The Forest at the Edge of the World(138)
Now, the law was that each woman could birth only two children, in order to keep the population from overtaxing their resources. And Mahrree had heard that some thought it a good idea that if a couple wanted their full quota of babies, they should have the children close together . . .
But this—this close?!
By the end of the week Perrin had that same look in his eyes he had over a year before. As Mahrree flopped wearily back into bed from another early run to the washing room, he said, “So I was thinking the next addition should go on the other side of the house, up against the side fence. I have some ideas and I’d like to build this one by myself. I don’t know that Jaytsy would like to share a room when she’s a teenager.”
“I can’t believe it,” Mahrree muttered. “I mean, it’s really quite miraculous. Something like this shouldn’t happen for quite a while considering . . .” Then the tears began to fall. “But Perrin, Jaytsy still isn’t sleeping through the night!” she wailed. “We’ll never sleep again!”
“At least this time we’ll know what we’re doing. Sort of.” Perrin chuckled quietly and gave her a comforting kiss on the cheek. “Last Holy Day I heard someone wonder if the Creator has a sense of humor. I think I now have an answer for him.”
---
Two men sat in the dark office of an unlit building.
“The information on the raid in Trades has been most intriguing. I appreciated the chart you made,” Mal said.
“Thank you,” the second man nodded. “I was cutting up my wife’s pie, and had the idea that its shape would lend itself to representing the variety of responses. I never before appreciated her pies. After so many years you would think she could figure out how to make a decent one. This one was still undercooked, but at least I—”
“So,” Mal said, cutting off his partner before he went into too much detail about his disappointing dessert, “Edge has been very quiet for a few moons, hasn’t it?”
“Well, I suppose you could say that,” the second man said. “At least the forest’s been quiet. Wait a minute. You haven’t heard the news?”
“News? What news?” Mal squinted.
“I thought that was the real reason for our meeting tonight, that you were going to twist this into verifying your speculation.”
“What are you talking about?!” Mal demanded.
His partner chuckled to prolong Mal’s irritation. “It seems our Captain Shin has been a very busy man. Truly, Relf didn’t tell you?”
Mal nearly had smoke coming out of his ears.
“They kept it quiet for a time, the shock of it all, but . . .” The second man leaned closer to him. “The captain’s going to be a father again. By the end of next Planting Season, most likely.”
“No!” Mal exclaimed.
His companion grinned. “Yes.”
“He’s taken a mistress?”
“No!” the middle-aged man laughed. “His wife’s expecting again!”
“That will be two in just over a year’s time!” Mal said in disbelief. “Is that . . . is that typical, Doctor?”
The doctor shook his head. “No, but not unheard of. You see, in some cases, the female can still—”
“Ha!” Mal cut him off in sudden realization—and also because the anatomy of women was never anything he was ever interested in. “It IS my speculation! He’s so dissatisfied with the girl that he’s desperately trying for a boy! There!”
The second man shrugged. “Oh, I don’t think so. From the bits of evidence we’ve gathered, Shin seems to enjoy his daughter. You heard the High General—Perrin even carried his daughter up to the fort to visit her grandfather when he was there for a brief inspection. I watched Relf when he recounted that story. Speaking as a doctor, I believe I saw a spark of approval in his eyes.”
Mal scoffed at that. “There were women in the room, too. Relf was merely trying to play the proud grandfather role, to show he has a family side to him. That’s all.”
“That’s all you choose to see,” his partner said reprovingly. “Nicko, consider that you may be losing your objectivity—”
“Not that again. You know how tiresome you sound? ‘Nicko, you’re not objective!’” Mal whined.
“You know how childish you sound?”
“I’m sixty-seven years old!” Mal snapped.
“Age has nothing to do with childishness,” the second man leaned forward in his chair. “Nicko, you’re a brilliant man with a fantastic mind. Your ability to analyze is unsurpassed. But for some reason, whenever the discussion comes around to Perrin Shin or Relf, you become completely irrational. I see a bead of sweat on your forehead. How’s your heart?”