“You knew that.” The image sat forward. “Which brings us to the ‘yes’ part. If you bring Sam into the line, John may relax. He may see it as spreading out the responsibility for keeping you happy, and so when he does come to you, it will be with less anxiety, and he will be more likely to … complete the sexual act.”

“You know a hell of a lot about sex for somebody who’s never done it.”

“Through the ship’s sensors, I monitor the sexual function of over nine thousand people. Patterns emerge.”

“You once described to me that privacy thing in your algorithm. If I asked you how often Harry Purcell had had sex with Tania Seven, you wouldn’t be able to tell me.”

“I could if it was necessary for your welfare. These things about Evelyn and John, it hurts me to say them, in the only way that I can feel pain. But this is a context you established. And that context, along with my estimation of your response, determines what I am allowed to say to you.”

“Give me some more of the ‘yes’ part.”

“The one who would benefit most from the marriage would be Sam. At twenty-four, he’s under a lot of personal and social pressure to join a line. The other two women he’s involved with are only sexual partners.”

“That’s another thing I needed to know?”

“You’ve met them both. Did you think he played chess with them?”

“At the pool, I remember, those two. With the breasts.”

“The first time he had sex with you, before he could get up the nerve to ask, you did play chess. You played fairy chess and he spotted you a barrel queen.”

“I’d forgotten that.”

“I never forget anything. That’s one advantage you have over me.”

“You don’t think he’s really interested in either of them?”

“You are the one he asked to marry. He does love you. But you have to be clearheaded about it. He’s certainly aware that your line allows casual sex with people outside the line. It’s an important factor.”

O’Hara looked at her twin for a long moment. “Now there’s something else you’re not telling me.”

“It’s not something you need to know.”

“If it’s about Sam I need to know it.”

The image picked at nonexistent threads. “When I was hooked up to you during our initial orientation, we talked in some detail about your experiences with Charlie Devon, on Devon’s World. When I asked about one particular sex act, your fear response was instant and strong: respiration and pulse increased, you sweated profusely. Your adrenal medulla squirted norepinephrine. Your anus clamped shut like a trap.”

“The ropes.”

“That’s right.”

“Sam … ties up those women?”

“One of them, Lilac. Sometimes she ties him up.”

“Sam?”

“It’s a common enough practice. More common here than in New New.”