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〃What？ Galahad； you're the world's worst tease。 You not only don't want me to； you know I'm mitted to the Senior even though he refused； me。 Until Ish tells me to drop it。 If she does。〃
Ishtar finished ordering； wiped the screen。 〃Galahad； don't tease our baby。 I want both Harnadryad and me to be free of other contracts as long as either of us has any chance of getting our client interested in cohabitation； or progeny； or both。 Not just a lark but something he can take seriously。〃
〃So？ Then why in the name of all the fertility gods did you arrange to have both of you pregnant at once？ I don't get it。 I hear the whir； but the figures won't add。〃
〃Becau？e； my stupid darling； I didn't dare wait。 The Director may e back any time。〃
〃But why you two？ With maybe ten thousand healthy hostmothers registered and available？ And why two？〃
〃Dearest man； I'm sorry I said you were stupid…you aren't； you〃re just male。 Hamadryad and I know exactly what risks we are taking and why。 We don't look pregnant and won't for weeks yet； and if either of us can jockey Lazarus into a contract； an abortion takes ten minutes。 Professional host…mothers won't do for this job； it has to be bellies over which I have some control and women I trust utterly。 Bad enough that I had to trust a gene surgeon and risk a proscribed procedure…Ira may' have to get me out of that if anything slips。
〃But you know as well as I do； sweet Galahad； that even an ordinary clone sometimes goes wild。 I wish I had four female bellies I could use； not two。 Eight。 Sixteen！ Increase the chances of getting one normal fetus。 In another month…long before it shows…we'll know what we're carrying。 If the odds fail both of us…well； I'm ready to start over again and Hamadryad is； too。〃
〃As many times as necessary； Ishtar。 I swore it。〃
Ishtar patted her hand。 〃We'll get a good one。 Galahad； Lazarus is going to have his identical twin sister； I promise you…and once it is an acplished fact； we'll hear no more talk of tennination…option switches； or leaving us； or anything…at least until she's woman tall！〃
〃Ishtar？〃
〃Yes； Hamadryad？〃
〃If we both show normal fetuses a month from now…〃
〃Then you can abort； dear； you know that。〃
〃No； no； no！ I shan't！ What's wrong with twins？〃
Galahad blinked at her。 〃Don't bother to answer； Ish。 Let me give you the male angle。 'The man who can resist raising identical twin girls hasn't been born。 And his name isn't Lazarus Long。 Look； dears； is there anything； anything at all； that can improve both your chances？ Now？〃
〃No。〃 Ishtar repeated softly； 〃No。 … We both test pregnant that's all we can say or do now。 Except pray。 And I don' know how to pray。〃
〃Then it's time we learned！〃
VARIATIONS ON A THEME
Voices in the Dark
After Miierva ordered his evening meal for Lazarus； then supervised its service； the puter said； 〃is there anything else； sir？〃
〃I guess not。 Yes。 Will you have dinner with me； Minerva？〃
〃Thank you； Lazarus。 I accept。〃
〃Don't thank me； you aredoing me a favor； milady。 I'm moody tonight。 Sit down； dear； and cheer me up。〃
The puter's voice repositioned so that it appeared to e from the other side… of the table where Lazarus sat； as if a flesh~and…blood were seated there。 〃Shall I construct an image； Lazarus？〃
〃Don't put yourself to the trouble； dear。〃
〃It's no trouble； Lazarus； I have ample spare capacity。〃
〃No； Minerva。 That hold you made for me one night… perfect； realistic； moved just like a flesh…and…blood。 But it wasn't you。 I know what you look like。 Umm 。 。 lower the lights and spot enough light on my plate to let me eat。 Then I'll see you in the gloom without a bob。〃
The lighting readjusted so that the room was almost dark save for a pool of light on chastely perfect tableware and napery in front of Lazarus。 The contrast dazzled his eyes enough that he could not see across the table without peering…he did not peer。 Minerva said； 〃What is my appearance； Lazarus？〃
〃Eh？' He stopped to think。 〃It fits yout voice。 Hmm； it's a picture that has grown up in my mind without thinking about it； during the time we have been together。 Dear； do you realize that we have been living together more intimately than husband and wife usually manage？〃
〃Perhaps I don't； Lazarus； since I cannot experience being a wife。 But I am happy to be close to you。〃
〃Being a wife doesn't have too much to do with cop~Ulation； my dear。 You've been a mother to my baby； Dora： Oh； I know that Ira stands first wiib you 。 。 but you are like that girl Olga I spoke of； you have so much to give that you can
enrich more than one man。 But I honor your loyalty to Ira； Your love for him； dear。〃
〃Thank'you； Lazarus。 But…if I know what the word means…I lov？ you； too。 And Dora。〃
〃I know you do。 Both。 You and I have no need to worry over words； we'll leave that to Hamadryad。 Mmm； your appearance…you are taB； about as tall as Ishtar。 But slender。 Not skinny； just slender…strong … and well muscled without being bulgy。 You are not as broad in the hips as she is。 But broad enough。 Womanly。 You're young； but a mature young woman； not a girl。 Breasts much smaller than Ishtar's； more like Haniadryad's。 You are handsome rather than pretty； and you are rather solemn； except when one of your rare smiler lights up your face。 Your hair is brown and straight； and you wear it long。 But you don't fuss with it other than to keep it clean and neat。 YoUr eyes are brown and match your hair。 You usually don't wear cosmetics； but you almost always wear some sort of clothing…simple clothing； you are not a clothes…horse； dress does … not interest you that much。 But you go naked only with persons you fully trust…a short list。
〃That's all； I guess。 I haven't tried to imagine details； this is just what grew； in my mind。 Oh； yes！…you keep your nails； both hands and 'feet；' short and clean。 But you aren't fussy about it； or about anything。 Neither dirt nor sweat bothers you； and you don't flinch at blood； even though you don't like it。〃
〃I am very pleased to know how I look； Lazarus。〃
〃Huh？ Oh； fiddle； girl…that's my imagination living its own life。〃
〃That is how I look；〃 Minerva said firmly； 〃and I like it。〃
〃All right。 Although you can be as dazzingly beautiful as Hamadryad if you want to be。〃
〃No； I look just as you described me。 I am a 'Martha；' Lazarus； not her sister Mary。〃
Lazarus said； 〃You surprised me。 Yes； you are。 You've read the Bible？〃
〃I have read everything in the Great Library。 In one sense I am the Library； Lazarus。〃
〃Mmm； yes； should've realized it。 How is the twinning process ing along？ Going to be ready？ Say if Ira getta burr under his saddle and takes off in a hurry。〃
〃It is essentially plete； Lazarus。 All my permanents； programs and memories and logics； are twinned in Dora's number…four hold； and I run routine checks and exercise by