"It-it's an illicit pleasure," he said. "We-we're supposed to do it in the human fashion."
Suddenly she was alarmed. "You aren't going to tell!"
Telling-about the illicit act. That would surely bring trouble to them both, and further complicate his effort. "No. I just-just don't want to do it anymore."
"Then get out of here!" she cried angrily. "I never want to see you again!"
He walked to the wall. It fogged, needing no spell from this side, and he stepped into the hall.
So at last he was free of the robot woman. That was a mixed satisfaction; she was very pretty, and she had shown him a lot that he needed to know, about the Game and the premises. And physical pleasure such as he had never before known. But it was best that he stay away from her; he knew that. She was not, in his idiom, a nice girl. Rather, a nice machine. She would get in trouble, if not today, some future day.
But what was he to do now? He still hardly knew his way around these premises, and it was evident that his other self was long gone from this region, and now he had an injured finger that would be difficult to explain.
He needed help. But where was he to find it?
Disconsolately, he walked down the hall. Other naked young folk passed him, and he acknowledged their greetings, but kept his left hand curled into a fist to conceal the finger.
Obviously he wasn't going to locate his other self by aimless wandering. He had to get smart about his search. He had to figure out where he was in relation to Phaze, knowing that the geographies of the two frames were identical, and where Mach would be likely to wander, and go there. Simple enough, surely; he could step outside and study the landscape. He knew the features of his world, and could normally locate his position by a simple survey of the horizon.
But where was outside? This building seemed endless!
He set about it methodically: finding his way out. If he went in any single direction far enough, he had to come to the edge of the building. Then he would follow that edge until he found an exit. It was like locating water in the wilderness: keep going down, and sooner or later water would appear, for it also sought the lowest regions.
But when he tried, he discovered that the halls did not go in single directions. They curved this way and that, and made right-angle turns, and took magically moving stairs to upper floors, and magically descending chambers to nether regions. It was like one huge labyrinth that threatened to get him hopelessly lost before he really got started. In the wilderness he could have coped readily enough; this foreign environment had him baffled.
He would have to inquire. But the others thought he was Mach, who should know the way out; to ask would only get laughter, or perhaps some interaction like that with Tilly, the opportunist female machine. Better to avoid that.
So he continued to walk the halls, his frustration mounting. The others he passed glanced at him with increasing perplexity, but did not interfere.
Then a young woman approached. She had flowing red hair, very full breasts, and a kind of rippling walk that forced him to avert his eyes lest he suffer an embarrassing reaction. He hoped she would not try to talk with him.
"Oh, Mach!" she cried. "They said you were here! Please, if I may conversationally merge-"
He was stuck for it. Bane faced her. The pupils of her eyes were so dark they were like the water of deep wells. "Of course," he said guardedly.
She took a breath, and her flesh jiggled. Bane set his tongue between his teeth and bit down, trying to distract himself by the controlled pain-but there was no pain, just a kind of electrical tingle of warning. He locked his eyes on her face, trying to tune out the peripheral vision.
"I felt it needful to express my sorrow," she said, bringing her beautiful face close. Her complexion was so clear it almost shone. "I did not mean to be the agent of your loss of woman."
Loss of woman? That must refer to the way Mach had gotten dumped by the cyborg. Maybe he could learn something useful. "I really remember not."
"But it was only this noon!" she protested. "We met in the pool, and Narda exchanged companions, taking Rory while you had to take me. Then Doris caught you together with me, and made a dramatic exclamation, and Ware came to her aid, and you lost her, and it was all because of me!"
There were too many names in a rush, but this did help clarify things. Tilly the robot had told him he had been dumped by Doris the cyborg, who had gone to an android male. Apparently it had been because of a misunderstanding involving this female. An easy misunderstanding to have, considering her appearance! And this one was apologetic. Maybe she could help him.
"I bear thee no malice," he said carefully, still keeping his eyes clear of dangerous territory. If only she had some clothing on! "I know it was an-an accident. I-I misremember thy name."
"Agape," she said quickly. "I chose it because it means instant love, such as I feel for this society, that lets me participate though I am an alien. Perhaps I should have chosen more carefully, but I was so eager-"
"It's a perfect name," he said, looking down the hall. "Thou art-alien? From-elsewhere?"
"You know I am alien!" she exclaimed. "You saw me imbibe! And you did not wince! I am so grateful! I arrived only yesterday, and you helped me so much! And then I hurt you so much, without ever knowing! I wish there could be some recompense I could offer, but-" She spread her arms in a helpless gesture that attracted his gaze before he could stop it. He turned away.
"As it happens, there is," Bane said, realizing his opportunity. "If thou couldst show me the way outside."
"Outside? But that is unlivable!"
"I be a machine. Methinks I can survive it."
She smiled. "That must be so. Mach, I do not know the way, but surely I can find it. We have but to inquire of a maintenance unit."
"Maintenance unit?"
She glanced at him with the same perplexity the others had. "Why do you act as if you do not know? And why do you avert your gaze from my body? Have I become repulsive to you because of what you saw at noon?"
He had tried to tell the truth to Tilly, and had made no headway. He decided to try again. "Agape, I must tell thee something thou mayst believe not."
"I will believe!" she exclaimed.
"I be not Mach. I be his other self, a living person using his body. I be called Bane."
"You are not making humor?" she inquired. "I am not supposed to laugh?"
"No humor. No laugh," he agreed.
"Then this is the reason you cannot find your way around these premises," she said. "You are totally new here!"
"That be it exactly."
"Just as I was yesterday."
"So does it seem."
"But why don't you look at me?"
Time for more honesty. "I be accustomed not to seeing women without clothing. I fear embarrassment."
"From me?" she asked, amazed.
"Thou art an extremely, uh, attractive creature."
"Oh, what delight!" she exclaimed. "I never imagined! But I confess I do not know exactly how your species manifests this type of interaction."
Bane started walking, wishing that he could get away from this subject. Agape came right along with him. "I be sure I know not how thy species does, either," he said. "But if thou canst help me get outside-"
"Oh, yes!" she said enthusiastically. "Let me inquire of a menial!" She crossed to a panel set into the wall, and touched a button. "Please, some directions?"
"Aid required?" a voice came.
"We wish to find the outside."
"Follow the mouse."
A small panel slid aside at the level of the floor, and a thing very like a mouse emerged. But instead of legs it had little wheels, and instead of a tail it had an upward spike. It zipped down the hall.
They followed. The mouse careened around a corner, then moved to a blank section of wall. Its spike emitted a beeping sound.