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           AtfirsthetalkedofhospitalinCairnsfortheremainderofherpregnancy,butafteralongthinkaboutherhusbandless,friendlesssituationhedecidedshewouldbebetteroffwithLuddieandAnne,whodidcareforher.Forthelastthreeweeksofherterm,however,shemustdefinitelygotoCairns.

           "Andtrytogetherhusbandtocomeandseeher!"heroaredtoLuddie.

           MeggiehadwrittenrightawaytotellLukeshewaspregnant,fulloftheusualfeminineconvictionthatoncethenot-wantedwasanirrefutablefact,Lukewouldbecomewildlyenthusiastic.Hisansweringletterscotchedanysuchdelusions.Hewasfurious.Asfarashewasconcerned,becomingafathersimplymeanthewouldhavetwononworkingmouthstofeed,insteadofnone.ItwasabitterpillforMeggietoswallow,butswallowitshedid;shehadnochoice.Nowthecomingchildboundhertohimastightlyasherpride.

           Butshefeltill,helpless,utterlyunloved;eventhebabydidn’tloveher,didn’twanttobeconceivedorborn.Shecouldfeelitinsideher,theweaklytinycreature’sfeebleprotestsagainstgrowingintobeing.Hadshebeenabletotoleratethetwo-thousand-milerailjourneyhome,shewouldhavegone,butDocSmithshookhisheadfirmly.Getonatrainforaweekormore,eveninbrokenstages,andthatwouldbetheendofthebaby.Disappointedandunhappythoughshewas,Meggiewouldn’tconsciouslydoanythingtoharmthebaby.