Page 19 of Xefe
He strolled into the waterfall shower, and I was amazed at the process. Glittering water coated him, wetting glorious dark hair that fell to the middle of his back. He pressed the wall, and a foamy substance mixed with the water. It coated his golden skin, eating away at every speck of dirt. It only took about two minutes. When he stepped from the waterfall, the last of the foam was gone. He presses another button which sucked out all the remaining water that had pooled at his feet.
Another quick glance below the waist, because I’m a glutton for punishment, and all I could think was,What a damn shame.
“Clean yourself,” he rumbled.
My head snapped up, but I made my expression blank. I wouldkillto be clean. Literally killhim. I tapped my palm twice out of habit and wanted to cry when there was no response. I’d had a vid-phone since birth—being disconnected made me feel inconsequential, unimportant… Alone.
Where are you, Valentina?
“You are filthy.” He frowned, the bony protrusions over his eyes snapping down in what I now recognized as a frown. “Do all earthers live in such filth?”
I bit my lip to stop my response. I was insulted on behalf of all mankind. But instead of responding, I scratched my scalp.
“You understand me. I know you can speak.” He sliced his hand down. His bare fingers were tipped in sharp claws, all four of them and two thumbs. “If you will not negotiate, you are not as clever as I imagined. My supreme would be interested—”
My eyes flew up to his. That one got me.
His swirling eyes narrowed when he saw my fear. “Speak.”
“Fine. I may be able to understand alittlebit.” I spoke in English, not ready to concede that I not only understood, but spoke, his growly language.
“Hmm, you know enough.”
I shrugged.
“What means this?” He lifted his shoulders.
“It means, maybe.”
“Do you not want to remove the infestation in your scalp? Eventually, your hair will have to be shaved even if you claim it is the source of your power.” He crossed his arms, clearly calling bullshit. So, this wall-sized warrior had figured a few things out. It wasn’t a surprise he’d be smarter than the ruling class. No matter where you fought to survive in the universe, some truths always held true.
“No.” I reacted before I had time to consider whether it would piss off the giant alien. “We’renotshaving our heads. I would get lice all the time on earth. Just give me some olive oil and a comb, and I’m good.”
“I know not those words.”
“Okay, no olive oil but you must have a substance that’s smooth and oily that can smother the eggs while allowing me to pick them out with a comb.”
“There is no way to see the eggs. You won’t know if you’ve removed them all. If even one remains, you will become infested again. They are only visible when they mature to full-grown bugs.”
I dug my hands through the front of my scalp because it was friggin’ heaven, but also to prove a point. Hundreds of yellow splinter-sized eggs lined my palms. “Aren’t these them? I can get them out.” I held my hands up for his inspection.
He blinked and said, “I see nothing.”
I looked down at my hands.You don’t?Interesting. Why couldn’t he see them? Alien eyes must be very different. Not that I’d let him know that. “You’re right, Sunny. I don’t see anything either.” I wiped my hand on the dirt floor.
“Who is Sunny?”
“You is Sunny.” I smiled.
“No, I am called Xefe.” He squared his chest. “First to the supreme.”
“I like Sunny.”
“I do not.”
Okay, Sunny. Whatever you say.But instead of saying it out loud, I shrugged.
“What do I call you?” Xefe asked as he walked to a chamber in the back of the cave and returned wearing soft-leather pants and nothing else.
