Eternity Row by S. L. Viehl Page A

me.”
    “For God’s sake, Ilona, he was delirious when he said that!”
    Her brows arched. “I must look after my future. Now leave me alone.”
    I released her and stalked off, but her attitude actually didn’t surprise me. Ilona’s culture encouraged her to attach herself to the strongest male as a matter of protection and survival. Dhreen’s rejection must have made her panic and go after Salo.
    Who was the next person I needed to chat with? I spotted him sitting in the front of the gallery Darea had programmed for spectators. Unfortunately, Tall, Blue, and Bothersome got in my way first.
    “Healer Cherijo, may I have a word with you?”
    I wondered how hard it would be to eviscerate someone with my bare hands. I didn’t have claws, so I’d need a blade. “No.”
    “I’ve changed my mind-”
    “Does the new one work any better?” I went around him and got to Salo. The resident gave me a frustrated look, then left the environome. Which allowed me to concentrate on my friend, not on how much I wanted to throttle the Boy Shrink. “Hey, big guy. This is a real mess, isn’t it?”
    “Cherijo.” He gave me an unhappy look. “Darea has never been so angry.”
    “I noticed.” I sat down beside him. “I tried to talk to both of them, but they’re not listening. How about you? Is there something you can do to stop this?”
    “Darea is within her rights to demand the threefold challenge. It is an archaic custom, noted only in the books of the First House, but remains valid.”
    I recalled Salo collected old books. “You should watch what your wife reads. It may end up costing Ilona her life.”
    “I do not believe Darea will kill her.” He didn’t sound too certain of that as he gestured toward Ilona. “She brought it upon herself when she chose to violate our bond, although why she did still mystifies me.”
    Even before Varena brought journey philosophy to his people, the Jorenians had never indulged in infidelity. According to Reever, it was a matter of animal instinct overriding sociological development-whatever that meant. The fact remained: Salo’s people mated for life. Even after the loss of a bondmate, they rarely Chose again, so the old Terran vow of “until death do us part” had little meaning for them.
    They also had no idea how attractive they were to anyone who appreciated big, healthy humanoid males, and Salo had the bad luck of being one of the best-looking guys on the ship.
    “Ilona’s upbringing on Terra taught her to form a sexual alliance with the strongest male in her tribe,” I explained as the environome deck cleared of everyone but the two females. “I really don’t think she understood the Jorenian protocols regarding personal relationships.”
    Salo made a faintly commiserating sound. “She is about to be taught the finer details.” He went on to explain the first challenge as Darea’s program initiated. “Each female proves her strength by disabling a physically superior opponent.”
    Two images coalesced in front of Darea and Ilona- Tingalean warriors, who reached heights of over eight feet when erect, and whose blood alone was lethal upon skin contact. Both simulated warriors carried traditional tooth-cluster slings, a native weapon that vaguely resembled a Terra bola. Only this alien bola was studded with the Tingalean’s own teeth that had been shed and collected since infancy.
    “Couldn’t Darea have picked something a little easier?” Light gleamed over the rows of razor-sharp teeth. “Like a squad of starved Hsktskt?”
    The environome simulators were programmed not to allow living users to be terminally injured by a simulation, but the parameters certainly allowed for serious injury. Ilona looked up at the snake-soldier hissing over her head and blanched.
    “She can’t do this, Salo,” I said, rising to my feet. “That thing will cut her to pieces.”
    He put a restraining hand on my arm. “If you interfere, Darea forfeits the