Valli picked him up and carried him to a divan and, as she had been wont to do, nuzzled him to her bare breasts. Blade found this not unpleasant, though he had no desire for her teat now. He was beyond the need of milk. He could have devoured a raw steak.

Valli held him away from her and stared into his eyes for a long time. At last she sighed and said, «I begin to believe I do not dream. Your eyes are those of a man.»

In that moment he sensed the change in her. Her smile was somehow different and her eyes narrowed and the look that came over her lovely face could only be called sly. With a little shock he remembered that she was probably not yet twenty-this was really only a girl.

Valli said, «You made a promise to me just now. That if you live and your schemes prosper I could have anything I asked?»

«I did that.»

She pressed his face against her smooth warm breasts. «Could I have a child, do you think? A real baby of my very own?»

Blade's thoughts were elsewhere. A strange thing was happening to him. But he nodded and said, «Of course. If that is your wish. As soon as I have the power of Zir you may have as many children as you desire.»

He was naked, as usual, and he looked down at his tiny baby penis and saw it in an erectile state. Odd, because he was not really in a state of sexual excitement. Yet there it was. He put it down to automatic function, the contact of flesh on flesh, and tried to forget it. It would be a long time before he was the old Blade and ready for sex.

Valli cradled him to her again and began to rock him.

«Stop that,» said Blade snappishly, «or you will have me asleep. We must talk and plan, Valli. It will take the whole of the night.»

«I am sorry-but what shall I call you now? You who are a baby who is not a baby?»

«My name is Blade. You will call me that.»