MINEOLA, NY

DECEMBER 24

Romy watched Betsy adjust the IV running into Meerm's arm. The air seemed close in the spare, windowless little procedure room. Patrick had walked out - the sim's distress had been too much for him - leaving Romy alone with Betsy and Meerm.

Betsy looked up at her. "The contractions have subsided."

"How long can this go on?" Romy asked, relieved the sim's pain had finally eased.

Betsy shook her head. "Not too much longer. I was right in the middle of an ultrasound when she started having contractions. I'd love to give the baby another week but Meerm's uterus won't last that long."

"Why baby hurt Meerm?" the sim said.

"As I told you, Meerm," Betsy said softly, "the baby's not trying to hurt you. It's just that you're too small and the baby's too large." She turned to Romy and lowered her voice. "I tried to give her an anatomy lesson earlier. I don't know how much of it took."

"On the new ultrasound," Romy said, "did you see what sex it was?"

Betsy smiled. "Meerm wanted to know too. Isn't that something? I didn't think sims differentiated that much between sexes, but she was very curious. She wants a girl."

"And?"

"Can't say. The baby's packed in too tight. If I had one of the higher resolution imagers I could tell, but not with this model. I'll do another one tomorrow. Maybe we'll get lucky."

"Yes. It would be nice to be able to call the baby 'he' or 'she' instead of 'it.'"

"Indeed it would. Oh, by the way, Zero called to see how the night went."

"When will he be here?"

"He won't. He thinks it's safer for all concerned if I'm the only one seen coming and going from here."

Romy hoped her disappointment didn't show. She needed to talk to Zero - not on the phone, but face to face. Her emotions were still in wild turmoil, but she needed to know howhe felt, and whathe wanted. Once she knew that, she could begin to sort out her own feelings, make some decisions. She didn't know what the future held, but she was keeping all options open for now.

Then Patrick stuck his head into the little room. "I think the house is being watched."

Romy felt her shoulders tighten. "You're sure?"

"I haven't seen men with binoculars trained on us, but someone's sitting in a car parked up the street facing this way, and he's been there for a while."

"Show me."

He led her to the picture window in the living room. It was midday but the low gray sky shed little light into the room. Romy reached for a lamp, then thought better of it.

"Damn," Patrick said. "It's gone. But I tell you, it was sitting right over there for a good half hour."

Romy scanned the street and saw a blue sedan parked against the curb at the other end.

"Was that there before?" she asked, pointing.

"No," Patrick said. "I'm sure it wasn't. And this one's got - doesn't that look like two men inside?"

"Yes, it does," Betsy said, coming up behind them. "I'm calling the police."

"Is that such a good idea?" Patrick said.

Romy smiled. "I think it's a great idea. If theyknew something, they'd havedone something. Betsy left SimGen with a roar, so it's no surprise they're watching her. Probably watching a number of ex-Natal- Center people. But why should we let them have an easy time of it? Let's make them explain to the local constabulary what they're doing out there."