I need your help!” She got up, and put a hand on Goldie’s shoulder. Goldie flinched, but only slightly. “Will you help me?”
Goldie didn’t look up. “Yes,” she whispered.
********
“I can’t believe I’m doing this,” said Goldie. She said it again, looking up at Debra, who stood at her side, to hammer in the point. “I cannot FUCKING believe I am doing this.”
She sat at a screen, which showed Harry and Jerri, sitting by the water. She had an earpiece in one ear, and a microphone headset by her lips.
“You are doing us all a great service,” said Debra fervently.
“I am doing you a service by helping her get into Harry’s pants?” said Goldie.
“Once Jerri has broken down his resistance and been impregnated, I will be next,” said Debra, lifting her chin.
“I’ve never met anyone more excited to get sloppy seconds,” said Goldie dryly.
“You may begin,” said Debra sternly. She gave Goldie a hard look.
“Yeah. Yeah, right,” said Goldie. She listened through the earpiece. Jerri was talking about something. The fractal pattern of the waves in the water. And this was supposed to get Harry sexually excited? Could this girl really be a Fourther? Goldie was beginning to doubt it.
She sighed. All right. Time to get to work. “All right, Goldilocks, listen up!”
On the screen, she could see Jerri wince. Debra hastily lowered the output volume.
“You’re not going to get into Harry’s pants by taking about the mathematics of the ocean waves. This will surprise you greatly, I know. You have to flirt with him. Was there a class in genius school on flirting?”
She watched as Jerri turned to Harry and said, “Harry… you’re looking so handsome today.”
Goldie groaned and rolled her eyes. “Why don’t you tell him how pretty his shirt is?”
“That’s a pretty shirt you’re wearing today, Harry,” said Jerri.
Harry looked at her warily. “Thanks.”
“I wasn’t being serious when I said that! Don’t you have any common sense?” Goldie cried. Jerri winced even though the volume had already been lowered.
“Guide her!” said Debra, stabbing Goldie in the back with her finger. “Guide her truthfully, now.”
“All right, all right,” said Goldie. She sat silently for a moment.
“Do it!” said Debra.
“I’m thinking,” said Goldie. “It doesn’t just come out of the air, you know.” She paused. “All right, Goldilocks. Are you listening? I hope you are. I want you to say exactly what I’m saying. Can your genius brain do that? I hope so.”
********
“Harry… I’ve been thinking about you and Goldie,” said Jerri shyly.
“Thinking… what?” Harry asked.
“How did she win you over?” Jerri asked.
“I… I don’t know,” said Harry.
“Was she… was she a good kisser?”
“Yes,” said Harry, looking away.
After a pause, Jerri took his face in her hands, and turned it so he was facing her. “Show me, Harry. Show me how she kissed you.”
He looked at Jerri. There was something in her tone. Something familiar. Something which excited Harry. He found himself crossing a line. For the first time he leaned over and kissed Jerri. He felt her soft lips against his own. For the first time, he felt himself becoming excited.
“Ummmm,” said Jerri, smiling after it was done. “I can see how that could seduce you.”
“Yes… Goldie was very… is very… persuasive,” said Harry.
“Show me again, Harry,” said Jerri. There was a light in her eyes. “I’m a slow learner, Harry. I think I need another lesson.”
Her words electrified Harry, and he leaned over and kissed her again. He started to breathe more rapidly. They started hugging and kissing, more rapidly now.
Jerri looked at Harry with doe eyes. “And her breasts, Harry. Did she ever have you touch her breasts?”
“I… I think so.”
After a pause, Jerri laughed. “You think so? You’re not sure?”
“I guess so,” said Harry.
Jerri paused again, and put Harry’s hands on her breasts. “Show me, Harry. Show me exactly how she touched you. I want to know, Harry. I need to know.”
She reached over and kissed him. As she did, Harry started to fondle and squeeze her breasts.
********
“You can moan now. Men always like moans,” said Goldie. But Jerri was already moaning. “Oh. I guess you really like it.”
On the screen, they saw Jerri say, “Let’s take this inside, Harry. I think we have some more exploration to do.”
Harry nodded thickly, and let himself be led by the hand.
Goldie turned to Debra. “Satisfied?”
“A breakthrough,” said Debra.
“I feel like the early rocket scientists who got their very first ignition,” said Goldie dryly. She started to get up.
“Where are you going?”
“I don’t think I’m needed here.”
“You have to guide her to completion.”
“No, lady.”
Debra pushed her back down. “You must guide her to completion!”
Goldie sighed. In a moment, the scene changed. It was the inside of a bedroom.
“Is my bedroom wired like this too?” Goldie asked.
“Focus on your work,” Debra snapped.
********
Jerri was undressing Harry even as they entered the bedroom. She had his shirt off and was kissing him all over. “Oh, Harry, I love the feeling of your chest.”
