"Ah, warmth again," he said. Well, not "said" really. It had been a very long time since he'd said anything. In that way, at least.
But, either way, there was warmth. He turned towards the sun, bathing himself in its light and heat. He had traveled so far, he'd grown cold. Time now to warm himself, to regain his energy. Before moving on.
He moved slowly, reaching in towards the heat. He tried not to disturb the spinning balls, so perfectly balanced.
"Always so careful."
Pleasure, not unalloyed, shot through him. He moved, filling the space between the fourth and fifth balls, seeking her out.
"Not always so careful, I'm afraid," he countered.
Her laughter was like the chiming of little bells, and he warmed to its effect.
"Ah yes, I remember that unfortunate incident. It was quite a bang."
He looked around. There she was, off to one side, warming herself. He could see pleasure in her every movement. And took pleasure in watching.
She reached out to him, but her attention was snagged by one of the spinning balls.
"Oh look, this is a very pretty blue and white one, isn't it?"
She moved away from the heat and curled herself around the ball.
"Careful now," he said. "Don't shield it from the light. Who knows what will happen?"
Even as he said this, he noticed the blue fading, the white growing dominant.
"Oops," and her laughter chimed again.
He moved closer to get a better look and she uncurled from around the, now very white, ball. They watched as the blue began to return.
"You see? Good as new."
"Well, at least you managed not to kill off everything."
"When did I ever?" He heard the undercurrent of challenge, but ignored it.
"Tell you what," she said, "let's go down there. You'd learn so much."
"No," he said, but she was already gone.
"They'll tell stories about us -- forever". Her voice floated up to him.
"That's not why--" he began. He sighed, a breath over the deep around him.
"Eve," he said, as he began down after her. "Don't spoil it for them."
Again he heard the far off chiming of bells.
