Nobody understood you, least of all me, and with those exotic markings about your eyes, you were considered gorgeous.Nobody understood you, least of all me, and with those exotic markings about your eyes, you were considered gorgeous. It's nice to see you've become a fine young woman, P'nyssa. And to have landed THE prize male on the planet." It was my turn to cough. "So," Rael continued, "We don't get many visitors. What brings you two out this far? Just a pleasant visit?" "Actually, Rael," P'nyssa began, "I'm going to have another child." "Wonderful! But that's not the reason for your visit, is it? Or is it?" His voice had just a hint of suspicion in it. P'nyssa's never been long on tact and delay. "I want you to be the father." Rael looked surprised for all of half a second. "Oh. Oh my. I see, I think." "Rael, can we talk about this outside?" "Eh? Sure, sure. Let me get my jacket." Rael and P'nyssa went through a door into the back of the old house and I heard the sound of a screen door. There was a moment of dead silence, then Dagmar said "Ken, why don't you sit down?" "Any place in particular?" "Sit anywhere. The couch, the chair. Just don't use that rocking chair. That's mine." I smiled and settled myself into a well-worn easy chair that looked like it had seen its share of patches over the years. "I have to ask you," she began, "what's this all about?" "Think of it as an anniversary present," I said, thinking quickly. "P'nyssa hasn't had a child in over two hundred years. |