take me."

"Then I shall take you without his consent."

She smiled. "It would be easier to stay here. In another fifteen years I
will be old and you will not want me."

"I'll never do that. I'll always want you."

"You swear too easily," she said gently. "You men live forever. We Lani
are a short-lived race."

"But you needn't be. It's obviously--"

"It's been tried, my love--and those who were treated died. Man
Alexander tried many years ago to make us long-lived like you. But he
failed. You see, he loved one of us too."

"But--"

"Let us think no more of it. Let us enjoy what we have and be grateful
to the Gods for the love we enjoy--or do you have any Gods?"

"One."

"Two are better. More, anyway. And besides, Ulf and Lyssa and the
God-Egg are responsible for our joy."

"They are indeed," Kennon said.

"Then why should you think of leaving the place where they rule? You
should stay here. There will be other Lani when I am gone. You will be
happy always."

"Not without you," Kennon said. "Don't you understand that I love you?"

"And I you. But I am a Lani. You are a man."

"You're as human as I am," Kennon said abruptly.

"That is what you say," Copper replied. "I am not so sure. I need more
proof than this." She waved her hand at the ship.

"What proof do you need?"

"The same as the proof you men require. If I should have your child,
then I would believe that I was human."

"I've told you a thousand times that the radiation on this ship must
have affected Ulf and Lyssa's germ plasm. Can't you understand that?"

"I can understand it all right, but it does not change things. Ulf and
Lyssa may have been human before they came here, but they were not when
they landed. They were Lani, and their children were Lani."

"But they were of human stock."

"The law that lets men become our masters does not agree with you."

"Then the law is wrong. It should be changed."

Copper shrugged. "Two people cannot change a law."

"They can try--particularly if the law is unjust."

Copper sighed. "Is it not enough for us to love? Must you try to run
through a wall?"

"When the wall stands in the way of right and justice I must."

Copper looked at him with pity in her green eyes. "This I do not
understand. I know nothing of right and justice. What are these things?
Just words. Yet you will endanger our happiness for them. If it is my
happiness you wish--then leave this foolishness alone. I have fifteen