“But we’d talked it through before either of us was famous, long before we were married. I thought fidelity was a holdover from old times, when women were property.”

“Do you still?”

“Not as strongly. But yes.” It wasn’t something I’d put into words. “Things are different, now that we’ve had children, but really there’s no reason for that. Parenthood in Mars is so detached from biological reality.”

She nodded. “You don’t go through all the physical grief. And then you don’t raise them by hand.”

“Which I sort of regret. They have my genes, and Paul’s, but we’re more like an aunt and uncle who play with them now and then.” I had a cold feeling, deep. “Under the circumstances, of course, that’s for the best.”

“When you get back . . .”

“They’ll be older than me. Fifty years pass for them, twelve for us. In the unlikely possibility that we survive.”

“Yeah.” She leaned back and closed her eyes; she was dead tired. “I shouldn’t be so concerned about where Moonboy puts his weenie. Let him have whatever pleasure he can find.”

“For symmetry, you ought to go after Namir. He’s old, but not that old. And good-looking.”

“If good-looking was important to me, I wouldn’t have grabbed Moonboy. Besides, if Namir is interested in anyone aboard, it’s you.”

“Really.”

“Don’t act surprised. It’s pretty obvious.”

“We’ve liked each other from the beginning. But not that way.”

“Man, woman. It’s the basic way.”

“He’s never made any kind of . . . gesture.”

“I don’t think he ever would. He’s the kind of man who waits for you to ask.”

“Well, he’s got a long wait, then.” Or maybe not.

Chapter 10 - SWEET MYSTERY OF LIFE

10

SWEET MYSTERY OF LIFE

Elza was late coming to bed. I’d just turned off my book and the light when the door opened and closed and I heard her slip out of her clothing. I touched her shoulder as she eased into bed. Cool and damp with sweat.

“Exercising this late?”

“In a way. Moonboy.”

“Ah.” I didn’t know what to say. “Meryl know?” They have both their beds together in one large suite.

“No. She was with the Martians.”

“A . . . sort of a milestone, I suppose.”

I could feel her smile in the darkness. “The first act of adultery outside of the solar system.”

“That presupposes an abundance of virtue on the part of extraterrestrials. We’ll put up a plaque anyhow.”

“You’re too sweet.”

There was a long pause. “So how was it?”

“It was Moonboy. Men don’t normally reveal hidden depths.”

“Or lengths?”

“Men.” She made a quarter turn and pressed her back into my chest, spoon fashion. “Get some sleep.”

“What, I don’t get sloppy seconds?”

“Thirds. Get some sleep.” I didn’t press the issue, though I found the situation curiously stimulating.