Jeri’srosycheeksdarkenedtomagentaasshespunaroundtofaceVal.
“Whatdidyoudotome?”
“I’msorry,sweetie,butIhadto.YouembarrassedmeinfrontofMolegirl yesterday.IfIdon’tpunishyou,thenwhatmessagewillthatsendtoher?”
“Butlastnighteverythingwasfine.Imean,wemadelovethreetimes.”
“Iknow.”ValranahandthroughJeri’sshorthair.“I’llchangeyouback tonight.Thisisjustforaroundtheothers.”
“It’snotfair!”Jeriwouldhavecontinued,butshesawthehardlookin Val’seyes.IfJerikeptitup,she’dendupevenshorterandfatter,justlike Molegirlyesterday.Shelookeddownatherstomachinstead.“I’msorry.”
“Don’tworry,sweetie,thiswon’tchangeanything.Istillloveyoumore thananythingintheuniverse.”Toproveit,ValkissedJeriaspassionatelyas theyhadinbedthenightbefore.ThenValpattedhershoulder.“I’llseeyouin themesshall.”
“Sure,”Jerimumbled.Valslippedoutofthestateroom.Itwasjustaswell shehad,becausewhenJeriwenttothecloset,shefoundanothersurprisewaiting forher.Heruniformhadexpandedtofither,butithadlostastripe.Thiswas onlyanensign’suniform.“It’snotfair,”Jerigrumbled,butsheputtheuniform on.
***
Itdidn’ttakeMolegirllongtonoticethedifference.Assoonasshetook Jeri’shandtogetoutofbed,shegrimacedalittle.Onceonherfeet,Molegirl pattedJeri’sstomach.“I’msorryaboutthis,”shesaid.
“It’snotyourfault.Ishouldn’thavesaidanything.Notinpubliclikethat.”
“Don’tmakeexcusesforher.Shedidthistoyou.JustlikeTaididinthe
office.”
“Henevermademefat.”
“No,buthechangedustokeepusinline.Andtoamusehimself.”
“She’snotlikehim.Shelovesme.”
MolegirlreacheduptotouchJeri’shair.“Whatcoloristhis?”
“Brown.”
“Ithoughtso.”
“What’sthatprove?”
“It’snotyousheloves.It’s me.”
“Isthatwhyshemadeyoulikethis, Molegirl?”
“ShewasmadIstoppedlovingher,soshemadeacopyofme.”
“Iamnotacopyofyou!”
“Thinkaboutwhatyouwerelikebefore,Jeri,backintheoffice.Youwere alotdifferentthen.”
“Iknow.Iwasconceitedandvain.ButValdidn’tchangeme.Tai’sthe onewhodidit.ValjustmademeseeIdidn’tneedtobebeautifultobehappy.”
“Sodidyoudecideyoudidn’twanttobebeautifulagainonceshegotthe stone?”
Jeriwincedatthis.ShehadbeeninacomaforafewdaysafterValhad killedTaiandtakentheStoneofChange.Jerihadjustbeenachubbytoddler then,nearlyworkedtodeathinanorphanage.Whenshe’dwokeup,she’d foundherselfahomelybrunette.“Valdidit—butonlytoprovetomeIwas differentinside.”
“I’msure.”Molegirlwaddledofftothebathroomwithoutanyassistance.
SheevenmanagedtogetintothetubandstartthewaterwithoutJeri’shelp.
Jeristooddazedforafewmomentsandthenfollowedafterthegirl.She busiedherselfwithfindingthesoap,shampoo,andatowelforMolegirl.Butas Jeriwashedthegirl’shair,Molegirlsaid,“There’salotaboutValyoudon’t know.There’salotIdidn’tknow,notuntiltheend.She’snotthatdifferent fromTai.”
“Shutup!”
“It’strue.Sheadmittedittome.Shedidalotofhorriblethingsasa soldier.Sheslaughteredtheelderlyandevenchildren.Children,Jeri.Andshe diditwithoutanyremorse.”
“You’relying.You’rejusttryingtodriveusapart.”Jeriscrubbedthe shampoointoMolegirl’shairwithherfingernails;shewasgratifiedtoseethe girlwince.
“Justadmitit:youdon’treallyknowher.Iwasherbestfriend—andher lover—foralmostthirtyyearsandevenIdidn’tknowuntilshetoldme.She’s
JerislappedMolegirlacrosstheface.Thensheheavedherselftoherfeet.
“Ifyou’resosmart,youcanfigureouthowtogetyourselfoutofthereandtothe messhall.”
“I’msorry,Jeri,butit’sbetteryouknowthetruthnowthangoonbelieving herlies.”
“You’retheonewho’slying.Vallovesme.You’rejustjealousbecause she’smovedonandyou’reonlyafatlittlegirlnow.”
