Story 24

Tina, the slender tomthumb, her short-cut, ruffled blond hair giving her feminine features a slightly tomboyish appearance, walked towards Milly's cabin with a slight spring in her step. She had a smallish bag filled with herbs slung over her shoulder. She had been humming to herself cheerfully, but had stopped when she noticed a human standing just outside the immense door to the giantess' simple wooden home.

Her curiosity piqued, the tiny woman began walking towards him. The middle-aged man had dark hair, matching his dark, formal suit, which looked remarkably out of place in the jungle. He held something by his side, which Tina would have been unable to identify as a briefcase. He looked slightly hesitant.

“Hey!” she called up to him, as she drew nearer. He started, and looked around. “Down here!” she laughed, waving. “I'm about three inches tall. There… Can you see me?” She smiled.

The human looked at her, surprised. Placing the briefcase down on the ground, he knelt to get closer to her, apparently not minding the prospect of stains on his neat suit trousers.

“Good morning.” He gave a polite, rather formal smile. His face was a little gaunt, and his eyes a pale blue.

“Good morning.” Tina grinned. “What are you doing around here? This is Milly-land. You'll get yourself eaten if you're not careful.”

“Eaten?” The human considered that, but did not appear alarmed. “No, I'm just here to talk to the person who lives here.” He nodded towards the hut. “Would you happen to know if they're in?”

“That's Milly's home,” Tina informed him, cautiously. His behaviour was abnormal, and she was not certain what to make of it. “I've never heard of a human wanting to see her, though. What do you want from her?”

“I'm here to collect census information.”

The tomthumb frowned, and shook her head.

“I've no idea what that means. Listen, if I were you, I'd just go away.” She paused. The man made no move to leave. So she went on: “But if you really want to talk to her, I'll go and see whether she's in.” She gestured. “I've got a side entry. Too small for you.”

“Thank you.” The man got up, brushing off his trousers. “I'll wait here.”

“You should be running away,” Tina told him with a shrug, “but it's up to you. I'll be a short while.”

* * *

Isham, a dark-haired human in his thirties, scribbled quickly at the top page of a stack of blank paper piled on his lap, as he sat cross-legged atop the gigantic table. Ideas raced through his mind, many still jumbled, and his imagination worked eagerly to sort them into a coherent pattern.

He had begun to write a play two days earlier, and he had been at it steadily ever since. The idea had come to him quite suddenly, maturing for a short while in his fertile mind before he had talked about it with Milly. She had been delighted, almost childishly excited, particularly when he suggested that they could stage a performance, distributing roles to her friends, and giving her one too. It had put her in high spirits, from which she had not yet descended. Her cheerfulness seemed to imbue the very air in the room, and he smiled slightly to himself.

It was nice to see her happy.

And even nicer to think that he was making her happy.

Of course, he still needed to write the play, and make it a success. He had decided on a tragedy with scenes of comic relief; something the `actors' could take seriously, but have fun doing all the same. A play about young innocence, a discovery of the world, hopes and the dangers of reality…

“Anyone home?”

The familiar voice came from down below, on the floor at the foot of the table. Where a tunnel linked Milly's hut to the complex mesh of burrowed-out subterranean chambers and passageways which were home to the tomthumb Alsumi tribe.

“Hey, Tina,” he said, and put down his papers. He stood, and walked to the edge of the table, looking down. “I'm up here.”

“Oh. Hi!” She smiled up at him. “Milly isn't in, then?”

“She's off shagging a tree.”

Tina blinked.

“Say again?”

Isham shrugged.

“She told me she was going out to have sex with a male dryad. I don't know when she'll be back.”

“Oh.” Tina absorbed that quietly. “OK. It's just that…” She looked towards the door. “There's a human outside who's come to see her.”

“A human?” Now it was Isham's turn to be surprised. “Why would a human come here? Is it someone she knows? Is it Roshan? Léa?”

“No; he didn't seem to be sure who lives here. It's not Roshan; it's someone I've never seen before. He said he was here for… some strange word or other.”

Isham smiled slightly.

“Maybe he's come to free me.” Tina gave him a strange look, and he shook his head. “It's a joke. I'm not going anywhere. Not for now, anyway.” He had begun as a prisoner here -Milly's pet human, as Tina had once called him-, but had eventually chosen to stay, rejecting an opportunity to escape. He was still not entirely sure why. One day, no doubt, he would return to his world, and he hoped Milly would let him go freely. He liked to think of her as a friend now, but the topic of his eventual leaving was one they had not discussed.

He was not certain what to think of Tina yet, either. The minuscule tomthumb was one of Milly's closest friends, and she seemed pleasant enough most of the time, but Isham still could not quite get used to her casual acceptance of the giantess' diet. Nor had he forgotten that, when Milly had first captured him, Tina had urged her to `just eat him' rather than ponder his fate any longer. He felt much closer, in a way, to Tina's friend Joanna. She was a lot more compassionate, and shared his discomfort with Milly's eating habits.

“Oh, by the way, I'm writing a play,” he said, after a moment's slightly awkward silence. “There'll be tomthumb characters. I've got one in mind for you, and one for Joanna, if you want it?”

Tina looked interested.

“What's a play?”

“Oh. Uhm…” He scratched the back of his neck, putting his thoughts together. How did one explain the concept of theatre? He had forgotten that the Alsumi -a people who had mastered agriculture and carpentry, but had never invented metalwork- lacked any form of written litterature. They had forms of storytelling, and Tina knew how to read because Milly had taught her, but it seemed they had no word for a `play'. “Well, it's where everyone plays a role, acting out a story. You have lines to learn, and you have to, well, act out a character.”

“Hmm.” The tomthumb smiled. “It sounds quite fun. Yes, I wouldn't mind trying it out.”

Isham returned the smile.

“I used to be a playwright. Not a great writer or anything, just… fairly basic stuff. I was part of a theatre company.” He paused. He and a colleague called Lunther had been travelling through Felarya on company business when Milly had caught them. She had eaten Lunther, and had by now digested him long ago. The memory stirred a nagging feeling of guilt in Isham's mind. That pernicious sense of guilt at having survived… and at having befriended the woman who had eaten a fellow company member.

Before either of them could say any more, the door opened, and Milly herself walked in. She was naked, and smiling, her skin glistening a little, her long dark hair cascading damply over her shoulders. In her hand, she held a human.

“Look what I found just outside the door!” she said, pleased with herself, holding the human up. “Oh, hi, Tina!” She grinned. Tina smiled back at her.

“ 'morning, Milly.” She gave a sly grin. “Isham tells me you've been having a bit of fun.”

Milly giggled, thrilled, her eyes shining.

