ary," Kennon said.

Blalok sighed with relief and turned to Alexander. "We could check the
records while those two are about their bloody work."

"I'd rather check a long strong drink," Alexander replied. "What with
the Family and this, it's too much to take for one evening."

Kennon hid a smile. Alexander had a weak spot. He was squeamish. That
was a good thing to know.

CHAPTER VI

Jordan opened the door of the two-story building below Blalok's house.
"This is it," he said, "just outside your front door. Convenient--no?"

"Too convenient," Kennon said, "also too quiet. Isn't anyone on duty?"

"I wouldn't know. Old Doc never kept the place open at night."

There was a stir of movement in the darkness, the lights flashed on,
and a sleepy-eyed Lani blinked at them in the sudden glare. She looked
blankly at Kennon and then brightened as she saw Jordan. "What's the
trouble, sir?" she asked.

"Nothing. We want to look at the Lani I sent down this morning--Dr.
Kennon would like to inspect the carcass."

"You're the new doctor?" the Lani asked. "Thank goodness you've come!
I'll get the staff. I'll be back in a moment." She stepped quickly over
to the switchboard beside the door and punched five buttons. Four more
humanoids came into the room, followed a little later by a fifth.

"Where's the emergency?" one asked.

"He is--it's our new doctor."

"More females," Kennon muttered to himself. He turned to Jordan. "Aren't
there any males in this crew?"

Jordan stared at him with mild surprise. "No, sir--didn't you know?
There are no male Lani."

"What?"

"Just that," Jordan said. "Only females. There hasn't been a male on the
island since Old Man Alexander took over. He killed them all."

"But that's impossible! How do they reproduce?"

"Ever hear of artificial fertilization?"

"Sure--but that's a dead end. The offspring are haploids and they're
sterile. The line would die out in a generation."

"Not the Lani--you can see for yourself. We've been using the technique
here for better than four centuries, and we're still doing all right.
Over forty generations so far, and from the looks of things we can go on
indefinitely."

"But how is it done?"

"I don't know. That's Alexander's secret. The Boss-man doesn't tell us
everything. All I know is that we get results. Old Doc knew how it was
done, and I suppose you will too, but don't ask me. I'm dumb."

Kennon shrugged. Maybe--maybe not. At any rate there