Chapter 28: Pool boy
Kratopaxi, Wild Space, beyond the Outer Rim
Stanley Tweedle came down the grand staircase in the foyer of the mansion, wearing a bathrobe he found in the bedroom he and Ginger shared last night. He turned and headed into the kitchen.
"Morning, Lillie," he said sleepily as he sat down at the breakfast table. It amused him to see Lillie wearing nothing but an apron as she stood at the stove, her breasts hardly covered and her entire backside uncovered.
"Hi Stanley," Lillie called back. She gave the contents of a pan a stir, then quickly stepped over to the oven to check its contents before returning back to the stove.
"Morning Stanley, Lillie," Ginger said as she walked in. She was wearing nothing at all. "Did you know there are back stairs near the kitchen? Saves the trouble of going down the hall to the grand staircase and back here again."
She sat down next to Stanley and gave him a kiss on the cheek.
Stanley grinned at Ginger. "Are you joining the nudist club? Not that I mind."
There was a clatter as Lillie pulled plates out of a cabinet and began serving out portions.
Ginger grinned back at Stanley. "I thought about yesterday and decided, why should Lillie be the only one naked? I decided to show a little solidarity this morning and put off getting dressed until later."
"Oh, don't worry about me," Lillie called out. She turned off the stove, took off her apron, and put it away on a hook. "You do what's comfortable for you."
Ginger gave a non-committal shrug. "I'm fine staying inside where it's safe. I'm just not used the idea stepping outside straight into a city-park-sized estate that can be roamed nude, if one is so inclined. It goes against my close neighborhood upbringing. Maybe I'll be brave and venture as far as the pool, or really steel my nerves and go all the way to the beach."
"There's nothing to be scared of. Being naked is fun. It makes you feel good. The only barrier is the one in your head." said Lillie. "I've been all over."
Lillie set down plates of food for everyone before going back to the work area. She pulled on insulated gloves, opened the oven, and took out toasted bread.
"If there's a better way to toast bread, I haven't found it," she called over her shoulder.
She returned to the table, handed out toast, and sat down across from Stanley and Ginger.
"You know, it's amazing how similar this food is to what we have back on Alderaan. I think it proves these people are descended from early galactic colonists or explorers lost to history, if there was ever any doubt."
Stanley held up a finger. "Back up a second. When you say you've been 'all over,' just how all over is, 'all over?'"
Lillie shrugged. "All over, from taking a sunset swim at the beach to talking to a cute guy at the front gate last night."
Ginger choked on her food. Stanley slapped her back a couple of times.
Lillie carried on. "There's an outside shower right at the beach to wash off sand, but it's cold water only. It's bracing after sunset. If you haven't seen the guest houses yet, they're really nice too. A lot cozier than this place, I can tell you."
"Lillie," Ginger said as she recovered. "Did you say you talked to someone at the front gate last night?"
"Yep," Lillie said between bites.
"And were you naked at the time?" Stanley asked, pronouncing each word slowly and distinctly.
"You've had my loaner jumpsuit this whole time, and thanks, by the way. What do you think?"
"I think you could have found other clothes," Ginger said. "I think you could have talked to me first."
Lillie made a face. "The only clothes I've found so far are old man clothes that smell like old man, and, get this—see-through nighties without any panties. Not conservative dressers behind closed doors, are they? Besides, you're not my mother!"
Ginger and Stanley exchanged glances.
Ginger sighed. "Lillie, I'm not trying to be your mother. I'm just saying we need to be careful while we're here and keep a low profile. We're not guests; we're gatecrashers. We're all in this together."
Lillie rolled her eyes. "Ginger, you told me to not leave the property. Well, I didn't. I stayed inside the gate. It was late, and that guy was the only one camped out front who was still awake. He was friendly, he didn't make a fuss, he didn't raise the alarm."
She pointed behind her to the counter. "You see that box of food? He's the reason we have it. He tossed the box over the gate, then he passed through the more fragile stuff like eggs. Then we made a game of tossing more stuff over the gate and me catching it."
Stanley leaned back and folded his arms. "You do know why he was doing that, don't you?" he said sternly.
Lillie looked at Ginger. "Is he for real?"
Lillie gave Stanley a tired look. "Remind me: where did we first meet, Stanley? Oh, right—a brothel! Of course I knew why—he wanted to see my boobs bounce, same as you. If playing innocent and clueless gets us stuff, I will happily do it again. You don't get to complain, especially when you're directly benefiting."
