Shea simply sat, looking at T'mewi, saying nothing. He sat this way for a full five minutes, not attempting to eat, making no effort to speak.
He sat, with a sad expression on his face. Through his life, he had faced many tricky situations. It had been many years since he had been in a situation he liked less.
Finally, he picked up the phone, and pushed a single key. It was answered immediately.
"Scribe Melvay?" he said.
"Yes. No, I'm afraid not. You were right. She failed the test." He spoke sadly. "Lied, I'm afraid. Seems she isn't the one. Yes, I know, Scribe. And no, I can't. The rules were clear on that. It must be absolute faith, absolute truth."
He broke the connection, turned and looked at her. For the first time for many years, he felt tears coming, and had to fight them down.
"T'mewi," he said. "I must ask you to pick up your belongings and leave here. You have one hour. I will arrange accommodation at the club for you, if you wish."
He stood up, walking from the room.
"I think you know why," he said.
*****
Chevvie needed no second asking from Juliette to accompany her onto the dance floor. He took her hand, feeling an electric pulse, as if somehow she were wired directly into his psyche. It hit him that this was the first time he had ever seen her nervous, in fact as near to shyness (he guessed) as she had ever been. He deliberately took the lead in the dance, not a thing one would normally do with a dominant such as her, but the occasion seemed to demand it.
He was in heaven as he danced, his tough of arrogance delighting in the picture he knew they made. A strong male (as far as any of the spectators knew), a beautiful elegant woman. The music seemed hot-wired into his soul. They were like a single entity, floating on the music.
And then, he did a thing that made him curse himself.
Until that moment, his hand had been resting perfectly correctly and properly on the upper part of her back. They were close enough to be sexual, yet far enough away to be socially acceptable. He was concentrating so hard on keeping this perfect distance, he allowed his hand to glide downwards. Not as far as her rear, but just to her waist.
And then, he felt a slight roll, a ridge of her flesh, at the top of the restrictive control-garment she wore. Thinking to save her embarrassment, he instantly shifted his hand, as if he had touched fire. He knew how women were sensitive about such things as their weight - even the slim Miss Juliette.
The second after, he began to internally berate himself. Had she noticed his sudden movement? Had he made it worse?
He watched her reaction carefully.
He sat, with a sad expression on his face. Through his life, he had faced many tricky situations. It had been many years since he had been in a situation he liked less.
Finally, he picked up the phone, and pushed a single key. It was answered immediately.
"Scribe Melvay?" he said.
"Yes. No, I'm afraid not. You were right. She failed the test." He spoke sadly. "Lied, I'm afraid. Seems she isn't the one. Yes, I know, Scribe. And no, I can't. The rules were clear on that. It must be absolute faith, absolute truth."
He broke the connection, turned and looked at her. For the first time for many years, he felt tears coming, and had to fight them down.
"T'mewi," he said. "I must ask you to pick up your belongings and leave here. You have one hour. I will arrange accommodation at the club for you, if you wish."
He stood up, walking from the room.
"I think you know why," he said.
*****
Chevvie needed no second asking from Juliette to accompany her onto the dance floor. He took her hand, feeling an electric pulse, as if somehow she were wired directly into his psyche. It hit him that this was the first time he had ever seen her nervous, in fact as near to shyness (he guessed) as she had ever been. He deliberately took the lead in the dance, not a thing one would normally do with a dominant such as her, but the occasion seemed to demand it.
He was in heaven as he danced, his tough of arrogance delighting in the picture he knew they made. A strong male (as far as any of the spectators knew), a beautiful elegant woman. The music seemed hot-wired into his soul. They were like a single entity, floating on the music.
And then, he did a thing that made him curse himself.
Until that moment, his hand had been resting perfectly correctly and properly on the upper part of her back. They were close enough to be sexual, yet far enough away to be socially acceptable. He was concentrating so hard on keeping this perfect distance, he allowed his hand to glide downwards. Not as far as her rear, but just to her waist.
And then, he felt a slight roll, a ridge of her flesh, at the top of the restrictive control-garment she wore. Thinking to save her embarrassment, he instantly shifted his hand, as if he had touched fire. He knew how women were sensitive about such things as their weight - even the slim Miss Juliette.
The second after, he began to internally berate himself. Had she noticed his sudden movement? Had he made it worse?
He watched her reaction carefully.