Free Children of Tomorrow by A. E. van Vogt

distance, they looked like men. By the time they were in the shadow region between the lights, something about the way they walked implied youthfulness. As they now emerged into the brightness opposite the gate, they became the familiar figures of Mike Sutter and Lee David.
    The two boys were silent, and seemed to be in a thoughtful mood as they walked. It was Mike who casually glanced toward the Lane veranda. For a moment his face was merely receptive. In fact, he actually did the well-known stereotype: he started to look away.
    It was the double-take phenomenon, then. He looked again, jerkily this time, and simultaneously caught at Lee’s arm, stopping him. From that moment, and for the minute or so that followed, it was all automatic. First, their heads turned and became fixed. Then, more slowly, their bodies moved around until they were standing almost touching. Throughout, they stared at what was happening on the veranda.
    Susan and Sennes had reached the point, after some verbal maneuvering by the man, where he was unlocking the door for her. He turned from the task in such a way that he blocked any intent she might have had to simply take the key and slip past him into the house. Truth was, the possibility that she might attempt such a disappearing act was a thought in the man’s mind only. Truth was, the erotic implications of Senne’s earlier holding remarks had passed completely over the girl’s head. And now, she accepted the key from him and presented her right cheek for him to kiss, like the good little jabber that she was.
    Without hesitation, Captain Sennes put his arms around her and kissed her on the mouth, firmly but briefly. Susan started to struggle, and then as he removed his lips from hers, she protested in a muffled voice, ‘Not my lips ,,. my cheek. It’s all right on my cheek.’ The reason her voice was muffled was because, as she started to resist, the man expertly drew her face against his chest. For him it was the moment he needed to shift his hold on her and obtain a firmer grip on his next maneuver.
    ‘No,’ he said, ‘not your cheek.’ Having spoken, he used the hand that held the back of her head to keep her head steady while, with a quick movement, he again placed his Ups against hers. All she could do after that was squirm helplessly. She apparently soon realised that she was completely captured by his overwhelming strength^ for she presently merely stood there, her lips passive against his, and waited.
    During the almost-minute of that kiss, Mike and Lee at the gate watched with differing emotions. It was all happening too quickly for genuine emotions to break through. What both boys showed at first was shock. At no time during the actual event did Lee indicate jealousy. He simply remained in a physiologic reaction of something akin to dismay. On the other hand, Mike with his quicker responses came out of his freeze state, and lunged at the gate. He was fumbling at the catch when Lee’s restraining hand stopped him. Lee made a peremptory gesture, and after a moment Mike nodded. The two boys backed slowly to the right until they were standing behind a tree.
    As they did so, on the veranda Captain Sennes relaxed his hold on Susan. She began to fight again, and he thereupon allowed her to break free. As she did so, she gasped, ‘Till I’m nineteen, I should only be kissed on my right cheek, and I want you to remember that in future.’ She spoke in a severe, censuring tone.
    ‘Lips are much sweeter,’ said Sennes.
    ‘Good night,’ said Susan firmly.
    'You liked it, didn’t you?’ Sennes persisted.
    It’s against outfit rules.’ Her voice implied that that was all that needed to be said about the matter.
    The man was not to be put off. ‘But you did like it?’ he said.
    There was a pause. 'Well/ said the girl finally in her honest fashion, ‘I’m looking forward to when I’m nineteen.’
    "You weren’t wishing it was someone else kissing you?’ Sennes asked.
    It was