“You, you think dryads can't move much, but… damn, can they rock you off your feet!” She placed the human down on the table. The man looked over at Isham, curious, and Isham gave him a polite nod. Milly ignored them, her attention on Tina, wrapped up in girl talk. “His name's Teccri. It's just a casual thing, you know, but…” Her smile grew into a wide grin, displaying her pretty white teeth. “It was fun!” She ran her hand through her wet hair. “I took a bathe after sex, of course…”

Isham coughed, awkwardly. The women, and the other human, looked at him.

“Much as I'm fascinated to hear the details of your sex life,” he remarked dryly, “are you going to tell us who that is?” He nodded towards the newcomer.

“Oh.” Milly breathed out another little giggle, still on a high. “Sorry. That's… well, I don't know who he is.” She picked Tina up gently and placed her on the table with the two humans, then pulled out a chair, and sat down, resting her elbows on the tabletop, looking at them. “Who are you, little human?” she asked, smiling.

The newcomer coughed in turn, and adjusted his suit.

“Thank you for inviting me in, madam. My name's Lirum Detchi, and I'm here on behalf of the Negav municipal authorities. We're conducting our decennial census of population and dwellings, and extending it to the inhabitants of rural areas, beyond municipal boundaries per se.” He looked at her, serious but fairly pleasant. “Such as yourself, ma'am.”

Milly held his gaze for several seconds, then burst into a fresh little fit of giggles.

“I've no idea what you just said,” she admitted, laughing. She turned to Isham. “Did you understand any of that?”

Isham frowned, looking at the other human thoughtfully.

“I understand the meaning of the words, yes, but they're not making much sense.” He paused. “He's saying that they're gathering information on all the people who are living in Negav, and, apparently, outside it. So he wants information about you.”

Milly blinked, looked at him, then looked at Detchi, before turning to Tina. The giantess and the tomthumb exchanged a puzzled shrug at exactly the same moment, which set them off laughing once more. Isham sighed.

“If you ladies would stop giggling like adolescents, perhaps Mr. Detchi here can explain himself in more detail.”

“Yes, if you please,” the man said. His tone of voice was measured, polite - and, Isham realised after a moment, strangely unemotional. It made him feel a little uneasy. Without knowing why, he felt worried. Worried about what this man was doing here. And about what would happen to him once Milly grew bored with him. Please don't eat him, he thought, quietly.

“Madam, if it's convenient to you, I'd like to ask you a few questions.”

Milly smiled, controlling herself.

“Yes, all right,” she said. “You've made me curious.”

“Thank you, madam.” Detchi opened his briefcase, withdrawing a clipboard with thin sheets of paper. He closed his briefcase, placed it down, and reached into his pocket. Then fumbled around, and frowned a little.

“Something wrong?” Milly asked.

“No, I…” He hesitated. “I thought I had my pen…”

“Here.” Isham picked up his own, and handed it to him. “Use mine. Just don't break it.”

“Thank you, sir.” Polite… but unemotional. It was a little disturbing, definitely. Detchi clicked the pen, cleared his throat, and prepared to write down what Milly might say. “Now, madam. If I may ask, what is your name?”

Well, that was simple enough.

“Milly,” she said, sounding rather proud about it.

He wrote it down. “Full name?” he inquired, without looking up.

She tilted her head, puzzled.

“What's a full name?”

“Uhm.” Detchi looked at her. “If Milly is your given name, what's your family name?”

Milly stared at him blankly.

“I'm just Milly.”

“All right.” He scribbled something on the census sheet. “May I have your…” He paused. “Well, the form requests your full address. Do you know what that is?” Another blank look from the giantess. “All right,” he went on. “If somebody were to send you a letter, how would they do that?”

“Uh…” Milly rubbed the side of her neck. “You're asking strange questions,” she complained. “What's a letter?”

“Don't worry about it,” he assured her, and scribbled something down again. “How many people currently live in your household?”

“Here? It's just me.” She crossed her arms, atop the table, watching him.

“One person,” he said, his eyes on the sheet, and wrote it. “I can fill in the next few myself… Mm-hmm…” He ticked away at the paper. “Right. Do you own a means of locomotion?”

“A what?” She was sounding a little frustrated now.

“I'll take that as a no.” Another tick. “Do you own this dwelling?”

“You mean, is it mine?” She frowned, as she puzzled over what he was asking. “Yes, of course it's mine. I live here.”

Tick, again. “This won't take long… Do you know what your date of birth is, in the standard Negavian calender?”

“Well, no.” Milly sighed, annoyed.

“What's all this about?” Tina asked, speaking up suddenly, suspicious. “Why do you need to know all that? Why are you asking these questions?”

“Standard procedure, madam,” Detchi tried to soothe her. “I assure you, all data will be treated confidentially.” He looked back at Milly. “Marital status, please? Are you married?”

Her scowl of slight frustration faded into a quick smile.

“No,” she said simply. “Are there many more questions?”

“A few,” he said evasively. “We require comprehensive data…”

“Tshaw.” She shrugged. “Stop using strange words like that. I'm a bit tired of this game.” She gave him a broad smile. “I'd like to ask you a few questions now.” She leaned in closer. The movement brought her large, naked brown breasts nearer Isham, and he had to struggle not to stare. She was lovely, lovely beyond words, and he exhaled a wistful sigh. “Tell me about yourself?” she asked, eagerly.

“What?” For the first time, Detchi looked surprised. He quickly recovered himself. “Madam, I'm the census agent-”

“And you're in my house, and you're my guest, and I like to know about my guests,” she interrupted pleasantly, still smiling. “You live in Negav, then?”

“Uh, yes.” He looked down at his census sheet. “May we-?”

“Ooh, what's it like in Negav?” She asked, excited. “I can't go there, you know. They'd shoot at me, and not let me in.”

“It's a very pleasant city,” he said, mechanically. “Now, if I may, I'd like to ask you about your qualifications and employment status- Hey!” Milly had wrapped her fingers round him and picked him up, plucking him off the table. She raised him to the level of her face. “What are you-?”

She shrugged.

“I'm tired of your game. Answering silly questions isn't much fun. And you won't tell me about yourself.” She lifted him higher, tilted her head back a little, and opened her mouth.

“WAIT!” Detchi and Isham shouted, at the same moment. “Nooo!” Detchi screamed, as she dropped him in. Staring, Isham saw the man's arms flail wildly as he fell the short distance into Milly's waiting mouth, which sucked him in and closed behind him.

“Mmmm…” The giantess moaned softly, and smiled. “Tashty!” she said, with her mouth full, sloshing him around on her tongue, absorbing his flavour.

“Milly!” Isham protested. “Come on, spit him out! He's just doing his job!”

Milly swallowed, a wet gulp followed by a bulge travelling down her throat.

“And I'm just having lunch,” she smiled. “Well…” She paused. “More of a mid-morning snack, I suppose. I shouldn't eat too many of those, but once in a while…” She trailed off, her expression pleased and thoughtful.

