Chapter 6

The next day, Major woke up in bed with Jake. Both of them were sleeping on their stomachs lying on their pillows in identical positions. Major snorted a short laugh and then used the bathroom after seeing both of them sleeping in identical positions. Once that was done, he found some open space and started his stretching routine. Jake would describe it as asana, but only a few of the positions Major got into were the same, but they did the same thing. Clear the mind and wake the body up for today’s activities.

Breakfast, showers, and the two men left the apartment to explore the neighborhood. It was also a chance for Major to be exposed to more of the society and to become comfortable with it. Both men had on lightweight shirts, thin shorts and sandals. If seen from a distance, both men looked just like everyone else out and about this time of the day.

They rounded a corner and found a line of men all lined up waiting on something.

“Jake, what is this all about?”

The line seemed to stretch on for some distance ending at a nondescript monument. The monument was wooden and as they got closer, they saw a man leaning up against it moving his hips back and forth as if he were engaged in a sexual encounter. As they got closer, Major was able to see the rump of a person exposed through the side of the monument. Just the person’s crotch was exposed while the person’s entire body and legs were still inside of the monument. Major had to stop and look at this event.

“What is going on over there?”

“It’s an initiation for a club. Come on, let’s go.” Jake said, pulling Major away from the line of men.

“Jake, please explain this to me.”

Jake walked along the path, men and women both looking them over as they passed by. “Some clubs require their members to be used by lots of random people. I don’t understand it, but that is what they do.”

“Are you part of any club like that?”

“No. Gosh no. I like to go dancing, but none of the clubs that use people like that are interesting to me.”

They walked along for a while, each lost in his own thoughts. “Should I find a club to join? Something social?” Major asked, breaking the silence that fell between them.

Jake stopped and thought for a minute. “Major, that isn’t a bad idea. HOWEVER.” he said firmly. “Since you are new here and people know me, we need to make sure that it is a good and upstanding club since people may think that you are me and I don’t want my reputation tarnished by your actions.”

Major understood and made the ‘oh’ sound as he spoke. “I understand completely. One thing that will help is if you keep your hair long like it is now and I keep my hair short. Also, I have noticed that our body hair is different. As long as we keep those differences, then I think people will tell us apart.”

“Good thinking.” Jake said and then continued on their walk.

They arrived at a park where people were sunning themselves, playing disk-toss or just running around playing tag. The ages of the people in the park ranged from babies to retirement ages. Jake and Major sat on a bench and watched the people.

“What do you see Major?” Jake asked.

“I see a lot of things, what do you need me to see?”

“How are the people acting?”

“Well, from your reference point, normal. Though from my perspective, I would have expected some of them to be fighting or at least training. That is what people in my world would be doing in a space like this. Being fit and training for the next battle. Here, I see relaxing, playing and other than that couple over there mating, not doing anything productive.”

They each sat and watched the people. “What I see is that lady over there using her portable computer working I would assume. I see a woman tending to her children. I see a retired couple soaking up the sun. I see minors and teens playing and then returning to what I assume is their teacher. See, they all came back together and sat down in front of that woman. See how she is talking to them? Students and teacher.” Jake explained, pointing to the group.

Major watched them. There did seem to be some structure to the events of the area, but different from what he was used to. “I’m still learning.” he muttered softly.

“Yes you are. Come on, let’s go to the library and see about getting you a library card. I think you need to do some serious reading.”

The men left the park, and after a short bus ride, arrived at the library. They walked in and went straight to a woman sitting behind the counter. “Jake.” she said suddenly after seeing the men arrive. “JAKE!” she exclaimed a second time when she saw Major standing at her counter as well. “What is going on?” she said to Jake.

“Micah, this is my long lost brother, Major. Major, this is a friend of mine, Micah. She and I have performed together several times for my social media channels.”

Micah recovered quickly and then stuck her hand out to Major. “It is good to meet you, Major. I didn’t know you had a brother Jake. I thought you said you were an only child.”

“I thought I was. Then the HBI found him and I was introduced and here we are.”

“Well, it is very good to meet you, Major. Any family member of Jake is a friend of mine.” She said, again shaking Major’s hand. “I won’t be on break for a while. If you are still there, would you like to have some private time with me?” she asked Major.

“Yes I would. Thank you for asking.”

“Now, what brings you here today?” she asked Jake while looking back and forth between the two men.

“My brother needs a library card. He needs to read up on,..., history to make sure he understands us.”

“Oh sure. Major, do you have your ID card with you?” she said, then turning to Major asking him.

Major had his ID card out from his carrying pouch and handed it to her as she was speaking. Micah took the time to enter his information and issue him a library card. “Do you have money for the deposit?”

“What?” Major asked.

“You see, people borrow our books and forget to bring them back. To save us time and money, we take a deposit to protect from the books becoming lost or stolen. It’s all pretty normal.”

Major reached into his pouch and pulled out a 20 and handed it to her. She processed the receipt of money and gave him back a receipt showing that he placed a deposit. Micah then came around the desk and took the men into the stacks. “This is our history section. If modern history is your thing, then here we have a very good book for you to read. It covers the last 50 or so years and is very easy to understand. If ancient history is your need, then,...” she paused to move down the row a little bit and pulled out another book. “ ... This will do the trick for you. Again it is a very easy read and covers much of the ancient world.”

Major took the books and hefted them in his arms. “I’ll take both of them for now. I will probably be back for more after I finish these.”

Micah smiled and took them to a table. Jake had wandered off but returned with a folded up stack of paper in his arms and then spread it out on the table as Major set the books down. He touched his comm gauntlet and spoke quietly to Adventure. “Adventure, scan these books and I would suggest that you scan as many of the books in this building as possible. This seems to be an information depository of this world.”

“Agreed Major Jake.” A small light shot out of his gauntlet and passed over the books then Adventure beeped at him when he was done. “Very interesting Major Jake.”

“What did you find?”

“I found one person, a religious leader that preached all about physical love and sex. That was her entire message as far as I can tell. Though the religion she started has died off, the philosophy that she created lives on per what you are seeing right here and now.”

“What was her name?”

“Layla al-Hubb. Layla, meaning “night,” and Hubb, meaning “love”.”

“So night sex. Nice name and appropriate for someone who taught sex and passion.” Major said, giving a short snort of a laugh then opening the books and started to read through them. They didn’t have any wars on this world, but they did have several world wide sex day festivals that are still practiced to this very day. According to one text, the next event like this was due next month and would last for an entire week. Major wondered how he would last for an entire week of having sex almost nonstop at the festival. He then wondered if Jake would participate in it. He would have to ask him.