She kissed him, but noticed that he wasn’t undressing her. “Why don’t you take off my shirt, Harry?” She paused. “Or don’t you like breasts?”
“I like them,” said Harry, feeling aroused. He pulled off her shirt, and then her bra. Her breasts were large, much larger than Goldie’s. They looked about the same size as Claire’s, or at least the way he imagined Claire’s looked, under her clothes. Jerri really did have more than a passing resemblance to Claire, which somehow made Harry both a little more aroused and a little more uncomfortable.
“Aren’t you going to touch them, Harry?” said Jerri coyly. The words were Jerri’s, but something behind them made Harry think of someone else. He growled and grabbed her, kissing her passionately, while squeezing her breasts. Jerri squealed with joy.
After that it was only a matter of time before the rest of their clothes came off. Harry was fascinated to see Jerri trace her fingers lightly up and down his shaft, exactly as Goldie did. Goldie even had a name for it, she called it her “ghost touch”, and now Jerri was doing it perfectly, even the part where she lingered and tickled him at the tip. It made him growl and kiss her more intently. They hugged and kissed and Harry rubbed his firm organ against her pubic hair and felt her large breasts against her chest.
And then Jerri looked into his eyes, and said, “Harry. Sweet Harry. Put it inside of me. I need you, Harry, I need you inside of me. I want to feel you deep inside of me, so we’ll be together forever and always.”
I want to feel you inside of me, so we’ll be together forever and always.
That was not the first time Harry had heard that sentence. He kissed Jerri passionately, and closed his eyes, and thought of Goldie. And then, even with his eyes still closed, he reached down with his hand, and aimed his organ. And then, slowly but surely, he put himself inside of her.
Jerri gave a broad smile and talked as he worked on her. “Yes, Harry, yes. I can feel you inside me. It feels good, Harry, so very good.” Harry started to pump faster and faster. The head of his penis was rubbed wonderfully against her tight vaginal walls. Suddenly in his mind Goldie had disappeared, and he found himself inside of Jerri, Jerri, with her gorgeous bright blonde hair, Jerri with her enormous breasts, Jerri with her trimmed triangle of brown pubic hair, Jerri whose softness he was plowing into.
He became very conscious of the act he was entering into, the act of impregnation. He was filling a woman with his seed with the purpose of creating new life. In a way Harry felt incredibly used, but in another way he felt incredibly masculine, incredibly powerful. Harry felt a line rapidly approaching, a line, once crossed, that he would be unable to cross.
“I’m… I’m getting close,” Harry panted.
And then Jerri said, “Do it, Harry. Do it for me.” And that sent Harry over the edge, and he climaxed inside of her, with one, two, three, four, five pulses.
Insemination had been accomplished.
********
“Congratulations,” said Debra.
“Believe me, the pleasure was all mine,” said Goldie dryly, putting the headset down with a clatter. “Can I go back to my room now?”
“Of course,” said Debra. “I don’t think you’ll be needed again.”
“When can I expect Harry back?”
“Harry will no longer be sleeping with you. It wouldn’t be… appropriate. Wouldn’t you agree?”
Goldie gave Debra an angry look, and stomped off.
********
The next day, Goldie saw Harry and Jerri at breakfast, smiling and cuddling. But Harry’s smile was wiped clean when he saw Goldie’s frown. Later, he found her on the beach.
“Hey,” said Harry.
“Hey,” said Goldie. “Have you picked a baby’s name, yet?”
“Goldie!”
“You’ll need a boy and a girl’s name, Harry. You’ll never know what you’ll get in the end,” said Goldie.
“Goldie!”
“Of course, you might get same sex twins, in which case, to be fully prepared, you’ll need two boys and two girls-”
“Goldie!” He grabbed her. She tried to shake him off, but he wouldn’t let her. She surrendered, sobbing into his chest.
“I’m sorry,” said Harry. “I’m so very sorry.”
“It’s just… so hard for me,” said Goldie.
“I know,” said Harry. “But we’re going to escape.”
“When? When your kids build us a boat?”
Despite everything, Harry laughed. And when he laughed, Goldie, despite her tears, started to laugh too. “We’ll figure something out. We will. Be strong, Goldie.”
********
“You’ve made excellent progress,” said Dolan. “I saw your performance on the monitor last night.”
Jerri blushed. “Thank you, Leader.”
“How soon do you think you will be impregnated?”
“It is impossible to say. I just had my period a few days ago, so my cycle is still beginning now.”
“I’ll give you a full cycle,” said Dolan. “After that, you’ll have to start sharing him with the other girls.” He gave Jerri a sharp look. “Is that a problem?”
“No, Leader.”
“Very good. You’ve done good work. One more thing… the Lower female. Is she still needed?”