Isham sighed. He picked up the census papers. Milly turned her attention to them, curious.

“Do you know what I'm supposed to do with those?”

“Well, he” -Isham pointed at her belly- “was supposed to take them back to Negav, I presume. Which I guess isn't going to happen now.”

“Nope,” Milly said playfully, pleased with herself, and patted her tummy. She released a slight, feminine burp, and giggled. “You can keep them, then.”

“I suppose I can use it for scrap paper,” Isham said, not particularly happy with what had just happened. “To scribble things on.”

“Isham says he's writing a play,” Tina put in. She seemed unconcerned with Detchi's sudden demise into her friend's digestive system.

“Yes, he is.” Milly's lips blossomed into a broad, happy smile. “It's going to be fantastic! You'll be in it, too. And Joanna!”

“You'll be actresses, playing parts,” Isham clarified. He looked the census form over, then shrugged, and folded it.

“We'll be… playing parts, and things!” Milly repeated. “I'm so excited! Isham… Will you read us what you've got, so far?”

“Well…” He hesitated. “It's just an early draft of a few scenes. I haven't actually got the opening scene done; it's just…”

“Oh, that… Never mind!” Milly interrupted, brushing his comments aside with a wave of the hand. “I just want to hear what you've written!” She looked at him with deep, warm, pleading brown eyes. Her eagerness was infectious, and he found himself smiling a little.

“All right, then.”

“Oooh!” Milly grinned, delighted. “Tina, will you stay?”

“Yes, why not.” The tomthumb sat down. “I'm curious about this too.” She smiled. “Plus, afterwards, I want to ask you about your new dryad `friend'.”

Milly giggled, relishing the pleasant memories of the morning.

“Later,” she promised. “First, Isham's going to read to us. Then, I'll take him to the waterfalls.” She looked at him fondly. It was a warm look, one that suggested she actually cared about him, very different to the way she had looked at him when she had first brought him here. His heart seemed to flutter a little, and he gave an awkward smile. “To say thank you,” she whispered, her lovely eyes gazing into his. “The waterfalls are beautiful… My way of saying thank you to you, Isham.”

“Ah, it's… nothing.” He was surprised to feel himself blush. “Uhm, if you ladies would like to make yourselves comfortable?”

Tina crossed her legs, and gave him a look of quiet interest. Milly shifted and settled in her chair, her naked beauty resplendant, yet so un-self-conscious. Her stomach produced a low rumble, beginning to digest their late visitor. Isham winced, and tried to ignore it. He picked up his papers, and flicked through them.

“Let's see… I've got a scene here that I'm thinking of putting in Act 1…”

* * *

It was a pleasant, sunny day, and Isham breathed in the warm, fresh air. He stayed indoors too much, he told himself. He needed to get out more. It was healthier out here, and with Milly to protect him he was in very little danger from predators.

The giantess had put some clothes on, and had placed him in a pouch attached to the front of her belt, the easiest way to carry him. It gave him a view of the scenery they were passing through, and, once his initial dizziness had passed -caused by the combination of height and movement-, it was actually quite comfortable. The only real problem came from the occasional gurgles in Milly's stomach, right behind him, as she continued to digest her latest human. It was not a sound he felt he could ever get used to, nor was it easy to ignore.

“So, can I play the character Treleen?” Milly asked, as she walked. Isham glanced up at her. Looking at her face meant gazing past her large, round breasts, concealed as bulges beneath her light top. It was very distracting, and he swallowed against a dry nervousness in his throat.

“If you want,” he said. “I'm not sure it'll be one of the main roles yet.”

“Oh, but she sounds fun. I don't mind not being the main character.”

“So if I kill her off at the beginning of Act 2…” He grinned.

Milly laughed.

“Don't you dare!” she said, playful. “Or I'll… I'll… I'll hide your bedding and make you sleep on the hard table!”

Isham smirked.

“We'll see. I don't know yet how the play will end. Or rather, I've got a few ideas, but…”

“Oh, tell me!” She looked down at him, hopeful. He grinned once more.

“Not a chance. Not until I've made up my mind.”

Milly sighed. She trailed her hand through the leaves of low branches. Low from her perspective, at least.

“You can be very frustrating,” she teased.

“But you like me just the way I am,” he replied, in the same tone. She gave him a look of faint surprise, then seemed to consider that for a moment.

“Yes… I suppose I do.” A faint smile. Gentle, almost shy, in a way. “I'm glad I met you, Isham.”

“And that you didn't eat me.”

“And that I didn't eat you,” she agreed, blushing a little. She glanced over to one side, then leaned down a little and plucked a fruit from a bush. “Citroise,” she said, handing it to him. “If you're hungry.”

“Thanks.” He smiled, grateful; his fingers brushed against hers as he took it from her, and he settled back into his belt pouch. He bit into it, chewed and savoured the delicious fruit, and swallowed the first mouthful. “Where are we now, by the way?” he asked, licking sticky juice off his lips.

“Uhm, about half-way, I'd say. The great beach should be somewhere off to our right. Not too far, through the trees. Speaking of which, I know a little neko village close by where I can stop for a meal. I'll get you some more fruit, too.”

“Right.” He bit into the citroise again - and tried not to think of the nekos who would soon find themselves squirming in the belly just behind him.

* * *

Several hours later, the sky had grown a little darker, and lazy, drifting clouds had begun filtering the sunlight over their section of the forest. Isham sighed, comfortable, snuggling back in the pouch, with the fabric of Milly's clothes against the back of his head.

“Milly…” he said, thoughtful.

“Yes?”

“What's it like, where you come from?”

For a while, she said nothing, and continued walking, almost as though she had not heard. He looked up, and saw a pensive expression on her quiet, lovely face.

“Shouldn't I have asked?”

“No, it's all right.” She gave him a faintly sad little smile. “It's… I just don't think about it too much. It's…”

“Oh, I'm… sorry.”

“It's all right. It's… Well, we have plains. Open stretches of grass, tall hills… Some forests, too. Quite a hot climate, but fertile… Lots of greenery.” That little smile floated on her lips. “It gets cooler part of the year. We have more difference in seasons than here.” A pause. She chewed at her lower lip, looking straight ahead, then smiled down at him. “What's it like where you're from?” she asked, her tone deliberately cheerful now.

Before he could reply, there was a loud, wet gurgling sound from within her body, followed by a groan. He had been about to ignore it, but then came another sound - a faint whimper. He looked up. There was an expression of discomfort on Milly's face. It passed, and she gave him a reassuring smile.

“Sorry,” she said.

“Are you all right?”

She nodded.

“Just a touch of indigestion, maybe.”

He gave her a mildly reproachful look.

“Too many nekos?”

