"We live together, that is. But more than eroticism is involved, I assure you."
"Of course." Now it began to sound like most of my other cases and I could get my teeth into it.
"You seem doubtful," the Venerian said with a sharp-toothed frown. "Let me reiterate that what I say is so. The three of us have spent a ygith together—that is more than fourteen of your long years. But now the ygith is over and we must seek another—how would you say it?—liaison?"
"This is essential?" I asked. "Not just a whim?" It is, you see, the duty of a Legal Eagle to make every effort to save a marriage. In view of the circumstances, I felt that surely this was a marriage unique and therefore worth saving.
"No whim," declared Clare emphatically. "Each ygith—or what you Terrestrials would call 'mating period'—we must uh—realign. If we do not, deleterious effects are certain. Our health goes bad. We may even die."
"My friends," I said, "you have very little to worry about. There are many similar cases here on Terra. Just last week, for example, a divorce was granted in the case of Nork vs. Nork wherein it was established that the plaintiff, Mr. Nork was allergic to Mrs. Nork. A simple case, and not the first of its kind. I myself tried one such case wherein a wife broke out in a rash whenever her husband sought to question her about the household expenses. A divorce was granted on the grounds of basic incompatibility."
"Ah," Clare said sadly. "If it were only that simple. Our two correspondents, Gail and Evelyn, are ready to enter the realignment. But—" and here the Venerian glared at the smallest of the trio. "this ungrateful wretch is unwilling to adjust to the changed circumstances."
Great tears formed in Jean's slotted eyes. "How can you speak that way to me? After we've been through so much together?"
"Now, now—" Thais, who has a very soft heart, patted Jean in an effort to make he she or it feel better.
"Get to the point, Clare," Vivian said testily.