She chuckled as she remembered. "After our little game, he felt guilty about it. He took off his shirt and offered it. That's when I played, 'pretend you don't grasp the concept of clothing.' I said thanks and dropped his shirt in the box. You should check it out, Stanley. When he urged me to put it on, I kept saying things like, 'Put it where? On what?' all innocent like. After a couple more tries, he gave up. Then he began comparing me to 'the daughter of Atua.' Or maybe he called me 'Daughter of Atua.' Something like that."
Ginger put a hand on Stanley's arm to stop a retort, but spoke to Lillie. "I think the important thing is, only the one guy saw you, so no harm done. Lillie, will you promise to stay out of sight of the gate when you're not dressed? And by dressed, I mean something that meets ordinary Kratopaxi standards?"
Lillie took in a deep breath and sighed. "Yes. Sorry, it's easy to forget I'm used to doing things most people won't do. It's not like I planned this. I was just following the driveway to see where it went.
"This place is really big. You walk a long way, out of sight of the front yard and gardens, curving through a thick, wooded area. Once you're in there, all you see are trees. Even that goes on for a long way before turning a final corner and suddenly there's the gate with a disused gatehouse. It's easy to walk to the gatehouse sight unseen, so I did.
"When I peaked around the corner and saw that guy standing on the other side of the gate, well, I saw an opportunity. If I had run back here to dress first, he would have been long gone by the time I got back, and we wouldn't have this."
She waved at their plates and the box behind her.
Ginger nodded. "You did good getting food, and we appreciate that. You do have a few work habits to unlearn, if you plan to leave the brothel."
She stood up and grinned. "So, it's possible to go all the way to the gatehouse without being seen? There's a whole lot more safe territory available than I knew." She held out her hand. "Why don't you show me around?"
Lillie brightened up. "You mean it?" she said hopefully.
"Yes, but let's have Kai come along. He can scout ahead in case there are any other 'front gate' hazards we don't know about."
Lillie jumped up and took Ginger's hand. Ginger turned and gave Stanley a brief, wide-eyed look that he interpreted as either meaning, "Help! What am I doing?" or, "Wish me luck." Maybe it was both. That brief moment of uncertainty quickly changed to a look of determination.
As the two walked out of the kitchen hand-in-hand, Ginger breezily called over her shoulder.
"Hey Stanley! The dishes won't do themselves!"
That got a giggle out of Lillie.
"Race you to the beach!" she said to Ginger as they exited out the back.
Stanley sighed and shook his head. "Well that went just about opposite," he muttered to himself. "Ginger, you're supposed to calm down Lillie, not Lillie radicalize you."
He began clearing the table.
Ginger and Lillie came walking back from the beach, laughing and talking, dripping wet from the outside shower.
"You know, we should have stopped for Kai first," Ginger said as they walked.
"Why? We already know this area, and you seemed up to the challenge," Lillie said with a grin.
"Yeah, but—" Ginger began.
As the boardwalk transitioned to the concrete walkway near the helipad, Ginger brought Lillie to a stop.
"What is that?" Ginger said, and pointed at something parked not far from the moths. "That wasn't there when we passed by before."
They slowly approached it.
Lillie said, "It looks like a speeder, but with wheels."
"One wheel in front, and one in back," said Ginger. "I wonder how it stays balanced. See how it's parked? It's leaning on a built-in prop to keep it from falling over, so it can't have any of the usual gear a speeder does to keep itself upright."
"Obviously your hands go here," Lillie said as she grabbed the handlebars and swung a leg over. "And you sit here. Seems comfortable enough—"
Lillie quickly jumped off. "But a bit warm!" she laughed. "It needs a towel, or to be parked in the shade."
"Too bad we didn't bring any towels," Ginger said. "But the more important question is, if the estate owner never visits, then who is here now?"
"Let's find out," said Lillie. "But first I want to jump in the pool just because it's there, and… hey look! I think we've found our intruder."
Kneeling beside the pool was a man with his back turned to them. As they softly padded up behind him on bare feet, he dipped a test tube into the pool, added a drop of something, shook it and held up the test tube to a color chart.
"Can I help you?" Ginger said pointedly as they stopped behind him.
He jumped slightly. "Oh, hello," he said without turning around. He dumped out the contents of the test tube in the direction of a nearby bush. "I'm here to clean and check on the pool."
