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ertly。
〃That feels great；〃 he said； wanting her。
〃Ah；〃 she replied； very pleased； 〃I'm very good at massage； Linc。 I took lessons from a Japanese。 Do you have a regular massage？〃
〃No。〃
〃You should。 It's very important for your body； very important to keep every muscle tuned。 You tune your aircraft； don't you？ So why not your body？ Tomorrow I'll arrange it for you。〃 Her nails dug into his neck mischievously。 〃She's a woman； but not to be touched； heya？〃
〃e on； Orlanda！〃
〃I was teasing； silly；〃 she told him at once； brightly； taking away the sudden tension easily。 〃This woman's blind。 In olden days in China and even today in Taiwan； blind people are given a monopoly on the art and business of massage； their fingers being their eyes。 Oh yes。 Of course there are lots of quacks and charlatans who pretend to have knowledge but don't； not really。 In Hong Kong you soon know who's real and who isn't。 This is a very tiny village。〃 She leaned forward and brushed her lips against his neck。 〃That's because you're beautiful。〃
He laughed。 〃I'm supposed to say that。〃 He put his arm around her； bewitched； and gave her a little hug； very conscious of the captain at the helm ten feet away。
〃Would you like to go forward and see the rest of the ship？〃 she asked。
He stared at her。 〃You a mind reader too？〃
She laughed； her lovely face a mirror of joy。 〃Isn't it the girl's part to notice if her 。。。 if her date's happy or sad or wanting to be alone or whatever？ I was taught to use my eyes and senses； Linc。 Certainly I try to read your mind but if I'm wrong you must tell me so that I can get better。 But if I'm correct 。。。 doesn't that make it grander for you？〃 And so much easier to ensnare you beyond escape。 To control you on a line you can so easily break if you wish； my art being to make the too thin line like a steel mesh。
Oh but that was not easy to learn！ Quillan was a cruel teacher； oh so cruel。 Much of my education was done in anger； Quillan cursing me； 〃For chrissake can't you ever learn to use your bloody eyes？ It should have been crystal clear when I came here that I was feeling rotten and had a rotten day！ Why the hell didn't you get me a drink at once； touch me gently at once and then keep your bloody mouth shut for ten minutes while I recoup … just tender and understanding for ten bloody minutes and then I'd be fine again！〃
〃But Quillan；〃 she had whimpered through her tears； frightened by his rage； 〃you came in so angrily you upset me and th… 〃
〃I've told you fifty times not to be upset just because I'm bloody upset！ It's your job to take the tension out of me！ Use your bloody eyes and ears and sixth sense！ All I need's ten minutes and I'm docile again and putty。 For chrissake； don't I watch over you all the time？ Don't I use my bloody eyes and try to defuse you？ Every month at the same time you're always edgy； eh？ Don't I take care to be as calm as possible then and keep you calmed？ Eh？〃
〃Yes but d… 〃
〃To hell with but！ By God； now I'm in a worse temper than when I came in！ It's your bloody fault because you're stupid； unwomanly； and you of all people should know better！〃
Orlanda remembered how he had slammed out of the apartment and she had burst into tears； the birthday dinner she had cooked ruined and the evening wrecked。 Later； he had e back； calm now； and had taken her into his arms and held her tenderly as she wept； sorry for the row that she agreed was unnecessary and her fault。 〃Listen； Orlanda；〃 he had said so gently。 〃I'm not the only man you'll have to control in this life； not the only one on whom you'll depend … it's a basic fact that women depend on some man； however rotten and evil and difficult。 It's so easy for a woman to be in control。 Oh so easy if you use your eyes； understand that men are children and； from time to time … most of the time … stupid； petulant and awful。 But they supply the money and it's hard to do that； very hard。 It's very hard to keep supplying the money day after day whoever you are。 Moh ching moh meng 。。。 no money no life。 In return the woman's got to supply the harmony … the man can't； not all the time。 But the woman can always cheer her man if she wants to； can always take the poison out of him。 Always。 Just by being calm and loving and tender and understanding for such a short time。 I'll teach you the game of life。 You'll have a Ph。D。 in survival； as a woman； but you've got to work 。。。〃
Oh how I worked； Orlanda thought grimly； remembering all her tears。 But now I know。 Now I can do instinctively what I forced myself to learn。 〃e on； let me show you the forward part of the ship。〃 She got up； conscious of the captain's eyes； and led the way confidently。
As they walked she slipped her arm momentarily in Linc's； then took the railing of the gangway and went below。 The stateroom was big； with fortable chaises and sofas and deep chairs fixed to the deck。 The cocktail cabinet was well stocked。 〃The galley's forward in the fo'c'sle with the crew quarters；〃 she said。 〃They're cramped but good for Hong Kong。〃 A small corridor led forward。 Four cabins； two with a double bunk； two with bunks one over the other。 Neat and shipshape and inviting。 〃Aft's Quillan's master stateroom and the master suite。 It's luxurious。〃 She smiled thoughtfully。 〃He enjoys the best。〃
〃Yes；〃 Bartlett said。 He kissed her and she responded； fully responded。 His desire made her limp and liquid and she let herself go into his desire； matching his passion； certain that he would stop and that she would not have to stop him。
The game had been planned that way。
She felt his strength。 At once her loins pressed closer； moving slightly。 His hands roved her and hers responded。 It was glorious in his arms； better than she had ever known with Quillan who was always teacher； always in control； always unsharable。 They were on the bunk when Bartlett backed off。 Her body cried out for his； but still she exulted。
〃Let's go back on deck；〃 she heard him say； his voice throaty。
Gornt crossed the fine stateroom and went into the master suite and locked the door behind him。 The girl was sweetly asleep in the huge bed under the light blanket。 He stood at the foot of the bed； enjoying the sight of her before he touched her。 She came out of sleep slowly。 〃Ayeeyah； I slept so well； Honored Sir。 Your bed is so inviting；〃 she said in Shanghainese with a smile and a yawn and stretched gloriously as a kitten would stretch。 〃Did you eat well？〃
〃Excellently；〃 he replied in the same language。 〃Was yours equally fine？〃
〃Oh yes； delicious！〃 she said politely。 〃Boat Steward Cho brought the same dishes you had。 I particularly liked the octopus with black bean and garlic sauce。〃 She sat up in the bed and leaned against the silk pillows； quite naked。 〃Should I get dressed and e on deck now？〃
〃No； Little Kitten； not yet。〃 Gornt sat on the bed and reached out and touched her breasts and felt a little shiver run through her。 Her Chinese hostess name was Beauty of the Snow and he had hired her for the evening from the Happy Hostess Night Club。 He had considered bringing Mona Leung； his present girl friend instead； but she would be far too independent to remain below happily and only e on deck at hi