Deep Waters

surveyed Rick with cold disdain. "Let's skip the handshake, Swinton, I might be tempted to break your arm."
    Rick narrowed his eyes. "You'll be sorry, whoever you are."
    "The name is Winters. Elias Winters. Be sure you spell it right when you file your complaint."
    "S.O.B."
    "This is Arlene Fenton," Charity put her arm lightly around Arlene's shoulders. "She's Newlin's friend."
    Elias nodded.
    "Oh, my God, Newlin." Arlene's chin came up sharply. Her eyes grew very round. "Charity, promise me you won't tell him about this. It'll only upset him something fierce. You know it will. He's already having a real bad time with the idea of me going off on the ships."
    "What, exactly, happened here?" Charity asked.
    "Rick told me he had some special information about what's going to happen when the ships come," Arlene whispered. "He told me that I had been chosen as one of the vanguard who would make initial contact. He said he was going to teach me the secret code we'll use to communicate with the aliens."
    "Bullshit." Rick gave her a fulminating look. "She came on to me, same as every other bitch under the age of sixty in this burg. When I took her up on the offer, she suddenly turned all righteous. Little cock tease, that's all she is. Just like you, Ms. Tightass Truitt. You're both the kind that gets a man worked up and then yells rape when he tries to get a sample of what they're offering."
    "One more word," Elias said softly, "and you won't be in any condition to ask for more samples from any female."
    Arlene flung back her head. "You're lying, Rick Swinton. I've been preparing myself for the Journey, just like Gwendolyn told us to do. We're all supposed to be getting ready to move to a higher plane where sex will be a pure, nonphysical experience."
    "Give me a break," Swinton muttered.
    "And what's more," Arlene shot back, "if I was going to fool around, it wouldn't be with you. I've got me a fine boyfriend, and I'm going to make sure he comes with me when it's time to go aboard the ships. And I'll tell you something else, if Gwendolyn knew how you acted when her back was turned, she'd send you packing."
    "Goddamned little bitch." Rick backed up hurriedly when Elias moved in the shadows. "Keep your hands off me, Winters."
    "Oh, let him be," Arlene said with acute disgust. "I'm all right, and you can bet I won't let him get me alone again. He's perverted, if you ask me. You should see what he's got inside his motor home. And he thinks it's sexy. Well, I can tell you none of it will matter after next Monday night."
    "You can say that again." Rick swung around and stalked off down a dark corridor formed by several campers and some motor homes.
    Charity gave Arlene a small hug. "Are you sure you're okay?"
    "I'm fine." Arlene heaved a deep sigh. "Rick's a sneaky little twerp who uses his position as Gwendolyn's assistant to try to get it on with every female Voyager in sight. First time he's ever tried anything with me, though."
    Elias stirred. "You said that if Gwendolyn knew about his behavior, she'd get rid of him. If that's the case, why don't you tell her?"
    "The thing is, she's got so much on her mind right now." Arlene looked uneasy. "Most of us only see her at the evening sundown chant. She spends the rest of her time in her motor home preparing for Monday night. Rick's the only one who's allowed to interrupt her when she's meditating or pursuing her studies."
    "I could get her attention for you," Elias offered. "No problem."
    "I don't want to cause her any trouble," Arlene said quickly. "Rick Swinton isn't important. He's such a turkey, I wouldn't be surprised if he gets left behind when the aliens come."
    "Don't worry," Elias said. "Something tells me that Swinton won't be going on board any starship at mid night on the fifteenth. And neither will anyone else."
    Arlene straightened her shoulders with grave dignity. "I can see that you're a nonbeliever. But you and all the others will learn the truth for yourselves. I just wish I could get Newlin to understand. I can't bear the thought of leaving him behind."
    Charity patted her shoulder. "Newlin cares about you, Arlene. If things don't work out, remember that he'll be here waiting for you."
    Tears glistened in Arlene's eyes. She wiped them away with the back of her hand. "But I want him to come with me to see the galaxy. If he stays behind, he'll be dead and turned to dust by the time I get back."
    Elias looked at her. "Sometimes the surface of the water is so