Love? Why not? Even neurotics like Ferry and Demarest needed love. Or . . . if not love, at least an occasional couch partner.

A remembered image of Foul-breath shuddered through her mind. She could almost feel the touch of his hand translated to her own young flesh. Involuntarily, she brushed her arm.

Maybe that’s how they get so foul. No love . . . no lovers.

There was no evading the summons, though. She slid off the servo and crossed to Ferry’s hatch. It snicked open at her approach. Why was she reminded of a sword leaving its scabbard?

“Ahhh, dear Hali.” Ferry opened his palms to her as she entered.

She nodded. “Dr. Ferry.”

“Sit down wherever you like.” His hand rested on the arm of a couch, inviting her to the place beside him. She chose a seat facing him, cleared off the mess of papers and computer discs that covered it. The whole office smelled sour in spite of Ship’s air filtration. Ferry appeared to be drunk . . . at least happy.

“Hali,” he said, and recrossed his legs so one foot reached out to touch hers. “You’re being reassigned.”

Again, she nodded. Groundside?

“You’re going to the Natali,” Ferry said.

It was totally unexpected, and she blinked at him stupidly. To the Natali? The elite corps which handled all natural births had never been her ambition. Not even her hope. A dream, yes . . . but she was not the type to hope for the impossible.

“How do you feel about that?” Ferry asked, moving her foot with his.

The Natali! Working daily with the sacrament of WorShip!

She nodded to herself as the reality of it seeped through her. She would join the elite who opened the hatchway to the mystery of life . . . she would help rear the children shipside until they were assigned to their own schools and quarters at the age of seven annos.

Ferry smiled a red-stained smile. “You look stunned. Don’t you believe me?”

She spoke slowly. “I believe you. I suspected that this . . .” She waved a hand at his office. “. . . was for reassignment, but . . .”

Ferry made no move to respond, so she went on.

“I thought I’d be going groundside. Everyone seems to be going there, lately.”

He steepled his fingers and rested his chin on them.

“You’re not happy with this assignment?”

“Ohhh, I’m very happy with it. It’s just . . .” She put a hand to her throat. “I never thought I . . . I mean . . . Why me?”

“Because you deserve it, my dear.” He chuckled. “And there’s talk of moving the Natali groundside. You may get the best of both worlds.”

“Groundside?” She shook her head. Too many shocks were coming at her one after the other.

“Yes, groundside.” He spoke as though explaining something simple to an errant child.