John Atkins

“[After a period of separation, Phaeton and Daphne are cuddling.]Diomedes, meanwhile, was leaning to look behind Helion, staring with open fascination at the display Phaethon and Daphne made. “I have not seen non-parthenogenic bioforms before. Are they going to copulate?”Atkins and Helion looked at him, then looked at each other. A glance of understanding passed between them.Atkins put his hand on Diomedes’s elbow, and pulled him back in front of Helion. “Perhaps not at this time,” Atkins said, straight-faced.“They are young and in love,” explained Helion, stepping so as to block Diomedes’s view. “So perhaps the excesses and, ah, exuberance of their, ah, greeting, can be overlooked this once.”Diomedes craned his neck, trying to peer past Helion. “There’s nothing like that on Neptune.”Helion murmured, “Perhaps certain peculiarities of the Neptunian character are thereby clarified, hmm…?”“It looks very old-fashioned,” said Diomedes.Helion said, “It is that most ancient and most precious romantic character of mankind which impels all great men to their greatness.”Atkins said, “It’s what young men do before they go to war.”Diomedes said, “It is not the way Cerebellines or Compositions or Hermaphrodites or Neptunians arrange these matters. I’m not sure I see the value of it. But it looks interesting. Do all Silver-Gray get to do that? I wonder if Phaethon would mind if I helped him.”“He’d mind.” Atkins interrupted curtly. “Really. He’d mind.””

“Mary Atkins pruned herselves in the mirrage, running her hand wantanly through her large blond hair. Her tight dress was cut low revealingly three or four blackheads, carefully scrubbed on her chess. She addled the final touches to her makeup and fixed her teeth firmly in her head. “He's going to want me tonight” she thought and pictured his hamsome black curly face and jaundice. She looked at her clocks impatiently and went to the window, then leapt into her favorite armchurch, picking up the paper she glassed at the headlines. Мери Аткинс се офглеждаше в отлетялото, като съблажнинително прокарваше ръка през огромната си руса коса. Прилепналата й рокля имаше дълбоко изрязано голямо доколкоте, разкройвающо три или четири бенки, наместени внимателно по гърдите й. Тя положи последните краски от грима си и много внимателно намести зъбите в главата си. «Той ще ме пожелава тази нощ!»”

“I saw an oxygen tank in the cluttered room”