Self-Portrait - E. D. James

She pushed against the rail of the ship with her arms and arched her back trying to get out the kinks from forty hours of air travel. The sun beat down strongly in the way it does at high latitudes in late summer and a mild breeze kicked up the musty organic smell of the river. She felt good in her new beach bucket hat, sol shirt, and zip off khaki pants, all made of organic cotton. She’d splurged a bit getting ready for this trip. Even still, it had hardly made a dent in the advance they’d given her. The clothes she’d bought were somewhat nerdy but also were cut in a way that made her feel good about her body. She wanted to project a professional image. Evolutionary biologists weren’t known for their sartorial sense, but Olivia liked to have a bit of style no matter what she was doing. She’d also made sure the shirts all covered the lotus flower tattoo on her upper arm. The yin/yang at the back of her neck she would keep covered by wearing her hair down. Some men, particularly in foreign countries, tended to make some judgments about a woman who wore tattoos. She didn’t want to have to give any of the men she’d be dealing with any more excuse than their own egos to hit on her.