9
BATHED AND smelling of mint, Jessica followed Ikay and her Amazons back into the main hall. A mass of people gathered, talking and waiting around steaming pots. The white in their skin patterns showed up brightly, as if the light had a strong ultraviolet component. Large eyes glinted. Jessica felt vulnerable. After coming out of the water, Ikay had given her a thin belt to wear around her waist, so there was nowhere to hide. She was so tall, and her skin was so white it almost glowed. People stared—they always did. A seventeen year old girl in the body of an adolescent boy. No curves, no femininity.
Hands, tails and other body parts slithered past her as she struggled to keep up with Ikay. Air stroked her skin in places normally well-covered. Drops of water ran from her still-wet hair