“No.” She shook her head. “It's not from my stomach. It's from lower d-” She stopped, wincing in sudden pain. Another wet growl rose from her intestine, then a loud rumble, longer this time. He looked at her with concern.

“Milly… Are you OK?”

“Yes…” She gave a sharp, hissing intake of breath, and placed her hand over the lower part of her belly. “It's noth…th-thing.” She gasped.

“Milly!” Isham cried, alarmed now. “Milly? Milly!”

She clenched her teeth, sweat beading on her forehead, her face contorted in severe discomfort.

“Damn it!” she gasped. “That hu- hu-… That hurts!”

“OK, Milly…” Isham said, trying to remain calm. “I'm sure it's nothing. It's just a bit of indigestion. Have you never had indigestion before?”

“Not like this,” she breathed, with obvious effort, through teeth clenched in pain. A very loud, very wet-sounding growl resounded from inside her, and she pressed both hands against the area where it hurt. She shivered. “It's like a sharp… Gah!” Staggering a little, she moved over to lean against a tree, then sat down, clumsily. “It's sharp… I've never…” Another shiver. And a whisper: “I'm cold…”

Some of that cold seemed to seep through to Isham, a sudden, gnawing sense of fear. This wasn't right…

“Milly…” he whispered, feeling helpless. What could he do? He was not a doctor. He did not even know whether there were any doctors in Felarya. She was panting now, closing her eyes and shivering.

“It hurts…” she whimpered, a little cry of pain that went straight to his heart.

Oh, Milly…

“Can you get up? Milly… Milly, listen to me!” She opened her eyes, tense with pain. “Milly, can you get up?” he asked again, his voice sharp and urgent. “Can you walk to… to wherever… to somewhere that can make it better?”

She shook her head.

“Can't walk… It hurts… Damn it!” she cried, bending over and pressing her hands hard to her tummy.

“You need to make yourself throw up!” he urged, almost too alarmed to think.

“Can't!” she gasped, clenching her eyes shut once more. “Not stomach… In my guts!”

“Then what…” He tried not to panic. “What would help?”

Milly groaned, breathing with difficulty, her body trembling. She sat bent over for a long moment, then straightened, leaning back against the tree with a gasp. It had been so sudden, Isham thought, helpless. What could have caused this?

“Milly!”

She whispered something.

“What?” he urged.

“Ajab,” she said, her eyes closed.

“What's that?”

A slow, painful smile.

“He's a naga… He h-heals…”

At last, that was something. He clung to that thread of hope.

“Where is he?” he asked quickly. “Where can I find him?”

“You can't… Too far…”

“Well I have to-”

“G-” She stopped, shivering.

“Yes?”

“Go to Vivian,” she managed. “That… way. Waterfalls.” She pointed between the trees. “Ask her… to get Ajab.”

“Ask Vivian to get Ajab,” he repeated. “OK! I've got it.” He began to clamber out of the belt pouch. “You just… just hold on, OK?”

She nodded, with difficulty, then reached down and picked him up, placing him on the ground. Her fingers trembled as she held his little body. He stumbled, when she released him clumsily, then looked back up at her. Her eyes were closed, and she was trying to take slow, steady breaths. He looked at her, his gaze heavy with concern.

“Hold on, Milly…” he said, then turned, and ran off between the trees as fast as he could.

* * *

He ran through the underbrush, oblivious to the scratches from the vegetation on his arms. He barely paid attention to where he was putting his feet - a potentially lethal oversight in this jungle, but he knew he could not spare the time. He had never known Milly to be ill before, and it did appear to be serious. He only hoped her healer friend could help.

He scrambled over a fallen tree, scratching his hands slightly on its rough bark. He could hear the distant sound of rushing water, and ran faster towards it.

Minutes tumbled away as his legs pumped hard over the forest ground, and he tried to breathe steadily while he ran. He knew he was making too much noise. He was lucky he had not been stopped yet. The waterfall was louder, but still not within sight. For it to make that much noise at a distance, it had to be immense almost beyond belief…

He reached it at last, stumbling out between trees, catching his breath. He stared, panting, as his mind began to take in the true scale of what he was looking at. The falls cascaded down in a roar from an impossible height, over a craggy cliff face of wet rock teeming with vegetation. Crashing into a pool, the fall raised a haze of water suspended in the air, a permanent mist suffusing the lake's surroundings. The lush grass was wet, the air fresh, full of the scent of trees, and flowers. It was quite possibly the most awe-inspiring sight he had ever set eyes on - yet peaceful, too.

He stepped forward, walking out across the grass, the wet mist bathing his face, cool and refreshing. He had never met Vivian, but surely she had to be that mauve-skinned, giant woman in the pool, running her hands through long, very pale blue hair, partly obscured by the haze of the water. He hurried towards her, still fuelled by a sense of urgency. Yet, as he approached, a strange sense of peacefulness seemed to descend upon him, and he slowed a little. The closer he got, the better he could see the giant naga, and his mind began to swirl, almost dizzily. She had seen him, and was approaching too.

Isham's breath caught in his chest. He had never seen a woman more beautiful. Her smooth, lovely face was a delicate hue of mauve, her purple eyes deep and soulful, observing him with a faint twinkle. She smiled, soft, perfect lips enticing him in a gentle welcome. Pale, flowing hair cascaded over her shoulders, tickling her full, round, sensuous breasts. A sheen of water glistened on her skin, trickling over her body in rivulets - over her lips, her arms, her breasts and her smooth tummy. She slithered gracefully through the water, her eyes upon him, her smile broadening, taking on a playful air. He gulped. Although he could not have known it, the misty air about him sparkled with unseen magic, seeping into his senses, numbing his mind. Vivian's spell drew him to her. His thoughts, his sense of urgency collapsed into a warm sense of blissful serenity, building into excited anticipation. Vivian reached him, towering above him, and looked down at him with a heart-melting, teasing smile.

“Well, hello there…” she said, her sensual, throaty voice whispering at his desire. As he looked up past her huge, smooth breasts, her smile was mesmerising. “Would you like to play?”

* * *

It was soon very clear to Isham what Vivian meant by `play'. A few minutes after plucking him off the ground and and slithering to a soft, mossy patch by the edge of the pool, her tail still dipped lazily in the clear, fresh water, she held him between her fingers, quite naked. She had stripped him of his clothing, her warm, sensuous whispers accompanying the skillful play of her hands on his tiny body. Casually, she had dropped his clothes on the damp ground, but he had not minded in the least. He was beyond minding, about anything. The warm teasing in her deep eyes promised pleasures he could barely imagine… He shivered a little, between her fingers, which made her smile.

