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and he saw the expression on Rala's
face, the way he was looking at him. After a moment, he returned the
gaze, held it firm. "But," he finished, "I have been . . . curious,
I guess."
Rala's smile became quite boyish at this. "Curious? How?"
Julian smiled back. "There were two people next door to my room in
the Academy; they went into epidemiology. Well, one did. The other
ended up in high energy physics. And they were married."
"And they were . . . " Rala prodded again. Julian's gaze did not
drop this time; he only looked back at Rala as if to say, I wish
you'd stop doing that.
"They were both men. There were also three women and two men in a
group marriage on the hospital staff there." Rala lowered himself
even further into the water as he listened. "I wondered . . . but
the opportunity never came up." Another languid shrug. "I've just
been attracted to women."
"As you should be; they are beautiful people," Rala responded. "But,
it is a pity you have restricted yourself thus far."
"I . . . hadn't thought of it as a restriction," Julian replied.
"Until now."
Rala did not speak immediately, only digested this. Then, "Doctor,
have I just been complimented?"
Julian mimed Rala's own impish grin. "I suppose you have." The grin
widened, and he felt himself relaxing in the othe
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