Copper had been acting strangely of late, Kennon thought as he rolled over in his bed and watched her standing before the full-length mirror on the bathroom door. She pivoted slowly before the glass, eying herself critically, raising her arms over her head, holding them at her sides, flexing her supple spine and tightening muscles that moved like silken cords beneath her golden skin. “What are you trying to do--become a muscle dancer?” Kennon asked idly. She whirled, a crimson blush deepening the tan of her face. “You were supposed to be asleep,” she said. “I’m an unregenerate heel,” he replied, “and I don’t sleep too well nowadays unless you’re beside me.” “Well--I suppose you might as well know now as later,” she said. “You’ll know in any event.” “Know what?” “That you’re right. I am human.” “And what brought on this sudden change of--” He stopped abruptly, his eyes widening. “Yes,” Copper said. “I am with child. Your child.” “But that’s impossible.” She shook her head. “It’s a miracle perhaps, but it’s not impossible. It’s happened. Can’t you see the difference?” “See what? You look just as you always do.” “I suppose you can’t see it yet,” she admitted. “But I am with child. I’m two weeks past my time.” Kennon’s mind leaped to the obvious conclusion. Pseudo-pregnancy. He had seen it before among Lani at Hillside Farm. It was an odd syndrome which occasionally occurred in humans and animals. The brain, desiring children, made demands upon the body and the body responded to its desire by tricking the brain. Lani were fairly subject to it probably because they had better imaginations. He would run a few tests when they went down to the hospital, and once she realized the practical joke her body was playing everything would be all right. No wonder she seemed excited. “We’ll find out about that later,” he said equably. “We’ll settle this when we get back to the hospital.” Copper smiled confidently and patted her stomach. “I know what you are thinking, but you’re wrong. We Lani know about these things. In forty generations I am the first to conceive as the Master intended.” “I hope you haven’t,” Kennon said with such bitter sincerity that Copper looked at him wide-eyed. “Not now. Because if you have, neither your life nor mine is safe.” “Why?” “The Alexanders. Do you think they’ll take it lying down? We’re not ready for them yet. They’ll fight, and the first thing they’ll do is kill you and erase me so we would never be able to talk. You have been declared an animal, and you will not be allowed to change.” “What can we do?” Copper asked. She shivered. “I do not want to die.” “Nor do I want you to,” Kennon said. “I could tell the others.” “And just what would that accomplish?” “In a week every Lani on the island would know it. There would be revolt. For the Lani would no longer be dependent upon Men to survive. Their greatest hold on us would be gone. And we would be free again on our island world.”