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Davis handed her. She was afraid they would move in response.
It s rice, Silk. Plain white rice. The most harmless, innocuous food on the planet. Surely, Ole Buzz
boiled a few pots of it in his time.
How is it killed? Silk asked, for the perfect little pale creatures did not look damaged in any way.
Perfect Strangers
Killed? Rice is a grain. It s harvested.
Silk was only slightly relieved. She didn t think she could stomach the small white grains even if they
didn t wiggle in her mouth. On her world, chala-bugs were only found on or near decaying meat. Buzz had
not cooked rice. Not during the breakfast shift when she was at the restaurant.
Okay, no rice. How about some noodles?
Davis tipped a container above her plate and several fistfuls of slippery worms landed wetly beside
the rice. Silk watched in horror as they settled in a mess of coils. Her stomach refused to settle.
She ran for the bathing room just as Davis asked her if she wanted some sauce.
When Silk had washed her face and her stomach had ceased to roll, she cautiously came back into the
main room. The strong scent of the Chinese food lingered, but thankfully the worms and the rice were
gone.
She had showered and now stretched out on the bed. Davis was gone as well. No doubt she had
spoiled his meal with her repugnant reaction. He would slurp his worms elsewhere while she starved all
alone.
She had known it would be a difficult transition. She had been in a fog caused by grief and loss during
the preparatory phase of relocation. No amount of training could have prepared her for the strangeness of it
all. Preparing for life on Earth had been surreal, especially when she had still been numb following Miilos
death.
Davis could not understand when he did not even believe her. She allowed herself a few moments of
lowness while she contemplated what it was like to feel marooned on a foreign world with no one by her
side. She fisted her hands in the cool white sheets. This weakness was unacceptable. She was strong and
well-trained. She could do this alone.
The door started to open. Silk jumped up, poised to retreat back into the bathing room. She would not
suffer through the presentation of any more Earth delicacies tonight.
Davis walked into the room with his hands outstretched. In one hand, he held a frosty container of
Glacier Mint Ice Cream. In the other, a white, plastic spoon.
Oh, Silk exclaimed and sat back on the bed in surprise.
He brought the ice cream over and sat beside her on the bed.
Noodles are made from grain too, Silk. He spoke calmly as if he was soothing a simpleton. It would
have been infuriating if it was not for the delicious offering in his hands.
Silk grimaced. She had not learned enough about Earth food in her training. It had been rushed. And
perhaps they had not wanted to sicken her needlessly before her placement.
This is better than rice or noodles, Davis. Much better. Thank you.
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She took the icy cool container from him and the white plastic spoon. She pried off the lid and almost
swooned as the scent of minty chocolate cleansed the other less-pleasant smell from her nose. When the
soothing first bite hit her queasy stomach, she felt light headed with gratitude.
I don t think you survived to the ripe old age of twenty-five? without eating rice or noodles.
What gives, Silk, are you really this troubled or is it an act?
Our food is very different. Sweet and delicate. And none of it resembles parasitic organisms.
I don t think I d like it if I couldn t have a juicy steak every now and then.
He seemed to regret his observation when she closed her eyes against the remembered smells of
Buzz s Diner.
You would never want another steak if you could sample a trencher of Lipitian stew.
Suddenly, Silk realized they were not only talking about food. Davis was close beside her and his
large frame was indenting the mattress just enough to bring her left hip against his side.
Never is a long time. Do you think a taste from your world would affect me so strongly?
Yes, Davis. It would. If you had a taste from my world, you would never hunger for another.
His eyes looked troubled, as if he already knew what she said was true. She knew the double meaning
behind the words was arrogant. He had kissed her once and did not seem inclined to take another taste.
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