He had not expected to be put in her mouth, but he felt no alarm when her lips parted and she moved him towards them. She placed his feet on her lower lip, and sucked at them a little, drawing his legs into her mouth. Her warm breath enveloped his naked limbs, a hot breeze on his hardening penis, her warm saliva tickling his bare skin. Her eyes seemed fixed upon his, playful and amused. He gazed back into them, dazed with the beginning of pleasure, and wriggled a little. She laughed, like a twinkle of music, and pulled him out. She brought his whole body closer to her lips, and extended the tip of her tongue. He looked at it, fascinated, and she laughed again at the expression on her face. Slowly, her tongue extended further, and began to lick him, working its way up from his legs, over her shivering virility, up his chest… Her hot tongue passed over his face, wet, soft and stickly, leaving a sheen of her saliva on his lips, over his nose and cheeks…

“Do you like that?” she whispered.

He nodded, breathless. It was an automatic gesture. He was a passive plaything in her hands, utterly subjugated by her spell, awe-struck by her beauty and overwhelmed by what she was doing. He did not think; he could only feel, and his feelings were enmeshed in a rapid crescendo of desire. He wanted her. He wanted her, more than anything.

“I know…” she whispered, as though she could read his mind. She brought him closer still to her lips, which moved, pink, sensuous and glistening, as she spoke. “Come on in…”

Then she pushed him into her mouth. Her lips remained parted, allowing the sunlight to illuminate the pink, damp, fleshy cavity. Her tongue welcomed his face, moving beneath him, and she sucked the rest of him in with a little slurp, sealing him in darkness. He gasped, not with fear but with desire, his hard penis pressing against her strong tongue, which shifted and teased him, exciting every sense in his body. He gasped again, a breathless shiver of delight, breathing in the warm air within her mouth.

Vivian smiled, closing her eyes in lazy pleasure, as she savoured his taste.

* * *

Milly drifted back into consciousness, and it was only then she realised she had passed out. For several long seconds, her mind was a blur, and she could barely see; shapes seemed to drift before her eyes, elusive and ill-defined. She was lying face-down where she had collapsed, and tried to push herself up. Barely had she begun to move when a sharp, agonising pain seemed to rip through her guts, a blazing, white-hot agony rushing through her body. She screamed, tears clouding her eyes, and collapsed once more, unconscious.

Her body shivered, gripped in the pangs of hot and cold, a fever raging through her. Sweat glistened on her skin. She shivered again, then lay still, for a long while.

Passing animals paused, and observed her with wary curiosity, sometimes sniffing her body, then moved on.

She did not hear the sound of wings, the rustle of fallen leaves swept away in a sudden breeze, as a large being landed beside her.

* * *

With a little giggle of satisfaction, Vivian pulled a very wet, very sticky, naked Isham out of her mouth. He gasped, spluttering, but he was smiling ecstatically, his expression dazed and blissful. The naga's saliva trickled down his body, and coated his hard penis. She licked her lips, with deliberate slowness.

“Did you like that?” she teased.

“Oh, yes!” he gasped. He had never been trapped inside a woman's mouth before, and the skill of Vivian's tongue had been truly amazing. If he felt his encounter with her could not get any more enjoyable, she was about to prove him wrong.

“Good.” She smiled. “Now I've got you all excited, little human, you're going to please me.” She whispered the operative word, a throaty promise of wild delights. Leaning back on the soft ground, she placed him gently on her chest, between her tummy and her immense, shapely breasts. Slowly, she trailed her left hand over her left breast, while her right hand snaked its way down past her belly, to the tantalising, damp slit between her human torso and reptilian tail.

“I've barely started with you yet,” she said, and grinned.

* * *

Milly's motionless body stirred only with her slow, ragged breathing, painful little gasps which did not raise her from her slumber. As her body fought against the threat inside it, it knew better than to wake her. In sleep, she was spared some of the pain.

Deep within her body, in the meanders of her intestine, a liquid flowed in fitful spasms. It had once been a human. As her digestive system absorbed its nutrients, oblivious to the damage it was causing, greater amounts of poison entered her bloostream, ravaging her body. Her immune system fought back, struggling as best it could against a threat it had never faced, and quickly fell back, overwhelmed.

As her body shivered, burning with an icy coldness, her heart missed a beat. Then another.

* * *

Isham slid out of Vivian's wet vagina, gasping breathlessly, and her fingers closed around him, lifting him up. She was grinning broadly, panting a little, her bare skin coated in a thin sheen of post-coital sweat.

“Oooh, my, your wriggles!” she gasped, and laughed. “Thank you, little human. That… wasn't bad at all.”

“It… wasn't bad for me either,” he managed, catching his breath. It had been a long, exhausting, and thoroughly wild experience, pleasurable beyond his most fantastic dreams. She had done things to him which he would never have thought of, and he had responded as best he could, devoting his imagination and lust-fuelled passion to satisfying her ever-hungry desires. “In fact,” he stammered, “that was absolutely am-m-azing!”

The giant, beautiful -and sexually satiated- naga smiled. Her tummy rumbled, and her lovely face blushed a little.

“Whoops…” she whispered, still playful. “I think all this exercise has made me hungry. How about you?”

He smiled, happy, utterly oblivious to the danger.

“No, not really.”

“Oh, well.” Vivian grinned. “You know all the wriggling you've just been doing?”

His eyes shone, bright with the pleasure filling his mind. He nodded, blissful. Vivian brought him closer to her face. When she spoke, a sensuous whisper, her warm breath tingled over his bare skin.

“Wriggle like that when you're going down my throat,” she breathed.

Because she was smiling, he smiled back, his mind utterly numb. She wanted him to please her. He could do that. He would love to do that! He nodded, and was rewarded with another beautiful smile.

“Bye bye!” she whispered, her eyes twinkling, and held him over her lips. Her mouth opened beneath him -the yawning chasm of wet, pink flesh which had given him such pleasure before. He gazed down into it, and shivered with excitement. He felt absolutely no fear, incapable of understanding what was about to happen.

“Aaaaah…” Vivian breathed, playfully, and dropped him into her mouth.

Her lips closed behind him. She tilted her head back, and lowered herself lazily onto the soft ground, savouring the human's taste. She shifted him around her mouth for a while, still teasing him with her tongue, building up saliva and sloshing him in it. His flavour filled her taste buds, delicious, and she released a soft moan of enjoyment.

Once she had sucked all the flavour she could out of him, she shifted her tongue, pushing him towards her throat. Half-closing her eyes, she swallowed, and felt the lump pass down her gullet, pushed down inside her chest. When he reached her stomach, she breathed out a deep sigh of contentment, closed her eyes, and lay on her back, her hand resting atop her tummy. A smile of satisfaction floated on her perfect lips.

* * *

It had taken Isham several long moments to realise something was not right. He had landed with a splash somewhere hot, wet, pitch-black and strangely unstable. The soft, fleshy ground beneath his feet shifted as he tried to get up, and sent him sprawling. He felt a rush of air move past him, and heard a distant burp, its muffled echo travelling down to him. He frowned, confused, as the magic of Vivian's spell slowly lifted from his mind, and his clouded thoughts emerged in gradual clarity.

