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"I don't think you could. Is it an alternation? And what's the spacing?"
"Spacing has no rule, just what suits us. Been alternation up to latest link, last year. We married a girl when alternation called for boy. But was special."
"Special how?"
"My youngest wife is a granddaughter of eldest husband and wife. At least she's granddaughter of Mum--senior is 'Mum' or sometimes Mimi to her husbands--and she may be of Grandpaw--but not related to other spouses. So no reason not to marry back in, not even consanguinuity okay in other types of marriage. None, nit, zero. And Ludmilla grew up in our family because her mother had her solo, then moved to Novylen and left her with us.
"Milla didn't want to talk about marrying out when old enough for us to think about it. She cried and asked us please to make an exception. So we did. Grandpaw doesn't figure in genetic angle--these days his interest in women is more gallant than practical. As senior husband he spent our wedding night with her--but consummation was only formal. Number-two husband, Greg, took care of it later and everybody pretended. And everybody happy. Ludmilla is a sweet little thing, just fifteen and pregnant first time."
"Your baby?"
"Greg's, I think. Oh, mine too,, but in fact was in Novy Leningrad. Probably Greg's, unless Milla got outside help. But didn't, she's a home girl. And a wonderful cook."
Lift rang; took care of it, folded down table, opened chairs, paid bill and sent lift up. "Throw it to pigs?"
"I'm coming! Mind if I don't do my face?"
"Come in skin for all of me."
"For two dimes I would, you much-married man." She came out quickly, blond again and hair slicked back and damp. Had not put on black outfit; again in dress I bought. Red suited her. She sat down, lifted covers off food. "Oh, boy! Ma
"I'll ask. Must be unanimous."
"Don't crowd yourself." She picked up sticks, got busy. About a thousand calories later she said, "I told you I was a Free Woman. I wasn't, always."
I waited. Women talk when they want to. Or don't.
"When I was fifteen I married two brothers, twins twice my age and I was terribly happy."
She fiddled with what was on plate, then seemed to change subject. "Ma
"Twins didn't get along?"
"Oh, not that at all. I got pregnant and we were all delighted... and I had it, and it was a monster and had to be eliminated. They were good to me about it. But I can read print. I a
"Wasn't that drastic? Male parent oftener than female; men are exposed more."
"Not in my case. We had it calculated by the best mathematical geneticist in Novy Leningrad--one of the best in Sovunion before she got shipped. I know what happened to me. I was a volunteeer colonist--I mean my mother was for I was only five. My father was transported and Mother chose to go with him and take me along. There was a solar storm warning but the pilot thought he could make it--or didn't care; he was a Cyborg. He did make it but we got hit on the ground--and, Ma
"Can't start argument; they don't care. But, Wyoh, still sounds hasty. If you caught damage from radiation--well, no geneticist but know something about radiation. So you had a damaged egg. Does not mean egg next to it was hurt--statistically unlikely."
"Oh, I know that."
"Mmm-- What sterilization? Radical? Or contraceptive?"
"Contraceptive. My tubes could be opened. But, Ma
I didn't say left arm more versatile than right--she was correct; don't want to trade in right arm. Need it to pat girls if naught else. "Still think you could have healthy babies."
"Oh, I can! I've had eight."
"Huh?"
"I'm a professional host-mother, Ma
I opened mouth, closed it. Idea wasn't strange. I read Earthside papers. But doubt if any surgeon in Luna City in 2075 ever performed such transplant. In cows, yes--but L-City females unlikely at any price to have babies for other women; even homely ones could get husband or six. (Correction: Are no homely women. Some more beautiful than others.)
Glanced at her figure, quickly looked up. She said, "Don't strain your eyes, Ma
"But I didn't know how well it suited me when I first heard of it. I was clerking in a Hindu shop, eating money, no more, when I saw this ad in the Hong Kong Gong. It was the thought of having a baby, a good baby, that hooked me; I was still in emotional trauma from my monster--and it turned out to be Just what Wyoming needed. I stopped feeling that I was a failure as a woman. I made more money than I could ever hope to earn at other jobs. And my time almost to myself; having a baby hardly slows me down--six weeks at most and that long only because I want to be fair to my clients; a baby is a valuable property. And I was soon in politics; I sounded off and the underground got in touch with me. That's when I started living, Ma
How many women apologize? But Wyoh was more man than woman some ways, despite eight Chinee babies. "Wasn't bored."
"I hope not. Ma
Suddenly felt tired. How to tell lovely woman dearest dream is nonsense? "Um. Wyoh, let's start over. You told them what to do. But will they? Take those two you singled out. All that iceman knows, bet anything, is how to dig ice. So he'll go on digging and selling to Authority because that's what he can do. Same for wheat farmer. Years ago, he put in one cash crop-- now he's got ring in nose. If he wanted to be independent, would have diversified. Raised what he eats, sold rest free market and stayed away from catapult head. I know--I'm a farm boy."
"You said you were a computerman."
"Am, and that's a piece of same picture. I'm not a top computerman. But best in Luna. I won't go civil service, so Authority has to hire me when in trouble--my prices--or send Earthside, pay risk and hardship, then ship him back fast before his body forgets Terra. At far more than I charge. So if I can do it, I get their jobs--and Authority can't touch me; was born free. And if no work--usually is--I stay home and eat high.