He stood up, turned around, and discovered he was being confronted by two nude women, both with hands on hips, looking put out. Neither seemed to be the least bit concerned.
Ah, the perks of the trade, he thought to himself. Got to love party girls of the rich.
"Roger Pagara. I'm the pool guy," he said, playing it cool.
Ginger stepped forward and held out her hand. "Ginger Rota. I'm the new estate manager," she said, keeping up the pretense. They solemnly shook hands.
Roger's eyebrows flicked briefly in surprise. "Theresa's gone, eh? That's a pity, but not unexpected. She wasn't as quickly, ah, bold, as you two, but she had her moments in the sun, so to speak."
Lillie, meanwhile, was taking in Roger's thick wavy dark hair, dark brown eyes, square jawline with dimpled chin, perfect Chippendale body, tight pullover shirt, shorts with an enticing bulge, and white sneakers.
Lillie put a hand on Ginger's shoulder. "Why don't you go on ahead, Ginger," she said. "I know you have some catching up to do in your new job."
"Promise to keep an eye on Roger for me?" Ginger said with a straight face.
"It's a tough job, but someone's got to do it," Lillie replied with equal solemnness.
Roger turned his head to watch as Ginger walked on, admiring the view. When he turned back, Lillie was right in front of him. Before he could say anything, Lillie had him in a hug, one hand gripped tightly against his upper back, and the other pressing hard on his bottom.
"I'm Lillie, by the way," she whispered, her breath hot in his ear. "I'm the friendly one."
Lillie felt a sudden throb in Roger's shorts. She pushed against him even harder for a moment longer before letting go.
"So, what's next?" Lillie asked nonchalantly. "About the pool, I mean?"
"What?" said Roger as he tried to regain his aplomb while keeping one hand in front of his shorts. "Oh, the pool? Right, the pool. I need to skim a few leaves and check these filters," he said, pointing with his other hand to circular covers around pool. "Then back flush the main filter, and it's time to super chlorinate to kill off any bacteria."
"Can I still swim while you're doing that?" Lillie asked.
"Yes, right up until I super chlorinate. Then the pool can't be used until tomorrow morning."
"At which point, I'll be at loose ends," Lillie said with a smile. She dived into the pool, briefly swam underwater, surfaced, and began to slowly paddle along on her back close to where Roger was working a net on a long rod.
"How did you get in here anyway, Roger?" she said.
Roger pointed off to the side. "There's an unmarked maintenance gate on the north side hidden past the tree line. No turnoff or road, so no one knows about it. Just a kabayo trail from there to here, which is why I'm here by dirt bike. It avoids all the loonies blocking the main gate."
He pointed. "Hey, swimming pool corners are a pain. Could you splash the leaves in that corner into the net? Thanks."
"Yeah, I've been from the beach to the front gate," Lillie replied as she bobbed along, herding leaves towards the net.
"Have you now," said Roger as he nodded his head. "So you've been east to west. The largest section of this property is actually to the south, past the old kabayo stable. There are mylias of kabayo trails that are great for dirt biking. The current owner never cared about kabayos or pets. As far as I know, I'm the only one who knows about the trails."
"Can you take me?" Lillie asked eagerly. "It sounds like fun."
"I think I can clear my schedule," Roger said with a smile.
Stanley walked out onto the veranda when he heard a strange, rhythmic popping noise.
"Do you hear that?" he said to Ginger, who was sitting in a rocking chair on the veranda, legs pulled up, idly flipping through a magazine she found. "And weren't you going to put your clothes on?"
Ginger sighed. "That had been the plan this morning, but with 790's help we found a clothing cleaning and drying machine. I didn't want to pass up the opportunity. I can wait until tomorrow. And yes, I hear it too. Must be that wheeled speeder Lillie and I found."
"What speeder?" Stanley said.
A strange two-wheeled machine rolled up along the walkway, a man riding in front, a naked Lillie riding behind, her arms wrapped around the man. Lillie gave a wave, and they took off, disappearing in the direction of the old stable.
"That speeder," Ginger replied.
"Aaaaaah," Stanley managed to get out as he pointed in the direction they went.
"Don't worry about Lillie. She's an adult and she can take care of herself."
"But some guy is taking her for a ride!" Stanley complained.
Ginger flipped a page. "And soon enough she'll be riding him. The only mystery is how many times she'll roger Roger before they get back."
