gave up on the idea and decided to wait until
morning. Not bothering to turn on the light, he went into the bedroom
and undressed. As he sat down on the bed, he felt something in it move.
Jumping up, he uncovered the light by the bed. The young lady from
supper lay in the bed half covered by the sheet. "What are YOU doing
here?'' North asked.
99 "The Lord God," explained the young woman, ''said if we pleased you
we would be permitted to view the ceremony tomorrow. Now what do you
think he meant?"
100 North had a feeling Morn was going to find the same surprise in HIS
room. "Look," North explained, "you're very pretty, but I'm VERY tired.
You've pleased me enough. Why don't you just get your clothes on and
run along? I'll see that you can come to the ceremony."
101 The girl looked disappointed. "Boy," she laughed, "you sure don't
live up to the legends! They say you're the father of half the illegals
in your sector, that almost every house on your route claims they have
your seed in their banks! Now I guess all those stories aren't true!
Well, at least let me spend the night. I can stand some disappointment,
but I don't want to be the laughing stock of The Palace!"
102 "All right," North agreed. He got into bed and the girl snuggled to
him. He was interested, but the girl's comments about Hashons at supper
had made North a little irritable. For him, a woman had to be more than
beautiful. She had to have character.
103 He found it strangely easy to go to sleep. When he awoke in the
morning, he got up and began to dress. The girl rolled over and looked
at him, sadly disappointed. Obviously she had thought the morning would
bring a change in attitude.
104 "You really don't like me, do you?'' the girl asked.
105 North decided to be truthful. "No,'' he answered,