“You will pay for it?”
“Not me specifically,” Warden Tenn said. “But I have access to some funds allotted by the empire to use as I see fit. Human medical equipment is an investment that will be useful for more people than just Jolene. Especially if…”
His voice trailed off. His wife said, “If?”
“If any of the other human women become pregnant.”
His gaze met Tasha’s and burned white. Something told me he was not thinking of the other human women. But one woman in particular.
“We’ll get right on it, Zohro,” Tasha said, finally breaking that taut connection. “I have access to all manner of human databases, so I can start sending you the literature right away.”
“I do not have a data tab with a working screen,” I grated.
“Oh. Shoot. I’ll send it to Jolene’s, then. Her comms tablet will have translation software for you. And then, once you’ve had a chance to look at some of that stuff, you just get Tenn and me a list of supplies you’ll need. And then even if…” She suddenly paused, eyeing me, as if she did not want to say the next part to me. I raised my chin in challenge. Her words could not scare me. They could not hurt me.
“And then, even if Jolene decides to leave after the trial period, we’ll still have some important supplies for whoever needs them later.”
It appeared that I was wrong about Tasha’s words not being able to hurt me. One mention of Jolene leaving me and I was suddenly twitchy with the need to protect myself without knowing how.
“Hello? Good morning!”
And strangely, it suddenly was.
I turned to find Jolene in her jamdildos, boots, and hat. She stepped slowly down the steps from the porch, one hand pressed against the round underside of her abdomen, the other groping in the air, and, finding nothing, giving up.
Why the blazes had I never built a porch rail there?
“Good morning, Jolene!” Tasha called over, waving. “Happy morning of your marriage!”
I watched Jolene closely for her reaction to Tasha’s words. I prepared myself for her to flinch, or to somehow show displeasure at the mention of our marriage. But all she did was smile that brilliant smile and say, “Thank youuuuu,” in a bright voice, drawing out the last syllable like she was singing.
I wondered if she ever actually sang.
I wondered if she’d ever sing to me.
“Be right back,” Jolene said. She reached the ground and hurried – as quickly as she was capable of, anyway – towards the outhouse.
“I’ll leave you two to get ready,” Tasha said. “And I’ll start sending over the medical stuff right away.”
“Tasha,” I said as she moved to re-enter the tent. She paused, expectant.
“Send me everything you can find about taking care of newborn human babies, too.”
She tipped her head towards me. I had no idea why, but she looked pleased.
“You got it, Zohro.”
19
JOLENE
“Ithink I’m just going to get married in this,” I told Tasha and the warden. I’d had my morning pee, washed my hands (and, awkwardly hunched over my bump, my pits), eaten a snack, and then had come to find Tasha and her brawny, purple-skinned, white-haired, sheriff-looking husband waiting for me. “They’re the prettiest things I own,” I said of the pyjamas Zohro had made me. “Plus, they’re white.”
“Of course!” Tasha replied, squeezing my shoulder. “You look wonderful!”
Well, I wasn’t sure aboutwonderful. I was about to get married in pyjamas, cowboy boots, and a hat. I also still hadn’t figured out the shower situation, so I’d brushed and braided my hair, praying that the hat would be enough to hide the greasy roots. But my face was clean, and I was here and willing, wasn’t I? So that had to count for something.
But it suddenly felt like it counted for a whole lot less when Zohro came striding out of the house.