She looked up at Stanley. "I told her she needed a break from routine. This is her chance to cut loose and enjoy. A professional can spot a professional. Roger isn't just a pool boy, he's either a male stripper or gigolo—probably both. Change will do her good. Me too for that matter. If Lillie doesn't completely wear the poor man out, I might roger Roger myself."
Ginger stood up and tossed the magazine onto the rocking chair. "I'm going for a walk. Want to come along?"
"No," Stanley said stubbornly, miffed at no longer being the only available male.
"Then you should go check on 790. He's been upstairs all day."
Ginger turned and headed off, around the mansion towards the front gardens.
Stanley picked up the magazine and sat down in the rocking chair. "I know he's been stuck upstairs all day," he said to himself with a big smile, as he began to look through the magazine. "Who do you think left him there?"
It was late afternoon. Lillie laughed as she rolled off Roger. "I haven't had this much fun in a long time!" she said. "I do like a man who knows what he's doing."
Roger and Lillie lay on their backs, side by side on a grassy knoll, the highest elevation on the estate. Roger's bike was parked nearby. They were entirely surrounded by wilderness, the mansion and outbuildings nowhere in sight.
"Did I leave my clothes behind two stops ago?" Roger said idly. "Or was it three?"
"You're asking the wrong person," Lillie said with a laugh. "My clothes are much farther away than yours. Besides, I like you better this way," she said with a grin.
Lillie rolled on her side towards Roger and began to run her hand across his chest, lightly tugging at chest hair. "How did you get into the business?" she asked. "I noticed you checking out my implant."
Roger laughed. "Didn't fool you at all, did I? But, what do you mean by an implant?"
"My subdermal contraceptive," she said, indicating her arm. "Your thumb went over it a couple of times."
"Did it? Huh. I didn't know there's such a thing. As for how I got into the business, I kind of fell into it. I'm an archaeology major, but between student loans, quota payments and rent, I had to put that on hold. That was two years ago. I can hold off another couple of years before some of my course work becomes too dated and I have to retake classes. How about you?"
Lillie nodded. "Yeah, falling into it is how it goes for most people. Me? My sisters and I were practically born to it. We were black market clones, but fortunately the crime syndicate who cloned us was broken up. No one wanted to adopt clone babies, so we ended up being group-raised by everyone at a licensed brothel on Alderaan."
"Ah, that's a very strange story," Roger said. "There have been animal cloning experiments with mixed results, but certainly not human. Nor is there such thing as licensed brothels, and I've never heard of anywhere called Alderaan."
Lillie leaned over and gave Roger a kiss, then leaned back and pointed into the sky.
"I'm not sure which direction the galaxy is just now, but Alderaan is a core-ward planet. It's a member of an oppressive Galactic Empire. As you might expect, Galactic technology is more advanced than yours, and of course social customs vary from planet to planet."
"Yeah, you're having me on," Roger said, though with a hint of uncertainty in his voice. "Are you claiming to be from that alien spaceship in orbit? You're human! I mean, I think you're human. You are human, right?"
Lillie smiled. "Oh, you know about our ship? It's called the Lexx. Listen Roger, you know female anatomy better than the average guy, and you've been very intimate with mine. Did you notice anything weird or out of place while you were down there?"
She grinned at him. "I promise my vagina can't bite."
Roger laughed a little nervously at that.
"If you need convincing, take a clinical look down there. You'll find everything is exactly as it should be. Yes, I'm an alien, but I'm a human alien. Humans just like you and me are spread throughout the galaxy."
"If I do look," said Roger hesitantly. "Your vagina won't suddenly reach out and grab me by the face, will it?"
Lillie rolled with laughter. As she recovered, she lay down top of Roger, maximizing skin contact. "What a horrible idea!" she said to him, nose to nose. "Where did that come from?"
Roger reached up and began to massage Lillie's back. "From an adult horror film I was too young to watch. It stuck with me. Anyway, I thought things from outer space were supposed to be bug-eyed monsters or lizard people."
"Oh yeah, rub right along the spine. As it happens, there really are lizard and bug-eyed species out there, and scaly ones and furry ones, as well as humans and humanoids. Surely you don't think humans evolved here on Kratopaxi, do you?"
Roger shook his head. "The fanatics say Atua created the world six thousand years ago, but the truth is mixed. Studies of rock formations suggest Kratopaxi has been around for billions of years, but archaeological evidence says humans first appeared about six to eight thousand years ago. We do know the ecology changed dramatically around then too."
