was lucky.
“I need you to talk to my men. They have no idea how to approach Earthers without frightening them. There have been instances in which interactions between our races here on the grounds have resulted in the women feeling they are being approached ... inappropriately.” Nang reddened.
“You mean, they think they’re being pressured to have sex,” I said. A mean part of me liked to see such a big man squirm.
“Exactly. When I go over the incidents with the accuser and accused, the stories match up. But what we Kalquorians see as attempts to care for Earther women’s needs, they view as improper.”
“So what do you want me to do?” I asked, trying to get a firm grip on his request. “Make a vid? Go around talking to your subordinates?”
Nang smiled wider, his expression hedging into real hope since I wasn’t refusing outright. “I was thinking a live presentation to as many of my men as possible. The presentation would allow Kalquorians to ask you questions on the spot if they are confused about a particular issue. We could also vid record it to make sure everyone assigned here who missed it sees it.”
I mused. “So you want me to tell Kalquorian men how Earther women think and feel? What our mindset is when we speak to men, and specifically to our supposed enemies? How to approach us in such a way that will cause least offense?”
“Or no offense at all, if possible.”
I arched an eyebrow at him. “Don’t bet on it, Commander. We women were taught any and all approaches from men were suspect. Our religion brainwashed most of us into taking apart every instance of interaction with males, whether Earther or alien. Men often used our fear of being accused of inappropriate behavior to blackmail us into their beds.”
One of the men behind me ... Dusa probably ... gasped. Nang’s mouth hung open in shock.
I wasn’t finished. “Add in that most Earthers believe Kalquor blew up our cities and destroyed our world on purpose because you are hellbent on making all the women your sex slaves. Each woman thinks she is now destined to become the breeding bitch to a clan, which consists of three men. It’s an idea abhorrent to everything we were ever taught. Are you getting the picture, Commander?”
Nang leaned back. He closed his mouth, and his jaw tensed as he ground his teeth together. His forehead furrowed in half a dozen deep lines as he digested what I’d said.
Now that he knew what he was up against, I told him, “I’ll do it.”
His eyes widened. “But you just said—”
“I know what I said. I just wanted you to be aware that no matter how nicely your men approach Earther women, many will be frightened and ready to take offense.”
“Then why bother?” His grumbly voice was gentle. He gave me a look that said he really wanted to figure me out.
I smiled. “Because every little touch of consideration goes a long way, even if we women won’t admit to it. Kalquorians approaching Earthers in a way we feel is appropriate might make things easier not just on your men, but on the women you’re trying to help.” I studied my hands, clasped tightly on top of the table in a single fist, the knuckles whitened. “If you know our pain and how to handle it, some of us might begin to heal.”
Nang said, “I had heard stories of how Earther females were treated. The tales were so shocking, I thought they had to be rumors. We revere our lifebringers on Kalquor, and it is unfathomable that women would be handled so terribly.”
I wasn’t so sure how much truth was in that statement, but I let it go for now. “Our religion made women second-class citizens. It described us as helpmates to men, but we were little more than servants.” I chuckled without the least bit of humor. “I made so many vids on the evils of Kalquorians,
“I need you to talk to my men. They have no idea how to approach Earthers without frightening them. There have been instances in which interactions between our races here on the grounds have resulted in the women feeling they are being approached ... inappropriately.” Nang reddened.
“You mean, they think they’re being pressured to have sex,” I said. A mean part of me liked to see such a big man squirm.
“Exactly. When I go over the incidents with the accuser and accused, the stories match up. But what we Kalquorians see as attempts to care for Earther women’s needs, they view as improper.”
“So what do you want me to do?” I asked, trying to get a firm grip on his request. “Make a vid? Go around talking to your subordinates?”
Nang smiled wider, his expression hedging into real hope since I wasn’t refusing outright. “I was thinking a live presentation to as many of my men as possible. The presentation would allow Kalquorians to ask you questions on the spot if they are confused about a particular issue. We could also vid record it to make sure everyone assigned here who missed it sees it.”
I mused. “So you want me to tell Kalquorian men how Earther women think and feel? What our mindset is when we speak to men, and specifically to our supposed enemies? How to approach us in such a way that will cause least offense?”
“Or no offense at all, if possible.”
I arched an eyebrow at him. “Don’t bet on it, Commander. We women were taught any and all approaches from men were suspect. Our religion brainwashed most of us into taking apart every instance of interaction with males, whether Earther or alien. Men often used our fear of being accused of inappropriate behavior to blackmail us into their beds.”
One of the men behind me ... Dusa probably ... gasped. Nang’s mouth hung open in shock.
I wasn’t finished. “Add in that most Earthers believe Kalquor blew up our cities and destroyed our world on purpose because you are hellbent on making all the women your sex slaves. Each woman thinks she is now destined to become the breeding bitch to a clan, which consists of three men. It’s an idea abhorrent to everything we were ever taught. Are you getting the picture, Commander?”
Nang leaned back. He closed his mouth, and his jaw tensed as he ground his teeth together. His forehead furrowed in half a dozen deep lines as he digested what I’d said.
Now that he knew what he was up against, I told him, “I’ll do it.”
His eyes widened. “But you just said—”
“I know what I said. I just wanted you to be aware that no matter how nicely your men approach Earther women, many will be frightened and ready to take offense.”
“Then why bother?” His grumbly voice was gentle. He gave me a look that said he really wanted to figure me out.
I smiled. “Because every little touch of consideration goes a long way, even if we women won’t admit to it. Kalquorians approaching Earthers in a way we feel is appropriate might make things easier not just on your men, but on the women you’re trying to help.” I studied my hands, clasped tightly on top of the table in a single fist, the knuckles whitened. “If you know our pain and how to handle it, some of us might begin to heal.”
Nang said, “I had heard stories of how Earther females were treated. The tales were so shocking, I thought they had to be rumors. We revere our lifebringers on Kalquor, and it is unfathomable that women would be handled so terribly.”
I wasn’t so sure how much truth was in that statement, but I let it go for now. “Our religion made women second-class citizens. It described us as helpmates to men, but we were little more than servants.” I chuckled without the least bit of humor. “I made so many vids on the evils of Kalquorians,
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