Jerri took a deep breath. “Possibly.”
“Why?”
“Harry may backslide. He has a tendency to be moody. We may need her to bring him out of it.”
“All right,” said Dolan. “We will keep her around for a bit longer. But once we’re sure she’s not needed, she’s to be disposed of.”
“Yes, Leader.”
********
They fell into a pattern. They walked around during the day, had dinner together, and had sex in the evening. Once Harry had been “broken” the first time, each successive time became that much easier. But she saw him hesitate during their third time, in midstroke, when she told him about her cycle.
“You probably won’t be able to get me pregnant until tomorrow, at the earliest,” said Jerri, her arms wrapped around him.
Harry, who had paused in midthrust, slowly resumed. “Oh?”
“I just had my period, shortly before we… started,” said Jerri. “But I should be at my peak sometime next week.”
“That’s… good I guess,” said Harry, who started thrusting faster. He felt his organ tensing, getting closer, building up to a climax. What choice did he have? In moments he gasped, the head of his penis twitched, and he ejaculated ropes of semen inside of her. Despite what he was being coerced to do, the feeling of coming inside a woman as pretty as Jerri was glorious. And the thought of impregnating her, impregnating her with what would likely be a genius child, excited Harry. Jerri would not have been his first choice for a mate, but there were aspects about this situation he clearly enjoyed.
And yet he knew how desperately this was hurting Goldie. Once Jerri was pregnant, his relationship with Goldie would be officially over. If he could talk to Carl, Carl would tell him that it was inevitable, that he and Goldie had to end sometime. He was sure that Carl would tell him that this was a happy outcome, that he would be with a woman who could love him for real. But even as he was ejaculating sperm inside of Jerri, he was still thinking of Goldie.
The following night, when Harry and Jerri had sex again, he realized that something was changed. If Jerri was right, she might actually get pregnant. Did he really want to impregnate her? Part of him did. The biological part of him, the manly part of him, wanted to fill her with his seed, to make her big with his child, to mark her as his own.
But the thinking part of him resented being used like this. He had simply been reduced to a penis, a tool of fertilization, nothing more, simply a tool directed by others to spray his semen in a certain direction. A man would not do this. Only a slave would.
And yet, even while thinking that he was no longer a man, he once again felt the manly buildup in his loins, whipped his head back, and yelled “aaaaaah!”as he once again sprayed Jerri’s insides with his sperm. She purred and wrapped her arms around him contently.
Now that he knew she was fertile, they had crossed the last barrier. And so Harry had sex with her for day after day, for five more days, until she announced that she was very nearly at the peak of her fertility. She told Harry not to worry, if they failed the first time, they would keep trying until they succeeded. And Harry willingly put his penis inside of Jerri, and stared into her eyes as he thrusted into her, again and again, completing the reproductive act, willingly inseminating her and doing her best to fill her with a child. He had become completely broken.
But one night, after he had performed the reproductive ritual, and was lying in bed with Jerri, there was a tapping on the door. Jerri put on a bathrobe and opened it.
It was Emilio. He walked past her into the room, and spoke to Harry.
“Goldie is in trouble.”
Harry had been seeing less and less of Goldie in the ten days since he had started cohabiting with Jerri. She frowned every time she saw him, and he couldn’t look her in the eye. But he made sure to see her at least once a day to make sure she was all right. He had begun to wonder what would come of her. He had been planning to talk to Dolan about securing her release.
But Dolan had other plans. He didn’t want word of his island’s existence filtering through to the outside world.
“He is feeding her to the energy converter,” Emilio cried.
“What?” said Harry.
“She is to be converted to energy. Lowers are not allowed on the island. Now that Dolan has no further use for her, she is going to be killed. You have to come quickly if you want to save her.” said Emilio.
Harry raced to put on his clothes. As he finished getting dressed, he heard, “Harry!”
He turned and saw Jerri.
“Don’t leave me,” she said simply.
At that moment, Harry saw he had to make a choice, between saving Goldie, or being with a woman who might genuinely love him, a woman who may well be carrying his child inside of her.
Harry barely hesitated. “I’m going to save Goldie.”
There was a guard outside the generator shed. Harry made short work of him. When they got inside, they found Goldie, tied to the wall of the outer energy matrix. When the field expanded, it would envelop her. This was the method that communities routinely used to get rid of their trash.
“Harry!” Goldie cried. Her scream cut through him like a vibrobrade. He ran to her and grabbed the ties that binded her. He rapidly undid one of them while Emilio worked on the other. They saw the field rapidly expanding, getting closer. It was only two feet away, and closing rapidly.
“Hurry, Harry, hurry!” Harry had trouble untying one of the knots. He growled and pulled on it, and it came off with a mighty snap. Suddenly, Goldie was free. He pulled her out, just before the field expanded to where they had been standing.
