that they had had regular checkups and other medical attention； far more than slaves on Blessed usually received。
She had thirty…two teeth in perfect condition but could not tell me when the last four molars had erupted； just that it was 〃not long ago。〃 He had twenty…eight teeth and so little space in his jaw for adult molars that I anticipated trouble。 But X…ray prints showed no buds。
I cleaned and filled the cavities； and made note that he must have those fillings removed and the tissue regenerated on Valhalla； and be inoculated against further decay； Valhalla had good dentistry； far superior to what I could do。
Llita could not tell me when she had last menstruated。 She discussed it with Joe； he tried to count on his fingers how many days it had been since they had been taken； from their home place； as they agreed that it was before that。 I told her to let me know next time and each time； so that I could determine her cycle。 I gave her a tin of napkins； eme？gency supplies I hadn't known I had…must have been in the ship twenty years。
She did tell me； and I had to open the tin for her； neither of them knew how。 She was delighted with the little elastic panty included in the package； and often wore it when she did not need it； as 〃dress up。〃 The kid was crazy about clothes； as a slave she had never had a chance to pamper her vanity。 I told her it was all right as long as she washed it every time she wore it…I clamped down hard on cleanliness； inspecting their ears； sending them from the table to scrub their nails； and so forth。 They had received no more training than a hog。 She never had to be told twice； and picked on him and made sure that he met my standards； too。 I found myself being more exacting with myself； I could not bring dirty fingernails to the table or skip a shower because I was sleepy…I had set the standards and had to live up to them。
She was almost as unskilled a seamstress as she was a cook； but she taught herself because she liked clothes。 I dug out some bright…colored trade cloth and let her have fun…and used it as carrot…and…stick； wearing anything became a privilege that depended on good behavior。 I put a stop that way…well； mostly
…to her nagging her brother。
That wouldn't work with Joe； clothes did not interest him…but if he rated it； I gave him more of a working over during exercise period。 Seldom…he was not the problem she was。
One evening； three or four of her periods later； I noticed on my calendar that she was past due…having forgotten the matter。 Minerva； I never walked into their staterooms without knocking； shipboard life required such privacy as can be managed…too little； that is。
Her door was open； and her room was empty。 I tapped on his door； got no answer； went on； looked for her in the wardroom and galley； even in our little gym。 I decided that she must be taking a bath and I would speak to her in the morning。
As I passed his stateroom again in heading back to my cabin； his door opened； she stepped out and closed it behind her。 I said； 〃Oh； there you are！〃 or some such。 〃I thought Joe was asleep。〃
〃He's just gone to sleep；〃 Llita said。 〃Do you want him； Captain？ Shall I wake him？'
I said； 〃No； I was looking for you； but I tapped on his door five or ten minutes ago and got no answer。〃
She was contrite over not having heard my knock。 〃I'm sorry； Captain。 I guess we were so busy we didn't hear you。〃 She told me how they were busy…which I had figured out； having suspected it from the momeat I noticed that she was a week overdue after being clock regular。 〃That's understandable；〃 I said。 〃I'm glad my knock didn't disturb you。〃
~'We try never to disturb you with it； Captain；〃 she answered with sweet seriousness。 〃We wait till you go to your cabin at night。 Or sometimes when you take siesta。〃
I said； 〃Goodness； dear； you don't have to be that careful。 Do your work and keep your study hours； then do as you please the rest of the time。 Starship 'Libby' is not a sweatship； I want you kids to。 be happy。 Can't you get it through your fuzzy head that you are not a slave？〃
Apparently she could not； quite； Minerva； for she still fretted that she had not heard my knock and jumped to respond。 I said； 〃Don't be silly； Llita。 It will keep till tomorrow。〃
But she insisted she wasn't sleepy and as ready and anxious to do whatever I wanted…which made me a touch nervous。 Minerva； one of the oddities about 〃Eros〃 is that women are never so willing as when they just have； and there was nothing in Llita's background to inhibit her。 Worse； I found that I was aware of her as a ripe female for almost the first time…since the two came aboard…she was standing close to me in a narrow passageway； 隺rrying in one hand one of those weird costumes she delighted in making； and was a bit whiff from happy exercise。 I was tempted…and felt certain that she would respond at once and happily。 The thought crossed my mind that she was already pregnant…nothing to fret about。
But I had gone to much trouble with these ephemerals to shift from slave owner to father figure； stern but loving。 If I took her； I would lose that and add onc more disturbing variable to a problem already too plex。 So I grasped the
tle。
Captain Sheffield said； 〃Very well； Llita。 e to my cabin。〃 He headed toward it； she followed。 Once there； he offered her a seat。 She hesitated； then put her gaudy dress down and sat on it…thoughtfulness that pleased him； as the ignorant animal she had been would not have been capable of it； the humanizing process was working。 He did not ment。
〃Llita； your period is a week overdue； is it not？〃
〃It is； Captain？〃 She seemed puzzled but not troubled。
Sheffield wondered if he could be mistaken。 After he had taught her how to open a sealed tin； he had turned over to her the limited emergency supply； warning her that if she used it too lavishly； she would have to fashion by hand some make…do； as Valhalla was months away。 Then he had dismissed the matter other than to log it on his desk calendar whenever she reported onset。 Could he have failed to notice？ There had been three days last week when he had kept to his cabin； leaving the young people on their own and having his meals sent in…a habit he had when he wanted to concentrate on a problem。 During such periods he ate little and slept not at all and barely noticed anything not part of what he was studying。 Yes； it was possible。
〃Don't you know； Llita？ If you were on time； then you failed to report it。〃
〃Oh； no；'Captain！〃 She was round…eyed with distress。 〃You told me to tell you and I have…every time； every time！〃
Further questions showed first； that despite her new grasp of arithmetic she did not know when she should have experienced onset； and second； that it had not been last week but a much longer time。
Time to tell her。
〃Llita dear； I think you are going to have a baby。〃
Her mouth dropped open； again her eyes rounded。 〃Oh； wonderful？' She added； 〃May I run tell Josie？ May