But _I_ can. I am a woman, and Larry is a man. We will go home and have our baby. And perhaps the baby will be the means of our freedom, some day. If we cannot speak to save ourselves, he may some day be able to speak for us. I do not think the blocks they set in us will penetrate my womb as my own thoughts, I hope, already have. * * * * * _Author's note: Before writing this story--as a story--I talked with Johnny's parents. I approached them cautiously. His mother is a big woman, and a brunette. His father is a friendly fat redhead. I already knew that neither of them reads science-fiction. The word is not likely to be mentioned in their household._ _They moved to town about three years ago. Nobody here knew them before that, but there are rumors that Johnny is adopted. They did not volunteer any confirmation of that information when I talked to them, and they did not pick up on any of the leads I offered about his recitation._ _Johnny himself is small and fair-haired. He takes after his paternal grandmother, his mother says...._ * * * * *