Marina slips on the bikini, and - first practicing raising each of her four hooves in turn - trots over to Ixion. She stumbles a bit - but the elder centaur grabs her wrist. Marina straightens herself and hugs Ixion. He squeezes her in turn, and kisses her on the forehead.
"Welcome, daughter! I hope you will enjoy your new life with us," he says tenderly. "We are your family now, and we will look after you. But come!" Ixion steps over to the wall, and pulls aside the drapes there. "See yourself!"
Both you and Rachel watch as Marina gazes into the uncovered mirror. She rubs her hands over the short fur below her waist - at the front and sides, and along her sturdy back. Then Marina raises her fingers to her ears as they lengthen slightly and develop points. Her ears now look like Ixion's and Themis's - reminiscent of Mr Spock from Star Trek. Both they, and her tail, now twitch in excitement.
Rachel steps forward, and Marina turns round to face her and yourself.
"How do you feel, Marina?" Rachel asks, breathlessly.
"Terrific! It's weird being so tall..., and big! But I feel full of energy! I can't wait to explore what I can do with this new body!" Marina squeezes Rachel's arm - then stops as her stomach rumbles. Seconds later, her OTHER stomach rumbles. "Uh-oh! I'm hungry!"
"That is what the food on the table is for." Themis smiles. "You have more than doubled your body weight. You need the energy to sustain it."
"We'll let you eat. See you soon, Marina!" Rachel turns to you. Her face looks troubled. "Let's go outside, Ben."
You nod. You see the young centaur couple step forward to greet their new sister. Ixion nods as you excuse yourselves. Finally, you tear your eyes away from your now-beautiful friend, and follow Rachel.
Dick and Anarosa are deep in conversation with Kaymarl. Slipping away from the building, Rachel leads you to the edge of the vineyard, where there's a couple of trees - giving you both a little privacy, as you sit down.
"So... What do we do now?" you ask. You check the hotel receipt again. 'Memories' has disappeared altogether from it, now. On impulse, you quickly write 'Ben & Rachel' at the bottom, and tell Rachel about this. "Deirdre, Harry, and Felicia proberly won't remember Marina now - until they see she's a centaur! And Krista... We don't know the score with her, yet.
"I know, Ben," Rachel replies softly. "And our mobile phones don't work. Ben... I'm sorry. I know we got away from this island this morning. But I don't think I'll be leaving it again!"
You feel a chill rush through you. "You want to stay with Marina. As a centauress, yourself," you announce.
Rachel swallows hard, and nods. "Maybe it's the island itself, tugging at me... But the more I see of the centaurs, the more I want to be like them. Running freely on four hooves - being a part of nature, yet still having a human mind. Being something noble and fabulous. More than human..."
"What about your family, Rachel? And the life you already have?" You try not to sound bitter.
"My dad's okay, I guess. But he's always preferred my brother. And I've never really gelled with my step-mum. My life is...," she shrugs. "So-so. Being here makes my life seem safe, but mundane - by comparison."
"I feel exactly the same... But what about our friends? What about me?"
Rachel sees your distress, and draws closer to you. "I love my friends - Harry too! Dick... Well - hopefully, he's a better person, now. As for you, Ben..." Rachel slips her arms around you. "I've like you, as a friend, for a while, now. But events on this island have forced me to acknowledge the depth of our developing relationship. And... I know now, that I love you, Ben," Rachel announces, shyly.
You smile and hold her close. "I'm in love with you as well, Rachel," you confess. Then you kiss her. She eagerly locks lips with you.
When you break lip-contact, Rachel looks squarely into your blue eyes. "I want to ask Ixion and Themis to transform me, Ben. And I want you to be changed with me! What do you say?"
You gulp. "What if I say no? What if I go back home?"
Rachel looks downcast, but she squeezes your hand tightly, and smiles. "I've decided... Whatever you choose, Ben, I want to stay with you. If we do go back home... Well, at least Marina will be in good hands."
"Let's find Harry, Deirdre, and the others, then," you sigh, relieved. The two of you get up and start walking. Then - without warning - you turn and grab Rachel, before lifting her up and around. Losing balance, the two of you crash back down to the ground, at the base of a tree.
Rachel's shriek turns into an uncontrollable fit of giggles. "What was THAT for?" she asks, as you embrace her. You brush her rich brown hair.
"That was for making the right decision, Rach." You grin. "How about we engage in a...stable...relationship? And see MORE of each other?"
Her green eyes widen with delight. "You mean...?"
"Yes! I want both this - and you! I'll be your loyal stallion, Rachel - if you will be my mare!"
"I'll be yours for life, Ben!" she pledges to you. "When do we join Marina?"
"Well, I would've said straight away - but..." You undo the top button of Rachel's blouse. "...I think we should know what it's like to experience love-making, as humans..."
"...Before we let our final chance slip by." Rachel smiles. She reaches down to remove the belt from your jeans. The two of you kiss and stroke each other in foreplay, as you undress Rachel and she undresses you. Finally, you remove the last item Rachel is wearing - her spectacles. But you keep your St. Christopher around your neck.
The two of you join together in a display of tender love-making. All thoughts and fears of the satyrs are banished from your minds. Neither of you feel the false stirrings of last night's transformation.
When you both rise again - flushed and grinning like kids at Christmas - you get dressed, and walk back to the centaur communal hall, hands locked together. As a couple, the pair of you are ready to renounce half of your physical humanity, and become complete.