"Good," said Dehmi Mohris with a superior smile. "Of course, I don't believe for a moment you really intend to remain docile. Here's a sample of what to expect should you choose to disobey me." She touched a small device on her harness. Marjorie's head exploded in blinding pain, and she collapsed, writhing. Dehmi smiled again and swept out of the suite.
When the stars receded from her eyes, Marjorie saw Mar Jari, in her body, bending over her in concern. "Are you all right?" Mar Jari asked.
Marjorie shook her head and responded, slowly and thickly. The ape's throat was not easily able to form human speech, but she found she could force the words out. "What... do you... care?" Marjorie snarled. "You have what you want. And after all we went through to rescue you, too!"
Mar Jari winced. "I didn't really want your body, but Mother said I had to do it, and I can't go against Mother. I'm so sorry this happened. She's always been insanely jealous of anyone who catches my father's eye. But this in the worst I've ever seen her."
"Then... why... did you stand for it?"
Mar Jari hung her head. "I've always done everything she asked," she responded. "As long as I'm a dutiful daughter she loves me and fusses over me. When I go against her, she -- hurts me. I didn't want to obey her this time, but when I protested, she -- she--" Tears appeared in Mar Jari's eyes. She turned her back to Marjorie and pointed to the base of her skull, where a tiny metal device was planted. "This is the same device she just used on you," Mar Jari said. "I never knew it was there, I never really stood up to her before. She used it on me. So you see, I had to agree when she demanded I 'want' your body!"
"Why... would... she do such a thing?"
"I don't know. But one thing I do know -- when I was a captive on Thuria, I learned much. The conspirators are from Mother's home city-state, which was always at war with Mandel until Mother wed Father. There are factions there still hostile to Mandel. One was the faction that kidnapped me, and another -- is Mother's."
"Dehmi Mohris is... hostile to... Mandel? But she... loves Xodak Arn?"
"No she doesn't. She wed him for political reasons, and she jealously guards her status, but she doesn't love him. Secretly, she would like nothing better than to make him -- like us, a pet to torment and reward. And Mandel a depedency of her home kingdom rather than the other way around. And now, she plans to use us to do it!"
"She... can't... hide this," said Marjorie. "Xodak Arn will know something's wrong... save us..."
Mar Jari shook her head mournfully. "No," she said. "She bribed Dagud Dokh to say my brain was damaged in the transfer, leaving me a cretin suitable only to be a pet. When Father would have put 'me' out of my misery, Mother made 'you' -- that is, me -- beg from him the boon of taking care of you. No, Marjorie, we must play the roles she has assigned us. I am 'you' and you are my white ape pet Fifi, whom I gave to Mother to be able to care for 'you' -- really Fifi -- without distraction." She shed another tear. "Father actually cried when he heard my offer -- said I was so good and wonderful to show such concern for his -- his daughter! He never looked at me like that as his daughter! He was so -- so pleased with me... He was even going to kiss me, but Mother made me say no, that I wasn't interested in him any more..." Mar Jari broke down completely. "I can't even let Father know I'm alive..."
Marjorie found herself awkwardly trying to comfort her counterpart.
There's just one hope, she thought. Dehmi Mohris obviously thinks Xodak Arn and I were just flirting, but I know it was deeper than that. He won't be put off by a show of indifference from 'me' now. Sooner or later he's bound to try to make 'me' a second wife, and when he does, Mar Jari will have to let him know the truth...
Fri Jun 22 16:48:59 2001