“Jeri—”
Jerididn’tstaytoheartherestofit.Shewaddledoutofthestateroom, backtotheroomsheandValshared.Shethrewherselfonthebedtosob.
***
Jerifeltsomeoneshakehershoulder.SherolledovertoseeValsmiling downather.JerisawoverVal’sshoulderthatshe’dbeenasleepfortwelve hours.“Hey,sleepyhead.Areyoufeelingsick?”
“No.”
“Ifit’saboutthismorning,Itoldyou—”
“It’snotthat.”Jerisatupandthenlookeddownathergut.Shekneadeda rolloffatwithonehand.“Kari—Molegirl—saidsuchterriblethingstome.She saidyouwerepsychotic.Shesaidyouslaughteredoldpeopleandchildrenwhen youwereasoldier.Shesaidyou’reamurderer.Isthattrue?”
“Ofcoursenot,”Valsaid.ShestrokedJeri’shairassheadded,“Ididhave tokillsomepeople,buttheywereenemiesofthestate.IdidwhatIwasordered todo.”
“Soyoudidit?Youkilledchildren?”
“Ididn’twantto,butwewereorderedtodoit.”ValsqueezedJeri’s shoulder.“Thosedaysaregonenow.I’minchargeofPhera.Nooldpeopleor childrenwilleverhavetobekilledagain.”
“No,becauseyou’lljustpunishthemwiththestone.Likehowyougotrid ofallthemales.”
“IgotridofthemtomakesurewewouldbesafefromanotherTaiLecau.
Maleswereneveranythingbutanuisance.Youknowthat.”
Jeribegantosob.Sheburiedherfaceinherhands.“She’sright.Youarea monster!”
“Idon’tthinkyoumeanthat,”Valsaid,hervoicewithahardedgeto indicateshewouldusethestoneonJeriifshedidn’trecant.
“Idomeanit!Youareamurderer!”
Valleanedbackandsighedatthis.Sheshookherheadsadly.“Iforgot
whataheadacheitcouldbetodealwithsuchaneuroticcrybaby.Afterallyou wentthroughwithTai,couldyoureallybethatnaïve?Sometimesterriblethings havetohappentomaketheworldbetter.”
“Nowyousoundlike him.”
Valsighedagain.“Youwerealoteasiertodealwithwhenyouwerea shallowbimbo.”
AboltofwhitelightflashedthroughJeri.Shewasrelievedtofindthefat meltingaway,untilherbodybecameleanandtoned.Someofthefatmigrated toherbreasts,whichpushedoutnearlyasfarasherstomachhadbefore.Her hipswidenedwhileherwaistnarrowedintoaperfecthourglassshape.Herskin deepenedtoarich,healthytan.Atressofgoldenhairdrapedoverhershoulder.
Shepluckedahandfulofthiswithlong,slenderfingerscappedbybrightred nails.Whenshetouchedherface,shedidn’tfeelglassesforthefirsttimein months.
Valheldupahandheldmirror.Jerigaspedtoseeherselfasshe’dlooked thefirsttimeshewasayoungwoman,thekindofgirlwhocouldstoptraffic.
Sheflashedasmileofperfectwhiteteeth.“I’mmeagain,”shewhispered.
“That’sright.Nowlet’snothaveanymoreofthatcryingnonsense,all right?Youjustletmedothethinkingforbothofus.”
AlittlevoiceinthebackofJeri’smindscreamedathernottogivein.She silencedthisvoiceasshestaredintothemirror.Valhadmadeherprettyagain.
Whatdiditmatterifshehadkilledafew
poorpeopleadecadeortwoago?
“Iloveyou,”shesaid,moretothemirrorthanVal.
Chapter3
Jeristaredintotheclosetandpouted.Shetookadarkblueuniformoutand heldituptoherbody.“DoIreallyhavetowearthis?It’ssodrab.”
WhenValsmiled,JeritriednottoflinchathowcrookedVal’steethwere.
Andhowherfrontteethlookedsomuchbiggerthantheothers.Didn’tthe militaryhavedentists?“No,ofcourseyoudon’thavetowearthat.”
Therewasaflashoflightandthenthedrabuniformjacketbecameapretty pinksweaterandtheboringpantsbecameashortgrayskirt.Jerisquealedat this.“Thesearesoooomuchbetter!Thankyou!”ShetriedtokissValona freckledcheek,butatthelastmomentValturnedsoJeri’slipstouchedhers.Val triedtolatchontoJeriastheykissed,butJeripulledback.“I’mgoingtogoput theseon.”
Itcameasnosurprisetofindtheskirtandsweaterfitperfectly,notwiththe StoneofChangeatwork.Jeristaredatherselfinthemirrorassheputonher makeup.Forthefirsttimesheputonmorethanjustacoatoflipstick;nowshe hadafaceshecouldactuallyenhancewithcosmetics.Nomorestupidglassesto hidehereyesandnobangstocoverupthetopthirdofherface.
