That remark made me grin. If Russell was hungry, chances were we'd ma de it back to the right reality.

Since I was the one who was armed, I led the way. I didn't sense any danger but I was ever mindful that circumstances could have changed since I was herelast.

We emerged from the tunnel and into the house. Russell whistled in appreciation as he glanced around at the luxurious setting. It took me a second to remember that he had never been to this house before. He'd vanished from Earth years ago when we lived in Texas.

We reached the great room. A fire was blazing in the two-story fireplace. I spotted Betty and Barb sitting on one of the couches with hands twined t ogether.

Forgetting caution, I hurried toward them.

The sound of my boots on the hardwood floors alerted Barbara. She looked up and her mouth opened in a round "O" of surprise then changed to a big grin.

"Lee! You're back!"

"Where's Rita?" I couldn't wait for anything else.

Both of them jumped up, eager to claim the privilege of taking me to Rita.

Their minds bubbled with excitement as they envisioned me meeting my son for the first time. I gathered the whole group of Seconders had been looking for ward to this event.

"So did you do it? Did you actually travel in time?" Betty wanted to know as we climbed the stairs. "Or did you wait seven months in the Nexus."

I shook my head. "No. It's only been a day or so in my frame of re ference since I left. How have things gone here?'

Betty laughed. The gay little sound told me everything was under control .

"We've had some problems. The government isn't going to give up control that easily 145

and they've tried to put their own spin on things. But we've held on to a position of power, because the people want to see if you can keep your promise and make the gates work without making people vanish."

Russ shot me a startled look. I hadn't had time to mention my promise s to him. "What? You promised what?"

"Hey, old buddy, you've worked miracles already. What's one mor e?" I left him looking slightly bewildered at the top of the stairs. Betty promised to show him around the complex while I had my reunion with Rita. My jubilant mood faded as I.

wondered how long and difficult the seven months had been for her.

When I reached our old suite of rooms, I didn't bother knocking. I knew Rita had already sensed my presence. Instead, I threw open the door and walke d in, a wide grin stretching my face.

Rita sat in a chair near the window, our newborn son cradled in her arms . If I had expected her to jump up and fly at me in welcome I would have beendisappointed, but I didn't. I could see she was busy with vitally important business.

"Lee!" she cried with delight. "Oh, I knew you would succeed."

A second mind intruded itself on my consciousness, a mind that had no awareness of me. It was totally concentrated on satisfying its hunger. T o my surprise, tears came into my eyes. I blinked and tip-toed closer to Rita as if afraid that any noise from me would startle our son. He continued to ignore me. He was busy nursing at her breast, his tiny little mind concentrating on the task of bringing milk from the nipple with the simple determination of the newborn. It was gratifying and overwhelming to touch Rita's mind with my own as hers was absorbe d partly with our son's-Justin's-greedy little feasting.

I sat down beside her and cupped her face with my hands, as I drank in t he warmth that shone in her dark, beautiful eyes. A deep happiness dwelled there, almost sensuous in nature as Justin nursed. I smiled as she shared the sensation of his small mouth sucking at her nipple with me. As a Seconder, I could experience the wonder of nursing through her mind. Hardly able to believe the three of us were together at last, I reached out with tentative fingers to touch the baby's silky dark hair and his flawless skin. For his part, he continued to ignore me, his total concentration 146

focused on drawing the sweet milk from his mother's breast.

"Hi, Justin," I whispered. "I'm your daddy."

Rita chuckled, her smile warm with affection. "He's his daddy's son. The only thing he's interested in is my nipple."

"Not true," I protested. "I love every part of you."

Our lips met. I could feel hers tremble with happiness that I was at long last back with her. I have to confess that my lips trembled, too, even though the time apart had been shorter for me. The circumstances made it seem like we'

d been separated for an eternity.

When I was finally able to move my lips from hers I looked down at our s on again. He had finished his meal and was drifting off into sleep. His min d touched mine briefly as Rita relayed the information that I was his father, but he was already half asleep. His mouth slipped off the nipple of Rita's swollen breast and milk drooled down his cheek. I watched with fascination as Rita burped him an d then eased him down to the layer of soft pillows on the lounger she had ready for him. "My love, I can't remember when I've been so happy," I whisp ered.

Rita laughed gently. "You don't have to whisper; he's a good sl eeper."

"That's great," I whispered, unable to help myself as I glanced down at the sleeping child. The only baby I had been around for any length of time w as my cousin Tom and I barely remembered those days. Besides, this was somethi ng different. Justin belonged to me-to us. I was surprised at the fierce and protective love that filled my heart at the sight of his small, defenseless body. "How long has it been?"

"He was born two days ago. You timed your arrival pretty close. I was beginning to get worried."

"Can we leave Justin on these pillows?" I asked.

"Sure. Why not?"

"He won't roll off?" I was already worried about him and hadn't known him

five.

minutes!

"No, silly. See the big pillow in front of him? Besides, if he gets restless, I'll know. Motherhood is so much easier when you're a Seconder. We can know what a 147

baby wants without having to guess. And our mental attitudes will be a guide for him as he grows. He'll be able to feel our love."

"He will?"

