ou might as well know now as later," she said. "You'll
know in any event."

"Know what?"

"That you're right. I am human."

"And what brought on this sudden change of--" He stopped abruptly, his
eyes widening.

"Yes," Copper said. "I am with child. Your child."

"But that's impossible."

She shook her head. "It's a miracle perhaps, but it's not impossible.
It's happened. Can't you see the difference?"

"See what? You look just as you always do."

"I suppose you can't see it yet," she admitted. "But I am with child.
I'm two weeks past my time."

Kennon's mind leaped to the obvious conclusion. Pseudo-pregnancy. He had
seen it before among Lani at Hillside Farm. It was an odd syndrome
which occasionally occurred in humans and animals. The brain, desiring
children, made demands upon the body and the body responded to its
desire by tricking the brain. Lani were fairly subject to its probably
because they had better imaginations. He would run a few tests when they
went down to the hospital, and once she realized the practical joke her
body was playing everything would be all right. No wonder she seemed
excited.

"We'll find out about that later," he said equably. "We'll settle this
when we get back to the hospital."

Copper smiled confidently and patted her stomach. "I know what you are
thinking, but you're wrong. We Lani know about these things. In forty
generations I am the first to conceive as the Master intended."

"I hope you haven't," Kennon said with such bitter sincerity that Copper
looked at him wide-eyed. "Not now. Because if you have, neither your
life nor mine is safe."

"Why?"

"The Alexanders. Do you think they'll take it lying down? We're not
ready for them yet. They'll fight, and the first thing they'll do is
kill you and erase me so we would never be able to talk. You have been
declared an animal, and you will not be allowed to change."

"What can we do?" Copper asked. She shivered. "I do not want to die."

"Nor do I want you to," Kennon said.

"I could tell the others."

"And just what would that accomplish?"

"In a week every Lani on the island would know it. There would be
revolt. For the Lani would no longer be dependent upon Men to survive.
Their greatest hold on us would be gone. And we would be free again on
our island world."

"You would not!" Kennon said. "That sort of thinking is foolishness.
Alexander would have men here within a week, and a week after that you
would be