Shegrinnedatherselfonceshefinished.Shehadn’tlookedthispretty sinceshe’dfirstworkedinTai’soffice.Sincethenshe’dbeenforcedtosee herselfasachild,amidget,anurchin,a“rebel”withpurplehair,afatslob,and finallyahomelygeek.Nowshe’dgonebackfullcircle,backtowhoshereally was.Whyhadshebeensoashamedtobebeautiful?Asifthereweresomething tobeproudofinbeinguglyorplain.
Valwaitedforheroutsidethebathroom,dressedinthosehorriblefatigues ofhers.Ifonlyshe’dletJeriusetheStoneofChangetogiveherthemakeover shesorelyneeded.ThattomboylookmighthavebeencutewhenValwasalittle girl,butasawomanitwasreallyunbecoming.
Still,Jeriknewbetterthantopressthatissue.SheletValkissheragainon thelips.ThenValsaid,“I’llseeyouandMolegirlatbreakfast.”
Jeripoutedagainandstampedherfoot.“WhydoIhavetotakecareof her?She’ssogross.ItmakesmealmostbarfwhenIseehernaked.”Sherana handalongVal’sshoulderandwhispered,“WhynotmakeSheriandTeridoit?
They’renotgoodforanythingelse.”
“Theymaketheshiprun,sweetie.Wecan’tgoanywherewithoutthem.”
“Thenwhydon’tyoudoit?YoulikepickingonMolegirl.Orcouldn’tyou makeitsoshecansee?Thenshecouldtakecareofherself.”
“Shewouldn’tbeMolegirlifshecouldsee.Now,goonandgetherup.It
won’tbesobad.”
“Fine,”Jerihuffed.ShestompeddownthecorridortoMolegirl’sroom.As shedid,sheexpectedValtomakeherfatorhomelyorbothagain,butnothing happened.
ThedoortoMolegirl’sstateroomopened.Shelookedevenfatterthan yesterday;ValhadprobablydonethatjusttogrossJeriout.Shesighedandthen shookMolegirl’sshoulder.“Getupalready,Fatso.”
Molegirlrolledontoherback.SheneededJeri’shelptoleverherself upright.Jeriletgoofthehandassoonasshecouldandthenwipeditoffonher sweater.“Issomethingwrong?”Molegirlasked.
“You’rewhat’swrong.You’resofatandgross.Idon’tknowwhyIhaveto lookafteryou.It’snotfair.”
JerihadtolookawayasMolegirlturnedtolookatherwithhercreepypale eyes.“WhatdidValdotoyounow?Yousounddifferent.Yousmelldifferent too.”
“It’scalledperfume.Youshouldtrysomesoyouwouldn’tsmelllikeb.o.
allthetime.”
Tohersurprise,Molegirlsmiledatthis,revealingteethevenmorecrooked thanVal’s.“You’rebacktobeingyourselfagain,aren’tyou?”
“So?Youshouldbehappy.NowI’mnotlikeyouatall.Isn’tthatwhat youwanted?”
“TheotherJeriwasmuchnicer.”
“Beingnicewastheonlywayanyonewouldlikehersinceshewassougly.
Notasuglyasyou,ofcourse.Nowgetyourfatassinthebathtub.Iknowyou knowtheway.”
Molegirlnoddedandthensetoutforthebathroom,herhandsinfrontofher tomakesureshedidn’thitanything.Despitethatshewasprobablysevenyears oldatthispoint,herbulkhardlyfitthroughthedoorway.Jeriheardthewater begintorun.ShesatdownonMolegirl’sbedtowait.Letthebrattakecareof herselftoday.
Molegirlnevercalledforher.Shecameoutwithatowelwrappedaround thefrontofher;itwastoosmalltofitallthewayaround.Shepaddedoverto thedresserandthenbegantopickoutapairofpantiesandsocks.Jeristaredat hernailsandlistenedtoMolegirlgruntandsighasshetriedtosqueezeintoher clothes.
“I’mdone,”Molegirlsaid,soundingasifshe’djustrunupsixflightsof stairs.
JeriwassurprisedtoseeMolegirlhadgottenthedressonproperly.Her shoeswereontherightfeetaswell.“Good.Nowgomarchyourselftothemess
hall.”
“That’salittlefartogoallonmyown.”
“Thinkofitasafunchallenge,”Jerisaid.SheslappedMolegirl’sfatass.
“Moveit.”
Molegirlbegantotoddleoutoftheroom,herhandsinfrontofher.Jeri snickeredasMolegirlbumpedagainstthewallwhiletryingtogetthroughthe door.“Youalmosthadit,”Jerisaid.Molegirlbumpedthewallagain,butfinally madeherwayout.
