. The only question is one of time. It
may take years. Still, I don't think there is anything to worry about. I
don't think Alexander will give us any trouble, but there's no sense in
taking chances."

"You still think I'm a Lani," she said accusingly.

"I do not."

"Then you think that I'd obey Alexander, after what I did to Douglas."

"I can only repeat that Douglas isn't the Boss-man."

"I wish I knew what you really thought."

"That isn't hard. I think you should stay here until I get this business
straightened out."

"That's all?" she asked suspiciously. "After all, I know I'm not very
pretty now. And there's lots of Lani on Flora--"

"Oh, for Ochsner's sake! Do you think that I'm--" He paused, speechless.
"Just what do you think I am?"

"You're a man. And that's the trouble."

Kennon chuckled. "So that's it! You don't trust me."

"I love you," Copper said.

"Sometimes I wonder why men ever finalize their status with women,"
Kennon murmured. "It does no good. It doesn't convince the woman. She's
still fearful, jealous, and suspicious--always belittling her ability
to hold what she has, always alert for competition, clinging, holding,
absorbing--when she should be working as part of a team."

"That's not true!"

"Then prove it."

"How--by staying here while you go to the end of the galaxy and play
noble?"

"I'm only doing what I have to do."

"And so am I--and if you go I'm going with you."

Kennon shrugged. There was no sense arguing. The only thing to do was
make his plans and leave quietly. If she was faced with an established
fact, she might be more reasonable. He doubted it, but alone, she could
do nothing--and Brainard would see that she was comfortable. The salvage
money from the Egg would keep her from being a public charge. And he had
more banked in Albertsville which he could send her once he got there.
He'd start making plans to leave as soon as possible.

Copper looked up at him as he stood above her bed. Slowly she reached
out and placed one slim hand in his. "I know what you are thinking," she
said, "and--" her face twisted in a grimace of pain, and the hand in his
clutched with convulsive strength at his fingers.

"What's the matter?" he said.

"Nothing--it's perfectly normal," she said. "I'm just going to give you
a son. Now if you'd call for the doctor, perhaps we can get this over.
That pain was only twenty minutes from the last. I think it's about
time."

Kennon--who