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. It was no secret from her, Vanja said. She knew. How can you be sure of that? The same way I know when you have your will of me as I sleep, shetold him. A woman does.Your crush would have been as subtle as dog poopon your foot.She surely liked you, and was intrigued to see whether youcould manage it.But she had to pretend oblivion, lest she be charged withmolesting a child. She wanted it, Morely breathed, realizing. That s why she sharedher blanket with me; she could have made me sleep alone and shivering.Oh,those breasts! Her man had died; she must have missed his embrace. So she clasped you close, pillowed your head with her conducive bo-som, and feigned sleep, giving you leave.She kept her legs a little apart so asto promote access.She was gratified by her evident sexual power over you.But she surely never told. Surely not, he agreed. All this time I thought it was my secret alone. And now it is mine, Kerena said, classifying it and putting picture andfeeling into the database. Now fathom Vanja s secret, Morely said, licking his lips. There is no need, Vanja said quickly. Yes there is.You heard mine; it s your turn. Damn. But the woman remained still as Kerena oriented on her. Her older brother forced her into sex, but that isn t really her secret,Kerena said. She didn t like it because it hurt, and hated him, but didn t telllest he beat her up worse.Then when they were out picking berries, thepickings were small, so they ranged into unfamiliar territory.He slipped andfell into an old well; she heard the splash.The sides were slippery and hecouldn t climb out.But instead of going for help, she hauled branches tocover the hole, concealing it, then went home and pretended she had beensleeping.They never found him, having no idea where to look.She got awaywith murder.Vanja cringed, awaiting Morely s reaction. He molested you? Morely asked. Almost daily, she said. It was easier to let him do it than try to fighthim.I learned to moisten my cleft with balm so it wouldn t hurt so much. Then it wasn t murder so much as retribution.He brought it on him-self. You believe that? You don t hate me for it? Yes.You did what you had to do. What a relief! Vanja moved into him, pushing him down, and theywere promptly into sex while Kerena recorded the secret. But how are you going to proceed? Morely inquired when Vanja lethim up. Even if you read a secret every minute, there are too many peopleto interview.You ll never catch up, and meanwhile more are being born andold ones dying. I hadn t thought of that. Kerena considered. I surely have the powerto achieve it, if I can figure out how to use it. There need to be many of you, Vanja said, smiling. Now that may be feasible, Morely said. Do the powers of Night in-clude multiplying yourself?Kerena investigated.Then she split into three copies of herself. Yes,the three said together.Morely was not really surprised. But can they act independently?The three pondered a moment.Then the one on the right went to Morely,the one of the left to Vanja, and the middle one with the coin at her chestspoke. Yes. The right one kissed Morely, and the left one hugged Vanja.Allthree were solid and conscious.Jolie was not reproduced.She remained with the middle figure, the onewith the coin.That had to be the original Nox.Just as well; she wasn t sureshe wanted to be constantly duplicated.It might have a confusing effect onher identity. Me too, Molly agreed.She had remained single as well, as far as theyknew. And can you then recombine, Morely inquired,  so the landscape isn tlittered with sexy girls?The three walked together and merged into one. Yes.Now Jolie was aware of the perspectives of the other two selves.It wasas if the original self had done three slightly different things in turn.It mighthave been confusing, but wasn t.This also verified that there had been noJolie or Molly copies made.It was strictly Nox. So you can split into as many copies as required to get the job done,Morely said, satisfied. And one of them can remain with me to make per-petual love. Hey! Vanja said. What of me? Correction, he said equably. Two for us, the other to make love withVanja.They dissolved into laughter, pretending not to remember that Kerenaand Vanja did make love often enough.It was fun discovering her powers. But one thing nags me, Kerena said. Why did I have to tell the girl Niobeeverything, then erase her memory so that her course was unchanged? Whatsense does that make?Morely nodded. I agree that the rationale is elusive.The Incarnation ofGood is said to be omniscient; maybe you should ask him. God? He refused to answer me before.That s why I want to get himreplaced.I want them all replaced. Vengeance, Vanja said approvingly. But then you were mortal, Morely said. Now you are an Incarnationyourself.You should be able to compel a response.Kerena nodded. Maybe so.I ll try for God again. She phased downand moved toward Mount Ararat [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]