Rebel's Seed by F.M. Busby

Author:F.M. Busby [Busby, F.M.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Science Fiction
Published: 2011-12-18T18:20:44+00:00

XIX

His brows raised to their utmost, Anders Kobolak said, "Maybe you'd better explain that a little more."

"It's simple enough. We'll provide a house for each of you, and of course your food and so forth will be furnished. You each choose as many non-pregnant women as you like – and the more the better. At the time when any one of them should be fertile, she will stay with you for three days. For faster breeding, this system is obviously more efficient than Orval Sprague s. Naturally we don't want to keep you from your other duties any longer than need be."

Stretching his reach, Anders cut the Talk switch. "The man's crazy!"

DeWayne Houk nodded. "Not to tell him that, I think."

Unexpectedly, Alys Molyneux giggled. "All of it, insane. The black hole almost got us, then the radiation took my damn hair, most of what looks I ever had. The ship's Drive gone. Us stuck here on a stupid world with a lot of Uties, and no way off it. Now they want stud service!" She spread her arms wide. "I say the hell with all of it! I say –"

As Alina Rostadt's slap reverberated and Molyneux went silent, Lisele thought, She doesn't even realize she's still handsome, hair or no hair! But Naomi Gray was saying, "You can't all go stay in their area of control, captain. You –"

Anders swung a hand against any talk at all. "I know that. And more, too. But I need to think."

Leaning forward, Naomi Gray touched his shoulder.

"Tell that man – just tell him the matter is under advisement, and that you'll get hack to him."

Kobolak's expression was a mixture of gratitude and surprise. He nodded, and on the circuit to Maiden, phrased his answer rather closely to Naomi Gray's suggestion.

Cutting the circuit, he said, "Now what?"

"This doesn't affect me personally," said Gray, "since they're not asking us women to breed for them. Not that we could, anyway, with our implants working. So I think I can speak impartially."

She paused; Kobolak said, "Well then, do it!"

"All right. I think you're going to have to do something along the lines Maiden's asking. You want his cooperation, and here's your first hint of a bargaining tool."

DeWayne Houk smothered a laugh. "Tools; oh, yes!" Sobering, he said, "Father a few colonist brats, no skin off mine." He looked sidewise to Naomi Gray, as if gauging her reaction; when she showed none, he added, still looking at her, "But right, you have it. Not to go to them; they come here."

"No." Anders shook his head. "Whatever else we decide, there'll be no Uties – colonists, I mean – on this scout."

"And what will we decide?" said Alina Rostadt. Anders looked distressed, as his wife said, "If all this officially-mandated rutting gives us a chance to get our ship working again, I for one won't raise any prissy objections. I don't pretend to like it, but –" She clasped Kobolak's hand. "I know it's not your doing, and I won't hold it against you.

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