ItwaseasyenoughforJeritogettothemesshallfirst.WhenshesawSheri andTeriinside,shepausedinthedoorwaytotossherhairandsmoothdownher sweater.Sheglidedintotheroomwithanelegancethathadbeenimpossibleup untilnow.
Herwalkhadthedesiredeffect;SheriandTeristoppedchattingand droppedtheirspoonsintotheirbowlsofcereal.Theircheeksturnedredatthe sametime.“Ohmygosh!”Sheriblurtedout.“IsthatJeri?”Terifinishedfor her.
“Higirls,”Jerisaid.Shesatdownonachairfacingthemandleaned forwardsotheycouldgetagoodlookatherbosom.Theirfacesturnedeven redderatthis.“Enjoyingyourbreakfast?”
“Yes,”theystammeredinunison.
“Whathappenedtoyou?”
“Where’sMolegirl?”
Jerishrugged.“She’sbumpingaroundsomewhere.”Shetossedherhair again.“Yougirlslikethenewlook?”
“It’sreallypretty,”Sherisaid.
“Uh-huh,”hersistermumbled.
Jerisavoredthemoment.Eversincetheyhadworkedtogetherinastrip club,SheriandTerihadlordedtheirbeautyoverJeri.Nowshewastheprettiest oneagainanditwastheirturntofeelshameattheirowninadequacy.Notthat theywereugly.TheywerecuterthanValwiththeirlongblackhairandfaces withoutstupidfrecklesandthewaytheirjumpsuitshuggedtheircurvesand breasts—
“Youknow,Ihaven’treallyseentheengineroomsinceIcameonboard.
Maybeyougirlswouldliketogivemeatour?”
Theylookedateachotherandthennoddedinunison.“Whendoyouwant
—”
“Todoit?”Terifinishedwithagiggle.
“HowaboutafterIputMolegirltobed?”Jerisaid.Thatwasusuallyat 1900hoursbytheship’sclock.Valdidn’tusuallycometobedforanotherfour
hours,whichwouldgiveJeriplentyoftimewiththetwins.
ShewinkedatthemandthenstoodtofetchMolegirl’smountainoffood.
***
Unlikepreviousnights,Jerididn’tsaygoodnighttoMolegirl.Shejust madesurethebratusedthebathroom,brushedherteeth,andgotherfatassback tobed.ThenJerileftacupofwaterbesidethebedandleft.Shecreptdownthe corridor,listeningforanysoundofVal’sfootsteps.
Shetoldherselfagaintherewasnothingwrongwithwhatshewasdoing.
Shew
asjustgoingtovisittheengineroom,somethingshe’doftendonewhena shipcaptain.Andifanythinghappenedbetweenherandthetwins,wellsheand Valweren’tmarriedoranything.
ThedoortotheengineroomopenedandthescentofvanillatickledJeri’s nose.Theonlylightintheroomcamefromthereactorandfromafew strategicallyplacedcandles.Jerismiledatthis;clearlysheandthetwinshad beenthinkingalongthesamelines.
Hersmilebroadenedwhenoneofthetwins—itwastoodimtotellwhich—
appearedinonlyabraandpanties.“Youmightwanttotakeoffthatsweaterand skirt,”thetwinsaid.
“Itgetsawfullyhotinhere,”theothersaidfrombehindJeri.
ApairofhandshelpedJeritostripdownintoherbraandpantiesaswell.
SheturnedandsawfromthebeautymarkontheleftcheekitwasSheri.That madesensesinceSherihadalwaysbeenthemoreaggressiveofthetwins.Sheri wastednotimetorunahandthroughJeri’shairandthenpullherintoakiss.
JeriopenedhermouthenoughforSheri’stonguetopenetrateinside.
TheywerestillkissingasTeriranahandalongJeri’sback.Sheundid Jeri’sbraasshewhispered,“Whatdoyouthinkoftheengineroom?”
“It’sverynice,”Jerisaid.“ButIcanseewhatyoumeanaboutitbeing hot.”
Inlieuofabed,SheriandTerihadlaidsomecushionsdowninonecorner oftheroom.ItwasmorethancomfortableenoughasJerilaydownwithoneof thetwinsoneitherside.Shelosttrackofthemastheybegantoworktheirhands overherbody.Onefondledherbreastswhiletheotherstuckahandinside.
“There,you’vegotit,”Jerisaidwithamoan.Thiswasjustwhatshe neededafterthepreviousnightwithVal.Theyhadfuckedthreetimesthatnight; onlyoneofthoseJeriwoulddescribeas makinglove.ThefirsttimeJerihad beensoecstatictobeprettyagainthatshehadjoyouslymadelovetoVal.
Thesecondtimethingsweredifferent.ShecaressedVal’sbreastsand wonderediftheyhadalwaysbeenthatsmall.Andhadherhairalwaysbeenso short?Didshealwayshavethatmanyfreckles?Thentherewastherigid