Чужак в чужой стране

           Whichmakesitrathersillybehavioronthepartofaperson,namelyme,whohasnointentionandnowish,atmyage,tocausesuchincrease."

           Sheshookherhead."Babiesaretheobviousresult?butnottheprimarypurposeatall.Babiesgivemeaningtothefuture,andthatisagreatgoodness.Butonlythreeorfouroradozentimesinawoman’slifeisababyquickenedinher?outofthethousandsoftimesshecanshareherself–andthatistheprimaryuseforwhatwecandosooftenbutwouldneedtodososeldomifitwereonlyforreproduction.Itissharingandgrowingcloser,foreverandalways.Jubal,MikegrokkedthisbecauseonMarsthetwothings–quickeningofeggs,andsharing-closer–areentirelyseparate?andhegrokked,too,thatourwayisbest.WhatahappythingitisnottohavebeenhatchedaMartian?tobehumanandawoman!"

           Helookedatherclosely."Child,areyoupregnant?"

           "Yes,Jubal.IgrokkedatlastthatwaitinghadendedandIwasfreetobe.MostoftheNesthavenotneededtowait–butDawnandIhavebeenquitebusy.Butwhenwegrokkedthiscuspcoming,Igrokkedthattherewouldbeawaitingafterthecusp–andyoucanseethattherewillcertainlybe.MikewillnotrebuildtheTempleovernight–sothishighpriestesswillbeunhurriedinbuildingababy.Waitingalwaysfills."

           Fromthishigh-flownmishmashJubalabstractedthecentralfactorJill’sbeliefconcerningsuchapossiblefact.Well,shenodoubthadhadplentyofopportunity.