Lesson 3 - Tags - Complex Tags

Wilbur Crump listened to the two women from behind his hiding place behind the rock formation.

"Abbas always provides, Zena," said her listener as she wrung out a piece of under linen.

Crump peeked out from behind the boulders on his hands and knees to see who he was eavesdropping on. The smaller woman of the two who wore a pink blouse with matching pink pants said, "But Mandy. Our reserves are low and nobody's sick. We're out of balance. Everyone's too young." Wilbur's could not see Zena's face since she was turned to his side.

Mandy's height was two and half times the length of her arms, a good upper limb's length more than Zena's. She had sandy brown hair streaked with yellow strips and wore a green bodysuit made from the identical synthetic fabric Zena wore. She had a pointed chin, full cheeks, and elliptical lips that came close to forming a straight line. Her broad brow was clean of lines and wrinkles. He judged her to be in her mid-twenties.

Deep-seated olive green eyes gave Crump the feeling he was looking at an especially intelligent young lady. She raised her voice and asked, "Have some faith, will ya? If we run out, we have colonies spread out through Fleghorn. All we have to do is ask Berren for help."

"It's been ten days since we heard from our Messenger, "protested Zena. "How do you know he's coming back? Maybe they caught him. Maybe he's off-world by now." She rotated in Wilbur's direction.

He gasped. Zena was an example of the beauty Wilbur had heard drinking "pure" Life Stream was responsible for. Curly blonde hair with a green tint complemented tan skin tainted slightly red. He ducked down as her electric blue eyeballs zoomed in on him. Sneaking one more glance, he was relieved to find her focus returned to Mandy.

"You worry way too much, Zena," said Mandy as she finished up the last of the laundry. "He's the match of any demon and more."

Wilbur admired Zena once again. Although she had a full figure, her waist was caved inwards providing her the figure of two inverted cups sitting on top of each other. "I know the demons can't find us when our Messenger is juicing for us," she replied, nearly crossing her eyes. "He screens out both demon and ghost. But rumors of natives sneaking around have been reported too. Berren's magic can't hide us from them."

"We'll deal with that when or if that happens," said Mandy matter-of-factly.

"Why do they hate us so much," asked Zena, "when we're the same as them?"

"We are a threat to them," said Mandy, as if she were speaking to a child. "Deep down they really envy us but they are too hooked on their lifestyle to give it up. Now, do you have any other moaning and bellyaching? Or can I take my clothes back to camp and carry on with the rest of my day?"

"As you will," pouted Zena.

Crump ducked back down out of view. He had come closer to being discovered than he realized. His thoughts were occupied with the truth he saw for himself. The humans who drank "pure" Life Stream were younger and healthier looking than those who didn't. Fantasies of mingling with their women filled his thoughts before he caught himself. Having something to report after all made him happy. However, he was also disturbed. The appeal of the enemy's lifestyle made him begin to wonder if he was on the right side.