Tasting the Forbidden Fruit, or, If This is Hell Then Why is Everyone Smiling?

Aliens finally arrive, landing at many locations, wandering about as if tourists, ignoring humans. In the aftermath of their departure cults spring up of devotees awaiting their return. Years later an apostate re-enters one such commune to which his wife has returned, to persuade her to come away with him again. What he encounters is a bizarre, deteriorating culture of unrequited longing.