"A colony ship with humans and their animals arriving six thousand years ago explains both sets of evidence," Lillie said. She laid her head down on Roger's chest, and listened to his heartbeat as he continued to massage her back.
"Hey, can I show you something?" Roger said suddenly. His massaging slowed to a stop as his mind raced.
Lillie made a thrusting motion. "Please do."
Roger chuckled. "Maybe later on that, but there's something out here I'd like to show you." He gently rolled Lillie onto the grass, stood up and held out his hand.
"Well, okay, but only if there's more sex afterwards." She reached up and took Roger's hand, who pulled her upright.
Roger grinned. "And I thought Theresa was horny! She was a top customer. Come on," he said, motioning.
"Cleaning pools doesn't pay, especially the one here," Roger said as they walked. "Theresa was an excellent revenue stream all on her own, but the main reason I keep coming back is this," he said as he waved his hand.
"This estate is the largest holding in the area, though not through any effort of the current owner, in spite of his nonstop bragging. This is the work of the former Grand CEO's great uncle on the Hira side of the family. His Great Uncle Hira pieced this estate together over one hundred years ago, because back then the land was dirt cheap, and right over here is the reason why it was so cheap."
They stopped as they came to a bare patch where nothing grew. With Roger guiding, they took a few steps forward onto the barren area.
"This feels warm," Lillie said as they walked along. "Warmer than I would expect rock to be. Wait a minute! This isn't rock at all—it's metal!"
Roger grinned. "That's right! There were attempts to take samples of this from time to time, without success. Eventually it spooked enough people that this whole area was considered haunted and to be avoided. Some people still do. By the time this land was purchased by Hira, it was all but forgotten, and no one has attempted to sample it in over a hundred years. Modern cutting equipment might do the job, but the problem is getting permission, plus there are preservationists who want it left alone."
"If this is part of an old starship," Lillie said, "It could be something like durasteel. I hear it's tough stuff."
Roger led Lillie to another area. "Take a look here. This area was excavated a few decades ago. It's become worn with exposure to weather, but you can still make out unknown lettering or writing. We've nothing to compare it to, so it can't be deciphered."
Lillie walked back and forth, looking at the writing. "It's Aurebesh," she said.
"What!" Roger said. "You recognize this language?"
"Yeah," replied Lillie. "It's 'the' standard writing system used throughout the galaxy. It's been in use for tens of thousands of years. Let's see… it has some archaic flourishes, but it says, 'Emergency Egress Only—Door Slides to Right' followed by what I'd guess is a ship's deck and section identifier. There must have been an access hatch around here at one time."
Roger stared at Lillie, stunned. "Do you realize you've just solved in seconds a language mystery that archaeologists have puzzled over for hundreds of years?"
Lillie waved her hand at their immediate surroundings. "This entire hill we're standing on could be a partially buried Early or Middle Republic starship. No telling if this is an entire ship, or only a piece of a ship. Depending on its age, it might even be a sleeper ship predating hyperdrive. It's possible this is the very place where your ancestors first set foot on Kratopaxi, and where you find one ship, there could be others waiting to be discovered."
Roger nodded his head in admiration. "That was one of the 'out there' theories proposed about fifty years ago. It was popular with the public at the time, but no one in academia took it seriously because the author published the idea without going through peer review. Little wonder; it would have never cleared that hurtle."
"Why would it be rejected when the evidence is right here, literally under our feet?" Lillie said, stomping her foot on the metal plating for emphasis.
"Because it goes against church doctrine."
Lillie covered her face with her hands. "Please tell me some religion isn't in control of everything."
"If you're asking, is Kratopaxi a theocracy, officially, no. But, there are enough devout people in positions of power to control things like peer review guidelines to ensure any ideas too far off doctrine are never seriously considered."
Roger pointed towards the west. Clouds in the sky reflected pink-orange colors as the sun sank lower, the western sky deepening into shades of orange and red. "We should go now. I need to find my clothes along the way, if it isn't already too late."
"Got any plans this evening?" Lillie said with a sly smile. "Because if you have nothing on, you can stay with me with and we'll look for your clothes in the morning."
Roger smiled. "Yeah, it's suddenly occurred to me it's too late to search. Let's go."
Stanley paced back and forth on the veranda in the growing darkness. Where was everyone? Well, Kai was inside, but not being alive and conversational, he wasn't much in the way of company, and he could only take 790 in small doses.