"Of course he will. Why-oh, I see. You didn't pick up on it."

"Pick up on what?" About the only thing I was picking up on at the moment was how beautiful Rita looked despite just having given birth. Motherhoo d had left a lovely glow about her. I wanted to tumble her down on the bed but knew i t was far too soon.

"Our son is a natural Seconder, Lee. He was born with our telepathic gifts. He can feel my thoughts and I sensed him feeling yours. Of course he is onl y a baby.

He doesn't even have language yet. He thinks in feelings and images.

He can't interpret anything but the most primitive of emotions like love and happiness.

But as he grows, the link between the three of us will strengthen. He'll know how loved he is. Think how well-adjusted he'll be."

I had some thoughts about that, but I kept them to myself. No matter how well adjusted a kid is, he has to find his own identity eventually. It's a part of growing up.

But those problems lay far in the future. No need to worry about them fo r a long time. As we talked, we moved toward the bed and began removing our clothes.

Both of us had a need to get physically close, even though Rita wasn'

t ready for intercourse yet. Soon we lay side by side. With a gentle smile, Rita gui ded my lips to her breasts. I smelled the sweet smell of her milk as she urged me to take the nipple that Justin had been using into my mouth. I fastened my lips around the taut little nub and sucked, tasting her warm milk. Her body stiffened with pleasure and she groaned out loud.

"That's enough," I said, feeling her arousal begin.

She clutched my head with both hands and pressed me to her breasts. "

I.

want you inside me."

"In a couple of weeks-" I began.

She sat up, nearly throwing me off the bed. "Sooner than that! Tomorr ow when I go through the gate. I'll come out a man, but I can go through again and have 148

with a whole new body-ready for you."

"No, Rita!" I grabbed her arm. "You'll lose your milk." I hadn't even thought about that.

Her face fell. She hadn't thought of it either. After a moment, she perked up.

"If I have to, I have to. I'm going back to the Nexus with you no matter what."

I cuddled close to her and stroked her cheek. "Hey, the baby will be fine with formula. He has a wonderful mother."

"Lee, you're so sweet." Her voice trembled with warmth as she hugged me to her. I guess I hadn't realized how stressful the last few weeks, and in particular, the last few days had been. I rested my head on the soft pillow of flesh she provided and fell asleep.

The sound of a baby crying woke me up. Rita stood bent over a crib next to our bed with Justin in her arms.

"Time for another meal?" I asked, my mind half filled with cobwebs from sleep.

"He's better than an alarm clock," Rita assured me as she sat d own in the lounger and bared her breast to our son's hungry stare. He clamped on and began sucking, filling the room with loud, smacking sounds.

"Must be hollow inside," I commented.

A knock sounded on the door. "You guys decent?" a familiar voice a sked.

"As decent as I'll ever be." Rita laughed and made no effort to cover her exposed breast. She and Russ had been lovers years ago before he'd disappeared into the gates.

"Rita!" He strode into the room, his face beaming with happiness. Belatedly, I remembered that while I had been back and forth to the Nexus this was th e first time Rita and Russ had seen each other since his disappearance.

"Oh, Russ." Even hampered by the baby, she managed to hook an arm around his neck and drag him close for a long welcoming kiss. When they broke apart, Russ dragged over a chair and we sat in a little circle, enjoying the warmth of old friends reunited.

149

After Russ had spent the mandatory time admiring the baby and Rita had finished pumping him with questions about life in the Nexus, we began to talk about the present situation. I wanted to know how Earth had reacted to my disclosures several months ago. As it turned out, Russ was a fountain of information.

While I had been sleeping, he had been busy catching up on the happenings here. Sinc e this was his first visit back to our Earth he was really interested. While Rita finished feeding the baby, he rhapsodized about the changes.

"It's amazing what the truth will do sometimes. I wouldn't have believed it."

"Believed what?"

Russ looked at me with a curious expression on his face. "Why, the ch anges that have occurred in the last six months or so. You should know; you and Rita are the ones who are responsible for them!"

"I haven't heard about any changes yet," I said, not a real can ard. "I've been too busy getting to know my son." I decided not to mention the restfu l sleep I had gotten as Russ appeared not to have slept at all.

"Well, I think it's great. Here in the states, there's been an election, but I.

guess you knew that was coming."

"Uh, no. Frankly, the problems in the Nexus have dominated my thinking for the past few weeks. My pattern sense seems to have locked in on that to the exclusion of everything else."

"Interesting. Anyway, a lot of the old scoundrels got thrown out of office.

There's a whole new set of scoundrels running the country-but maybe they won't be so bad. Over half of them are people who have been through a gate, and as you know that experience mellows most people a bit. But here's the great news: a Seconder was actually elected to the Senate."

Rita held Justin up to her shoulder and began gently patting him on the back.

A loud burp was her reward. "Really? I've been so busy getting rea dy for the baby, Imissed that news myself."

"How in hell did they ever get a Seconder to run?" I asked.

Russ laughed and poked me in the ribs with his elbow. "That's the best part.

They didn't. He was a write in."

150

That told me everything I wanted to know. If a Seconder could be elected to a national office in America, home of religious fundamentalists, then the heat must be off.