Goldie sobbed in his arms. “Oh Harry… Harry,” she said.
“It’s all right… it’s all right now…” said Harry. She looked up at him, and was hypnotized by his eyes. He lowered his head and kissed her. She embraced him. He felt the tremors in her body slowing down, until they ceased entirely.
“We don’t have time for this,” said Emilio. “I can get you off the island, but we have to go now.” Suddenly, Harry noticed that Annie was there too.
“How? The force field-”
“Is powered by this room,” Emilio grinned. “But once I flip the off switch, the island will be alerted. We’ll have to get to the boat at a run. Can you do that? Can you run, Goldie?”
“Faster than you,” said Goldie.
Emilio nodded, and said, “Get ready….”And then he flipped the switch. The entire room, and the entire island, plunged into darkness.
They heard the sounds of commotion as they ran for the dock. They were fleeing figures in the night. When they got to the dock, Emilio jumped into the boat, and helped Annie. “I’ll start the engines,” he said.
Harry helped Goldie into the boat. He was about to get into the boat when he heard his name.
“Harry.”
He turned around and saw Jerri, looking beautiful in the moonlight, wearing a nightgown. “Don’t leave me, Harry. Please,” she said. “Our baby. Think of our baby.”
Harry’s jaw dropped open. He looked at Jerri, and then at Goldie, who was in the boat. He heard the sounds of the engines coming to life. He saw dark figures in the distance, running towards the dock.
“Stay with her, Harry.”
Harry’s eyebrows went up.
“I can never give you children,” said Goldie. She was crying. “I can never bear your children. Stay with her, Harry. She can, Harry… but not me… never me….” she broke down crying, and was unable to continue.
“Harry, get into the boat!” Emilio cried.
Harry saw people running for the dock. In seconds they would be on top of them.
“Harry,” said Jerri. Her eyes were pleading.
He looked back at Goldie. She was looking down. She was ready to give him up.
But Harry wasn’t ready to give her up. He jumped into the boat.
“Go, Emilio!” he yelled.
********
They were back in their hotel room, in the Galaxy Resort on the Grand Bahama Island. The whole experience seemed like a dream. Or a nightmare.
When Goldie calmed down, she told him everything. She told Harry about having had Grimwave’s Syndrome as a child. She told him that she would never be able to have children.
Suddenly it all made sense to Harry. “That’s why you told me to stay with Jerri. It wasn’t because you didn’t love me. It’s because you couldn’t have children.”
Goldie nodded.
“She… we don’t know if she’s pregnant,” said Harry. “I… was with her during a fertile part of her cycle, but we don’t know….”
“If she is, she’s the luckiest woman in the world,” said Goldie, her voice breaking. “Why Harry? Why would you choose a barren, brainwashed Normal over a beautiful Fourther Goddess?”
Harry gently stroked Goldie’s hair. “She was beautiful, wasn’t she?”
Goldie smiled.
“And she was brilliant, wasn’t she?”
Goldie nodded.
“But she wasn’t you,” said Harry. “That night that she seduced me. The night she got me to give in. That was you, wasn’t it?”
“You… you knew?” Goldie looked astonished.
“You wanted me to know,” said Harry. “It was all you, some if it even word for word from our lovemaking sessions, in this very room.” And he reached down and kissed her.
When he pulled back, he said, “And it made me realize something.”
“What?”
“That intelligence isn’t everything. Even beauty isn’t everything.”
“Then… what is?”
“Wit. Personality. And you have more of it than all the Fourthers on that island combined. That’s why I chose you, Goldie. That’s why I went back with you. Because I love… you.”
There, he had said it again. According to the rule of Alexandra, Goldie should now reject him. Instead, she wept real tears, and kissed him. And then, she made love to him, in the gentlest, tenderest way she knew imaginable.
Goldie was on top, this time. She mounted him, and moved ever so slowly, up and down, up and down. She cried the entire time, tears dripping on his chest. But they were tears of joy. And when Harry began to cry out, to cry out with greater need, Goldie moved faster and faster, giving him what he needed, and taking what she needed for herself, and when he exploded inside of her, it was the greatest moment of her life.
But still, afterwards, she asked. “Does it… bother you?” she whispered, as she played with his chest hair.
“What?”
“That you can’t put a baby inside of me.”
Harry thought for a long moment. Then he said, “Yes. It bothers me. Find me another Goldie. Another Goldie exactly like you, in almost every detail, with your wit, your personality, your charm, and your grace. Find me another identical Goldie, who can have children, and I will leave you for her in an instant. Otherwise, no one else interests me, and I don’t want to talk about it ever again.”
And Goldie lay her head on his soft chest, and continued to cry tears of joy, until she sobbed her way into the gentlest of sleep.