The realisation of where he was gripped him slowly, an icy dread seeping through his body. His eyes widened in the complete darkness, as the full horror hit him with sudden force.

Vivian had eaten him. He was inside her stomach.

“No…” His whisper rose to a yell of terror, shaken with disbelief. “NO!!”

Scrambling up, he made his way through the blackness towards the damp, fleshy wall of his confinement, his feet sloshing through shallow liquid on the unsteady ground inside the naga's stomach. Shivering, horrified, he pounded at the solid flesh.

“No, no… No! Vivian! Let me out!” He slammed his fists into the inner wall of her stomach. The only response was another little burp, and what sounded like a feminine sigh of pleasure. “Let me out!” he screamed.

He remembered, now. He remembered everything. He knew why he had come here. He remembered Milly, out in the jungle, in such pain - dying, perhaps. How long had he been here, under Vivian's spell, a plaything to her lustful appetite? How long had he left Milly out on her own? Tears of dread rose to his eyes, terror not just for himself, but for Milly too.

If he did not get out of here, Milly would die. And so would he.

“VIVIAN!!” he screamed as loudly as he could. “Listen to me! You have to let me out! Milly's in danger! Milly... is... in... danger!! Vivian, please! Listen to me!”

There was no response. She could not hear. Even from inside her stomach, he could hear the roar of the waterfall, muffling all other sounds. Only the steady thump-thump, thump-thump of the naga's heartbeat was louder, echoing inside her body.

There was a slow, wet gurgling sound. The stomach all around him shifted, contracting a little, throwing him off balance. He landed on his back with a splash, and got up, unsteady. Liquid lapped at his feet, then at his ankles. A tingling sensation stung at his skin. A fresh burst of horror rushed through him. The acid in her stomach was rising.

Her body was preparing to digest him.

“VIVIAN!” he yelled, panicking completely. “VIVIAN!!”

Her stomach shifted again, and he fell into the rising acid, still screaming.

Outside, Vivian yawned, stretching a little, and smiled happily. She opened her eyes, gazing up at the clear, beautiful sky. The mist of water in the air bathed her bare skin, cleansing her of the sweat from the throes of sexual climax. She lay on her back and rested, content, while she digested the tasty little human. Her stomach rumbled and growled, quite loudly, as it began the thorough process of digestion.

She lay there, basking in the peaceful serenity of the most beautiful scenery in Felarya, for several long minutes. Her stomach continued to growl, efficiently digesting her small but enjoyable snack.

She breathed out a final little burp, smiled, and patted her hard-working tummy.

* * *

“Milly…”

The gentle, male whisper seeped into her brain, tugging at her unconscious mind. She stirred, and her eyelids fluttered. Instantly, the pain rushed through her, and she screamed.

“Gyaaaah! Oh, g-” Tears filled her eyes, and she rolled over, her hands pressing over her lower belly. Sweat beaded on her forehead. “It hurts, it hurts, it hurts!” she sobbed, gasping. Through the tears blurring her eyes, she was dimly aware of someone leaning over her.

“Shhh… Milly, you're going to be all right.” The voice was soothing, kind. A strong hand touched her cheek, steadying her. “Drink this,” the voice said, and the first drops of a sweet, herbal liquid were poured into her mouth. She gagged, choking, and coughed. Strong arms helped her sit up, and lean against a tree. Tears streamed down her cheeks, as the pain cut through her guts from within, sharp agony ripping through her body.

She sobbed with pain and shock, unable to speak, but did not resist as more of the liquid was poured into her mouth. It tasted sweet and fresh, and she let it run down her throat, soothing her just a little.

“That should help against the pain,” the voice said kindly. “Now, before I give you anything else, I need to know exactly what happened. Where does it hurt?”

She recognised the voice at last, and relaxed a little. She put her hand over her lower belly.

“Here…” she whimpered. “It's horrible…” she added, crying.

“All right. You're going to be ok. It hurts in your guts?”

She nodded.

“You're sure it's your intestines? Not your stomach, not anything else?”

She nodded again, still crying. With some effort, she wiped at her eyes, and looked at him properly at last. Ajab, the giant male naga, gave her a gentle smile, his greyish blue eyes warm and comforting. He looked older than she did, although she knew that did not necessarily mean much. His tail was a dark orange, with attractive patterns of deep, forest green scales. His short, black hair held faint hints of grey, a testimony to his travels outside Felarya. It would not turn any greyer as long as he remained here.

“What have you been eating?” he asked.

She sniffled, wiping at her eyes again.

“Nekos. But they were still in my tummy when this started. Before that…” She paused, and tried to think. The pain was making it difficult; she felt dizzy, distracted, close to fainting. “I had a human, earlier,” she said, almost in a whisper.

“Just one human?”

She nodded.

“Was there anything peculiar about him? Did he taste strange, smell strange, behave strangely?”

She shook her head, whimpering a little.

“All right,” Ajab soothed her. “Whatever it was, there was something wrong with your food. Is the pain very sharp? And continuous?”

“Yes,” she said, in a choked, tearful whisper. Fresh tears trickled from her eyes. “Ajab, please, it hurts…”

For a moment, Ajab's face looked grim. Then, he gave her a reassuring smile, and opened a large wooden box.

“I've got just the thing. A little mixture of plants…” He picked out what seemed to be a terracotta flask. “It would taste quite disgusting in its natural state, but I've sweetened it for you.” He smiled at her, warm and comforting, as he handed it to her. “Drink this. It may be a few minutes before you feel any effect, but I promise, it's very good. You're going to be ok.”

With shaking hands, she accepted the open flask, and raised it to her lips. She drank, thirstily, still trembling. Ajab watched her, quietly, until she put it down with a gasp. She looked into his eyes, her dark eyes shimmering and wet with tears.

“Thank you…” she whispered, in a voice filled with relief.

“My pleasure,” he said simply. “It makes me feel useful. Now, just sit still, and wait for it to take effect. The pain won't go straight away, but it'll diminish. The goodness in what you drank will start fighting the infection. You may sweat a lot, but that's normal. It'll help your body purge whatever's been hurting you.”

She nodded again, and leaned back against the tree, her eyes partly closed. She breathed out the words `thank you', suddenly exhausted. Ajab gave a little smile.

“Ah, yes, and you'll need to rest,” he said. “A lot of rest, until you're fully better. I'd recommend sleeping outdoors, where the soil can help to heel you.”

She nodded, her tired mind taking most of it in. She shivered a little, at a fresh stab of pain in her guts, but it did not seem quite as bad as before.

“Isham…” she whispered.

“What?”

