Chapter 13

           HenryFosterloomedupthroughthetwilightoftheEmbryoStore.

           "Liketocometoafeelythisevening?"

           Leninashookherheadwithoutspeaking.

           "Goingoutwithsomeoneelse?"Itinterestedhimtoknowwhichofhisfriendswasbeinghadbywhichother."IsitBenito?"hequestioned.

           Sheshookherheadagain.

           Henrydetectedthewearinessinthosepurpleeyes,thepallorbeneaththatglazeoflupus,thesadnessatthecornersoftheunsmilingcrimsonmouth."You’renotfeelingill,areyou?"heasked,atrifleanxiously,afraidthatshemightbesufferingfromoneofthefewremaininginfectiousdiseases.

           YetoncemoreLeninashookherhead.

           "Anyhow,yououghttogoandseethedoctor,"saidHenry."Adoctoradaykeepsthejim-jamsaway,"headdedheartily,drivinghomehishypnopædicadagewithaclapontheshoulder."PerhapsyouneedaPregnancySubstitute,"hesuggested."Orelseanextra-strong

           V.P.S.treatment.Sometimes,youknow,thestandardpassionsurrogateisn’tquite..."

           "Oh,forFord’ssake,"saidLenina,breakingherstubbornsilence,"shutup!"Andsheturnedbacktoherneglectedembryos.

           AV.P.S.treatmentindeed!Shewouldhavelaughed,ifshehadn’tbeenonthepointofcrying.Asthoughshehadn’tgotenoughV.P.ofherown!Shesighedprofoundlyassherefilledhersyringe."John,"shemurmuredtoherself,"John..."Then"MyFord,"shewondered,"haveIgiventhisoneitssleepingsicknessinjection,orhaven’tI?"Shesimplycouldn’tremember.