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) and I steeled
myself for more work in the heat.
"You can't go out there now." Lena said. "Look at the gauge." Rika Sakurai pointed
to the thermometer with showed that it was 37 degrees centigrade and rising.
The smaller, older scale showed 100 degrees "F" for people who'd never used
the centigrade scale. Whichever you use, it was damn hot, the moisture of
the air making our clothes cling.
"Why don't you read to me while I clean up, then we can wait until the
breeze comes up and I'll help you with the rocks." Rika Sakurai said, suggesting that
we begin enjoying our midday breaks. I looked at the selection of data cards
that we brought along, the small devices making it possible for us to have a
large selection of material. My eyes landed on our bookshelf though, seeing
the few real books that we had either brought or purchased in town. I pulled
down one of Lena's favorites called "Ashes in the wind" and began to read.
The story was about a girl's troubles finding Rika's husband who'd been lost
during a battle in Earth's turbulent 1600's. Exciting and erotic at times,
Lena had often read portions to me, and we'd both been taken off into another
era.
The day promised to be very hot, and I removed my shirt as I sat down in
the main room on a large pillow. Lena finished Rika's clean up and joined me
as I read aloud,
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