She opened her eyes.

“What?” she echoed.

“You said `Isham',” Ajab told her, curious. “Who, or what, is that?”

Milly frowned, slowly.

“Isham is… He's a human of mine. I keep him around.” She frowned again. Something was not right, but her struggling brain could not immediately place it. Then, slowly, it clicked. She stared at the healer. “You… don't know who Isham is?”

Ajab blinked.

“Should I?”

“Well…” Milly shook her head, confused. There was another stab of pain, and she winced. “I sent him to get you. If he didn't get you, then who…?”

“A harpy,” he explained. “She saw you lying here, realised you weren't well, and she came straight to me. Her name's Chlaeni, by the way, if ever you meet her. She saved your life.”

“Oh…” Milly's puzzled frown remained. She tried to think.

“Well, how long ago did you send your human out?” Ajab asked, helpfully.

“I don't know…” Milly whispered. “I don't know how long I was… unconscious.”

Ajab winced slightly.

“Maybe he got eaten on the way, then.” He looked into her face. “Did he matter to you?”

Milly lowered her gaze, troubled.

“Yes,” she said at last, softly.

“Then stay here.” Ajab gave her a gentle pat on the shoulder - an uncommonly affectionate gesture, coming from him. “You shouldn't be getting up yet, anyway. I'll stay with you. If your human is still alive, hopefully he'll find his way back here.”

“I… suppose,” Milly said, slowly. She was feeling increasingly tired. She stifled a yawn.

“You need sleep,” Ajab said. “Sleep will help you get better. I'll stay here with you.”

Milly smiled, weakly, and leaned back.

“Thank you…” she whispered, and closed her eyes. She felt so sleepy… But Ajab seemed to think that was good. And the pain was subsiding, which was a tremendous relief. It seemed she was going to be all right. She was worried about Isham, though. Isham… Surely, there was something… She sighed, evacuating some of the built-up tension with her breath, and yawned.

“How would your human have known how to find me, anyway?” Ajab asked, intrigued. “I'm a long way off. For someone walking on tiny legs.”

“I didn't…” She yawned again. “I didn't send him directly to you. I sent him to Viv-” She stopped, quite suddenly, and opened her eyes. Ajab's eyes were looking into hers, concerned.

“You sent him to Vivian? So she could get me?”

“Yes.” She felt suddenly very worried.

“Does… Vivian know him?” Ajab asked, cautiously.

“No…” Milly whispered slowly. “Oh, damn!” She began to sit up. Gently, but firmly, Ajab stopped her.

“You're not going anywhere. You're not well enough to start walking around.”

“But I…” She protested, looking off in the direction she had sent Isham.

“You're not going anywhere,” Ajab repeated, sternly. “You're not going to put yourself through a lot of hurt just for a human.”

Milly winced, stung.

“He's not just a human! He's… he's my human!” she tried to explain, blushing a little. “As I said, I keep him around. And he writes stories for me. He's not the kind of human that's just meant to be eaten. I… I like him,” she said, blushing further, concern on her face. “I don't want anything to happen to him.”

Ajab held her gaze for a long while, searching the feelings in her eyes, then shook his head, and sighed.

“I'll never understand why some people start treating food as if it were people. OK, OK!” he said, cutting her off before she could protest again. “If this one's your special pet, I'll…” He shook his head again. “I'll go and see Vivian, and ask if she's seen him.”

Milly looked back at him for a moment, then broke into a faint smile.

“Thanks, Ajab,” she said softly. “I appreciate it.”

“Yeah, well don't get used to it.” He straightened up. “I don't mind saving your life, but I don't go about running errands.” He nodded down at the box. “Don't touch that. Just sit still, and wait for me to come back.”

* * *

He found the waterfall just as he remembered it. The sunlight sparkled in the roaring cascade, diffracting a shimmer of light over the water. It was a truly beautiful scene, peaceful and serene. Words which applied equally to the beautiful naga who was resting by the water's edge. Her eyes opened as he slithered towards her, and she got up, stretching lazily. Her smile was lovely beyond words, going straight to his heart.

“Well, well. Ajab,” she said, sounding both pleased and mildly amused. “It's been a while since I've had the… pleasure of your company.” He stopped, a few metres from her, and she slithered up to him.

Ajab smirked. “I've been living on memories of my last visit to you.”

“Oooh… Was it that good?” She laughed. “You didn't say much at the time. But then you rarely say much, do you?” She reached up to his face, her fingertips caressing his clean-shaven cheek, and she gazed into his eyes, teasingly.

Ajab took a deep breath. He liked Vivian, although they rarely saw each other. Despite appearances, she was not all lust and playfulness. As much as her sexual appetite and creative skill in that domain, he appreciated her intelligence, her knowledge and wisdom - whenever he could draw her into a serious conversation.

“I haven't come here for sex,” he said, bluntly. Vivian pouted, putting on an air of disappointment. She withdrew her hand from his face, and crossed her arms over her chest, beneath her large breasts.

“So what brings you here?”

“Milly sent a human to you. He was supposed to ask you to go and fetch me.”

Vivian frowned slightly, surprised.

“Why? Is Milly ok?”

“She will be.” He sighed. “She's worried about her human. It's her pet human, apparently. A male. Have you seen it?”

Vivian looked at him, and a sudden, guilty feeling crept over her.

“Uhmm…” She blushed. Ajab sighed again.

“You ate it, didn't you?”

Vivian blushed again, and nodded.

“A long time ago?”

“Well…” As though on cue, her stomach produced a long, wet-sounding gurgle, which suggested that digestion was well underway.

“Never mind,” Ajab said with a little shrug. “I'll just go and have to tell Milly.”

“Oops.” Vivian winced, embarassed. “Tell her I'm sorry, won't you? I had no idea it was her human.”

“He didn't tell you?”

“I didn't… really give him the opportunity. I used my magic on him as soon as he came near.” Her stomach growled again.

“Well, don't worry about it,” Ajab advised her. “It was an easy mistake to make. And it was just a human. Milly'll get over it.”

“I hope so,” Vivian said, and sighed. “I really am sorry.” She paused. “Maybe I should go with you, and explain it to her.”

“I don't think so. She's only just recovering from what happened to her, and if I'm going to bring her bad news… No, I'll do it on my own.”

“What was wrong with her, then?” Vivian asked, concerned.

Ajab frowned, a hint of worry on his face.

“She ate something that gave her really nasty indigestion. Something very painful. I'd like to know exactly what it was. I'd never come across anything that bad before.”

Vivian nodded, her deep, soulful eyes warm with compassion.

“I hope she'll be all right soon. I'll visit her sometime, unless it's going to make things worse.” She paused. “Uhmm…”

“Yes?”

“Do you think I should… spit him up?”

Ajab blinked.

