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“Isee.”GoodieBo-long nodded. “Butif youdidfind a cure forManimalism, you wouldn’t feel the need to bring it backheretoZo’rathThree—would you?”
Andifrowned at this question—which she could tell was very important.
“Well…” she said slowly. “FromwhatI’veheard, the women onZo’rathThreeare actually better off sinceTheIncidentoccurred.FromwhatFlow-da, my friend, said you were actually oppressed by the men in your lives before they all turned intoManimals.”
“Thatwe most certainlywere!”GoodieBo-long declared, making a grand gesture and nearly spilling her drink on the black and white carpet. “Why, women weren’t allowed to doanything.Wecouldn’t hold jobs—not even if we were eminently qualified for them.Weweren’t allowed to attend any higher education—though some of us, like myself, had tutors,” she added. “MydearMothersaw to that—my father died and left her quite wealthy and she always said she wouldn’t have an ignoramus for a daughter.”
“Shesounds like a very…”Andihiccupped. “Oh, ‘scuse me!Avery progressive woman,” she finally got out.Wasshe slurring her words?Maybeshe ought to go easy on the purple drink.Butit tasted soniceand it was so calming after nearly being killed by theManimalpack.Whileshe considered if she ought to stop drinking it, she took another large sip andGoodieBo-long continued talking.
“Motherwasquite progressive,” she said, nodding. “Soby the timeIwas of marriageable age,Iheld an unofficial degree in bothMicrobiologyandAdvancedMathematics.Ithought it would be best to marry a man who also held degrees—Ithought someone like that would recognize my worth,” she added.
“Anddid he?Imean, your hush…your hush…yourhusband,”Andigot out at last. “Didhe recognize your worth?”
“Oh, absolutelynot,my dear!”GoodieBo-long sighed. “Hewouldn’t let me even help with his research—whichIsolonged to do, since he was studying quite a fascinating pathogen—a mind altering, parasitic spoor, you know,” she added.
Itseemed toAndithat this information was important somehow, but she wasn’t quite sure how.Soshe only nodded and sipped more of her drink.
“So…he was mean to you?” she asked.
“Notmean so much as cold and indifferent.”GoodieBo-long sighed. “Heleft me alone while he tinkered away in his laboratory for hours and hours—and then he had the nerve to get upset whenItook a lover!Well, what wasIsupposedto do?” she went on argumentatively, as thoughAndihad berated her. “I’ma very sexual woman andIhaveneeds.Needsthat my husband refused to meet.”
“Heshounds…soundsawful!”Andisaid firmly, taking another drink.Howwas it that her glass was almost empty?
“Hewas, my dear—most men on this planet were,”GoodieBo-long said. “Theyall needed to be taken down a peg or two, you know?Whichis why whenTheIncidenthappened, it was actually ablessing.Wewomen were finally free!Freeto live our lives and explore our sexual fantasies to the fullest without anyone to tell us ‘no.’”Shesighed pensively. “Whocould have guessed that some women would take that freedom and twist it, like theNewOrderhas?”
“They’reacult,”Andiwhispered loudly.Shedidn’t want anyone from theNewOrderto hear her call them out for what they were.Butwait—they weren’t here, were they?Herthoughts felt rather muddled.
“Yes, a cult—that’sexactlywhat they are!”GoodieBo-long nodded vigorously. “They’vetaken the beautiful gift they were given—complete sexual freedom for the first time in their lives—and twisted it into a cult of shame and pain and suffering!Beatingthemselves withPainLeaves, just because they feel desires they can’t control!It’ssick,Itell you—sick!”
“Ssssssick,”Andiagreed, the word hissing in her mouth.Suddenlyher eyelids were feeling extremely heavy.Sheslumped back againstCade, who pulled her closer. “Sosick…” she murmured, still agreeing withGoodieBo-long.
GoodieBo-long frowned.
“Areyou quite all right, my dear?”
“I’mfine,”Andiassured her.Shefrowned. “’cept my glass is empty,” she added, waving the glass mournfully.
GoodieBo-long laughed.
“Mydear,Ithink you’ve had quiet enough for tonight.Themain thingIwant to know is, ifIhelp you get back to your people and youdofind a cure forManimalism, will you promisenotto bring it back here?Wewomen are much better off as we are,” she added.
“Ipromish,”Andisaid promptly, putting down the empty glass. “Notgonna cure theManimals.They’rebetter off like they are.Atleasht thewomenare better off.”
“Wecertainly are.Thankyou—I’mglad to have your word on that.”GoodieBo-long nodded firmly. “Andnow,Ithink it’s time you got to bed.WillyourManimalcarry you if you tell him to?Idon’t think you’re fit to walk.”
Anditurned rather laboriously and put her arms around the bigHybrid’sneck.
“Cade, up!” she told him. “Canyou pick me up?Canyou get up?”
Hetilted his head to one side and a frown came to his face—toAndihe looked very much like he was trying to understand her—maybealmostunderstanding her, but not quite getting it.
“Nevermind, dear—I’llhelp you.”GoodieBo-long put down her own glass-which was still mostly full—and came over toAndi. “Up, you get,” she said, looping an arm aroundAndi’swaist and helping her stand on wobbly legs.
Cademade a sound in his throat and got up at once.Reachingdown, he liftedAndiinto his arms and held her protectively close to his broad, bare chest.
“Oh,nowhe’s got the idea!”GoodieBo-long exclaimed. “He’sa smart one, yourManimal—he just wants a bit of training.”Shenodded atCade. “Allright—come along then.Come.”
“Followher,Cade.”Andipointed as the other woman walked away. “Youcan do it—go!”
