"Others hate men." She shook her head again, and there was a wry smile on her face when she stopped. "In case there's any uncertainty, I don't hate men. I hate [i]bad men, and men like Argus and Brad and even Tim aren't bad men. But some of the Sisterhood don't draw the distinction. And others... I don't know why. But anyway, fertility in town is low, and the newcomers from Goriel help with that."[/i]
How odd. I try to imagining hating a whole gender and... it just seems quite odd. There are those with preferences for one or the other in Snamish, although most of us are happy enough with both, but it never really seemed any different than those who preferred mead rather than beer. Then again, considering the way men behave in Goriel, I suppose I could see how some might be bitter. But why be angry at men when the problem is obviously Goriel not the men themselves? Hm.
The wry smile had disappeared by the time she opened her mouth again, and she squeezed Desiree's hand. "I, though ... I'd like to have children, I think. It's just that I don't know -- don't know how -- we --"
She trials off as we reach the columbine braid. Ah, so that's what that is - a wreath of columbines. She could have just said that.
"This way," I say, taking the right-hand fork.
Anyway, children huh? I swallow and keep my voice level with an effort. "If we were in Snamish, the first option for two women would be for one of us to get pregnant by the other's brother. Obviously my brother's out of the question - he's far too old - and I've never heard you speak of a brother. Lacking a sibling, a couple usually asks a mutual friend to perform the task - sometimes with both of them, to produce sort-of twins." Of course, I can't really think of any mutual friends who would be suitable for the role. However, that doesn't mean we might not make such a friend at some point, particularly once we're in either her home or mine.
The last option, which I won't metion just yet, would be for one or both of us to have casual sex with random men - usually men with certain positive traits in common - and let random chance take its course. However, I have a feeling that would be the option Therese would like least.
-- Desiree