66 "You know," the woman remarked, "my
mate wondered that in the flow of things somehow he got what you were
supposed to have, and what he was supposed to have. That there has to
be a balance in all things, and what doesn't go one place, has to go
someplace else. He thinks there may be many, many more like you and
him, that are either killed, hidden away, or live out their lives
keeping their difference secret."
67 "He could be right!" agreed Brown Goat, "and I think The Healer was
right. I remember when I saw him for the first time, his Holy Light
seemed strange.... it seemed to shimmer back and forth, almost like it
was not a single Light, but two."
68 "Perhaps that is what my brother mate meant, when he said 'When she
is with me, she is not the same as when she is with you. With me she
speaks and moves like a woman, but with you she speaks and moves like
a man. Perhaps there ARE two of them. Perhaps he could not keep his
sanity any other way.”
69 Brown Goat took her hands. "I owe your mate an apology," he began.
"I once thought him evil. You must take home to him my good wishes and
my apologies, and I wish him and her every joy! Tell me, what about the
children?"
70 "When they are old enough to understand," explained the woman, "the
truth of who is their mother and who is their father will be told to
them. Until then, they all think I am their mother, and my brother mate
is just a good friend that lives in our house. I think when the time
comes they will understand; all TEN of them!"
71 "You said there were only eight children," Brown Goat inquired.
72 The woman put her hands on her belly. "These two," she muttered,
"are going to be a little hard to