Part 74 (1/2)

'That's tough, because neither of us have any choice in the matter.”

He looked down at the baby. 'Hey, you! Small fry!

Don't just lie there. Talk some sense into your mother.”

He laid Sand-Wolf in Clearwater's arms.

'Are you pleased to have a son?”

'I think so. To tell you the truth, I'm still getting used to the idea. Y'know - the two of us making a human being.

I grew up believing that the President-General was the creator of All Life.”

'And now you know it isn't true.”

Steve gave another warning glance. 'Correction. We know he doesn't create Plainfolk.”

'That's right. There's something I have to show you.”

.Clearwater peeled off Sand-Wolfs white nights.h.i.+rt and turned him face down on the bed. On the light peachy-brown skin of his back were several darker zebra stripes, running from his shoulders down to the terry-towel nappy, and forming a roughly symmetrical pattern on either side of his spine.

Steve ran a finger down one of the stripes. 'So what?”

'You're not angry?”

'Why should I be? I think he looks great - don't you?”

'Of course I do.” Sand-Wolf gave a disgruntled gurgle as she replaced his nights.h.i.+rt and laid him in the cot.

'Then why are you crying?”

Clearwater brushed the tears from her face. 'If you were a woman, you'd understand.”

'But as I'm not, I can't.”

'One day perhaps.”

Steve took her hand. 'I'm sorry I wasn't here when -' 'You're here now. That's enough.”

Steve glanced at the wall clock and sighed. 'And now I've got to go.

See you this evening.” He kissed her lightly on the cheek then placed a hand on the baby's chest and rocked him gently from side to side.

'G'bye, Sandy.”

As he turned to go, Clearwater threw aside the bedclothes.

'Wait! I'll walk you to the door.”

'Walk? You mean without -?”