Finally, Stanley heard someone padding up. It was Ginger. She stepped up onto the veranda and practically threw herself into a rocking chair, causing it to rock violently. She fanned herself with both hands, a huge grin on her face.
"Well that was invigorating!" she said to Stanley, still grinning. She looked flush from excitement and glowed with perspiration.
"What was?" Stanley asked, suspicious of Ginger's behavior.
"My walk."
"And where did you walk?"
"Well, first I walked through the front gardens. Then... down to the gatehouse."
Stanley threw up his hands. "Why are you following Lillie's lead?"
Ginger fanned herself a moment before answering.
"I'm not entirely sure myself. I suppose I saw it as a challenge. I've never done anything of the sort before—perhaps that's why. I would certainly not do it if Lillie hadn't already been there, and she's quite right—it's easy to go all the way to the gatehouse sight unseen. There's something stimulating about sitting down and meditating naked on the back side of the gatehouse, eyes closed, listening to crowds of people, knowing they can't see you. I must have sat there for the better part of an hour."
Her smile vanished. She leaned forward and gave Stanley a serious look.
"I've got to tell you, Stanley, from what I heard, it's pandemonium outside the gate. A frenzy of chanting, music and singing. Groups doing their own thing, trying to outdo each other. It got to be so bad I had half a mind to step out in front of the gate just to see if anyone would notice."
"No, no!" Ginger said to Stanley's alarmed look. "I never did that. I'm not Lillie. It's obvious they know we're here, but they seem to think we have something to do with a former ruler of theirs. It doesn't make any sense to me and it's alarming, but so far they seem relatively peaceful. Once in a while the police would add to the noise by getting on a loudspeaker to tell everyone to keep noise level down."
Ginger jumped up and grabbed Stanley's hand. "I am absolutely buzzing with adrenaline. Come on, let's go to the bedroom."
Stanley was pleased but still feeling a little put out. "What happened to rogering Roger?" he said tartly.
Ginger laughed. "If they're not back yet, Lillie has done him in and I can't wait."
A few minutes later, a light flashed in the direction of the old stable, followed by the sound of a motorbike as it pulled up to the veranda. Roger shut off the engine as Lillie hopped off the back.
"Ah, memories," Roger said as they stepped up onto the veranda. "I talked Theresa into doing it out here. A rocking chair can be a lot of fun. It took some persuading that first time, but after that it became her favorite thing."
"Ooh! Care to give me a demo?"
"I would if I could. I need a break," Roger said as they walked together into the living room.
"Hello Lillie," said Kai from the far side of the room.
Roger jumped. "I didn't even notice that guy over there he's so quiet!"
"The dead are always quiet," Kai replied. "The others are upstairs."
Lillie held up a finger. "Listen!" she said and paused. She pulled Roger in the direction of the back stairs near the kitchen.
She grinned and looked at Roger. "There is definitely sex happening in this house."
"Rough sex by the sound of it," Roger said, smiling back. "It's inspiring."
"So I see," Lillie said as she reached out and gave Roger a lingering caress. "After the woods and open field, I'm ready for a firm but comfortable mattress."
"Same here, but don't be surprised if I fall asleep."
"Either way, we'll be together," she said as she led Roger upstairs.
From near the pool area, two men wearing night vision goggles quietly stood up and softly walked away from the mansion towards the helipad and beach. One pulled out a phone as it began to vibrate.
"Yes sir, it looks like they've turned in for the night…. Yes, the pool boy has been read in, but there's a complication—he entered the house nude with one of the women. There's no chance he has any of the RF bugs with him, and one of the aliens as been on constant watch, so we've had no chance to plant any ourselves. Yes sir, we'll be ready in the morning."
"Are you sure these are aliens and not just some interlopers?" his partner asked.
"First of all, there's that," the first man said, pointing to the moths as they walked past. He put his phone away.
"They may look human, but we won't know until we have a chance to actually examine one, and you've seen how they are. The men are dressed strangely and the women evidently don't wear clothes."
"I could hire porn stars to do everything we've seen. It proves nothing," his partner replied.
"Which is why we need a closer look."
He stopped to look back at the mansion. "That kid better collect his belongings early, if he knows what's good for him."
The two men continued on to the beach. They pushed a rubber dinghy out into the water and jumped in, then quietly paddled to an unlit boat waiting off shore.