“What for? No, she's not going to want a half-digested human.” He gave a faint smile. “No, Vivian, you keep him. You might as well finish digesting him. There's no sense in wasting good food.”

Vivian hesitated, then smiled.

“All right.” She paused. “Can you stay a while, or are you going back?”

Ajab shrugged, trying not to look directly in her beautiful, mesmerising eyes.

“I'd best get back. I don't want to leave Milly on her own too long.”

“Of course,” Vivian whispered, softly. She placed her hand on his cheek once more, and leaned in to kiss him, her soft, warm lips pressing gently against his. Then harder, as her arms snaked round him, and he felt himself put his arms round her too, kissing her in return, just as hard. Her tongue slithered in between his lips, searching his, finding it, and he responded in kind, kissing her with breathless abandonment.

She released him at last, and giggled as he caught his breath.

“Come and visit me soon,” she said, and winked.

Ajab tried not to smile, but failed.

“I will,” he promised, almost without thinking. Then he turned, and began to slither away. After a few metres, he glanced back over his shoulder. “Don't worry about the human.”

She nodded, and he left her, slithering out of the lush, grassy waterside clearing, off between the trees.

He had only been gone a few minutes, however, when he heard someone hurrying behind him. He stopped, and turned.

“Ajab, wait!”

It was Vivian. He was not used to seeing the relaxed, pleasure-loving naga in a hurry, and he felt immediately curious… and a little concerned. He waited for her to catch up. She slithered into view, holding something small cooped between her two hands. He frowned, surprised, and waited for her to reach him.

“Look,” she said, anxiously, and opened her hands. Her eyes gazed into his, but he looked down at what she was holding. He blinked.

It was a human. He lay motionless, sprawled on the smooth, light mauve palm of the female naga's hand. His little body was covered in harsh, deep pink and red acid burns, coated over in slime, and he was bleeding, his blood smearing Vivian's palm. His hair was partly gone, leaving raw, dark pink bald patches between the remaining black clumps. Ajab looked up into Vivian's face, confused.

“You spat him out.”

“Ajab, smell him,” she urged. He stared at her.

“You've got to be joking.”

“Smell him,” she said, with the utmost seriousness. The male naga sighed, and leaned down to sniff at the acid-burnt human. He wrinkled his nose.

“He smells of the inside of your stomach,” he remarked dryly. “Which isn't much of a surprise. Thank you for sharing that, Vivian.”

This time, it was Vivian's turn to sigh, impatiently.

“Apart from that.” He shrugged, and she spelled it out for him: “He smells alive, Ajab!”

Ajab frowned.

“He can't be.”

“He is,” she insisted. “Barely.”

Scowling, the male naga leaned down to smell him again. A puzzled, thoughtful expression appeared on his face. He turned his head, bringing his ear close to the motionless human, and listened for several long seconds.

“Damn it, you're right,” he whispered. “He's still breathing, very slightly.” He looked at Vivian. “Tough little thing, isn't he?”

“Is he going to survive?” she asked, worried.

“Maybe.” Ajab shrugged. “Probably not. His body has shut itself down.”

Vivian bit her lip. He had rarely seen her so serious.

“Listen, I'll give him to you. Try and make him survive. Do what you can.” She held him out, expectingly. Ajab sighed.

“Are you sure you don't want to just eat him again? He's probably going to die anyway. And if he dies outside your stomach, he'll just be food that's been wasted.”

Vivian scowled at him.

“I'm not going to swallow a half-dead human who tastes like my vomit!” She thrust him out more insistantly. “Take him back to Milly, Ajab. And make him better. Tell her I'm sorry.”

“Oh… All right.” Very carefully, he took the unconscious, dying human in his hand.

“Don't eat him on the way!”

Ajab grunted. “Believe it or not, I don't want to eat a half-dead human who tastes like your vomit,” he retorted. Vivian gave a little smile.

“Good. Thanks, Ajab.” She leaned into him a little, and whispered in his ear: “I owe you one.”

“Hmm.” The male naga gave a gruff half-smile in return. “I'll remember that.” He looked down at the human. He was going to try and save the life of food that Vivian had thrown up. This was just silly. He sighed.

“I'd better get going,” he said.

* * *

Milly cried, mixed tears of relief, fear and guilt, when Ajab returned with Isham in his hand. She sat against the tree, her eyes filled with concern, as the naga began working on the critically injured human, putting all his knowledge of medicinal plants to use in keeping him alive.

“I'm so sorry…” she whispered, tears trickling out. “I should never have sent him out!”

“You had to,” Ajab said, in a firm, no-nonsense voice, as he rubbed some sort of dark green paste over Isham's bare, burnt chest. It seemed to have some effect, as his ragged breathing quieted a little.

“Will he be all right?” she whispered, not for the first time, her voice small and frightened.

“Maybe.” Ajab did not look up, focusing on his patient. “If he survives, it'll take him a long time to recover.”

Milly cried softly, and for a while there was silence. Isham did not wake up. Ajab held him with surprising gentleness, working as quickly as he could. Milly sniffled, trying to dry her tears, and Ajab looked at her.

“I've been thinking,” he said, “about what caused your indigestion.” She looked at him with worried eyes, and he went on: “Humans don't normally cause that. Even if that human was ill, he wouldn't have given you sharp, sudden pains so quickly.” He paused, then added, quite calmly: “I think he was poisoned.”

Milly's light brown face paled a little.

“There was poison in… the human I ate?”

Ajab nodded. “I think it's likely.”

“But he wasn't ill or anything,” she pointed out.

“No. I think it must have been a specially designed poison. Something the humans did. Something that wouldn't kill him, but that would kill anyone who ate him.” He looked into Milly's face gravely. The giantess was obviously shaken.

“Who would do something horrible like that?” she whispered, aghast. “Why would they put poison in our food?”

Ajab shrugged. “It's not the first time humans have tried to kill us. Maybe the one you ate volunteered to sacrifice himself. Or maybe he didn't even know he was being used in that way. We'll never know.” He reached over, placed his hand softly on her lower belly, and looked up at her. “Whatever it was, you're all right now. He's dead. And you're not. What I gave you will fight all the poison out. Just let your body finish digesting him. You needn't worry about him ever again.” He gave her a reassuring little smile.

“But what if they send more? What if the next human I eat is also poisoned?”

Ajab frowned. It was a troubling thought.

“I'll give you some medicine to keep at home. Something you can take if this happens again. And I'll warn other people, too.”

In his hand, Isham sighed, and twitched, shivering. Milly gave him a look of deep concern.

“Is that… Is that a good sign?” she whispered.

Ajab gave a faint smile.

“It may be.” He looked at her. “If he pulls through this… You're going to have to look after each other.”

Milly took that in gravely, her dark eyes serious and caring.

“We can do that,” she said.

THE END