The Lost Colony, DM Arnold [ebook reader for laptop TXT] 📗

I told her she must've done her reading. She gave me a shy look and said no -- that she and Mos figuring it out by themselves was part of the fun.”

“But -- I thought you said Laida didn't want children.”

“She didn't want to be pushing out baby after baby on Varada. This child is different.”

“Won't it be risky?” Suki asked. “What does Floran medicine know of novonids?”

“We have good doctors. Novonid physiology isn't so different from human. With a little coaching from Varada, our doctors will do fine. It is a risk Laida is willing to take. Her child will be the first ever free-born novonid.”

“Nykkyo -- I want another baby.”

“You want another baby? You didn't want the first one.”

“I know I didn't. Babies will do that to you. I desperately want to have another baby.” She rubbed the inside of her upper left arm where her state-managed contraceptive capsule was implanted. “I know I can't. I know Andra can't, and neither can Senta. Florans are so ... so non-fecund, it's a wonder we don't have negative population growth.”

“We have population stability -- right where the bureaucrats want it.”

“If Laida is the only one of your friends who's pregnant -- well, maybe that's as close as I can come.”

“Novonid infants are adorable.”

“Please introduce me to her. I'm the only one of your circle of friends who HAS had a baby. Maybe I can give her some advice.”

“Maybe you can. We'll make a point of it.”

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Publication Date: 07-08-2015

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