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           "Jill,youwouldnotwantDuke?"

           Sheheardanechoof"waterbrother"inhismind."HmmtruthfullyI’veneverreallythoughtaboutit.IguessI’vebeen‘beingfaithful’toyou–notthatithasbeenaneffort.ButIgrokyouspeakrightly;Iwouldn’tturnDukedown–andIwouldenjoyit,too.Whatdoyouthinkofthatdarling?"

           "Igrokagoodness,"Mikesaidseriously.

           "Hmm?mygallantMartian,therearetimeswhenwehumanfemalesappreciateatleastasemblanceofjealousy–butIdon’tthinkthereistheslightestchancethatyouwillevergrok‘jealousy.’Darling,whatwouldyougrokifoneofthosemarks–thosemenintheaudience,notawaterbrother–madeapassatme?"

           Mikebarelysmiled."Igrokhewouldbemissing."

           "Mmm?Igrokhemightbe,too.But,Mike–listentomecarefully,dear.Youpromisedmethatyouwouldn’tdoanythingofthatsortexceptinutteremergency.Sodon’tbehasty.Ifyouhearmescreamandshout,andreachintomymindandknowthatI’minrealtrouble,that’sanothermatter.ButIwascopingwithwolveswhenyouwerestillonMars.Ninetimesoutoften,ifagirlgetsraped,it’satleastpartlyherownfault.Thattenthtime–well,allright.Givehimyourbestheave-hotothebottomlesspit.Butyouaren’tgoingtofinditnecessary."

           "Allright,Iwillremember.IwishyouweresendingthatnaughtypicturetoDuke."

           "What,dear?Iwillifyouwantmeto.