dulge their drives the way troopers do, and I
dread to think of the consequences."

"I think you're underestimating them, Your Highness," Cortin said,
allowing herself a smile. "I was raised in a farming family, and I can
assure you they're every bit as disciplined as troopers, although in a
different way." She grimaced. "I'll take drill, and transfers, and
orders, and getting shot at, any day, over milking and plowing and
feeding and getting up before dawn every day! Even with the virus'
help, farm life doesn't leave enough energy for overindulgence. I'm
sure most would be happy to keep their sexual activity within the
family."

"Happier than now, I'd bet," Bain said. "That way, they'd get the
variety the virus makes you want, without having to go outside the
family--which would be a major reduction in adultery all by itself."

"That sounds reasonable," the Princess said. "Your argument about the
virus being a new life form is one I can't refute either, so go on. We
recognize the Satyr Plague as God's gift; then what?"

"The first thing, as Your Highness has already agreed, is to get
polygamy approved," Cortin said. "And, as His Highness has pointed
out, convincing the Church to sanction it is going to be difficult.
Assuming we can manage that, even on a small scale to demonstrate its
effects on the birthrate, the next step is to eliminate the terrorists.
I don't know for sure, but I think that's going to mean a showdown
between me and Shannon--the real one--and that, gentles, terrifies me."
She took a deep breath, exhaled slowly in an attempt to calm herself.
"Assuming the new family structure and Shannon's defeat, what I saw was
God's Kingdom, here in the Systems. That tells me the Final Coming
must have taken place sometime between now and then, with the
protection from sin Jeshua said the Protector would bring to those who
sought it. I didn't see that part, though."

The Princess crossed herself. "The Spirit Who will come to correct and
comfort," she said softly.

"'Who will come in a form none can predict,'" Bradford quoted,
"'bringing God's Wrath to those who persist in sin, and His Eternal Joy
to those who forswear it.' Are you claiming to be His Herald, Colonel
Cortin?"

"I'm not claiming anything, My Lord Bishop. All I'm doing is telling
you about some things I saw in what may have been nothing more than a
drug-induced hallucination. But it's one convincing enough I have to
believe and