The Secret of Spring by Piers Anthony, Jo Anne Taeusch Page B

cover-up. Of course, her father had friends also, and that was why she had learned the truth despite their efforts. But his friends could not help her now. No one was to learn the secret, so that left it all up to her. Zygote would never profit from her father's death!
    She needed no warnings now. Her father need never fear she would betray him for one foolish night of passion. Love was the last emotion she was capable of feeling at this point.
    It was late when Iolanthe completed her rounds and remembered to look in on Spring to retrieve the cup and see how the young lady was resting. It was with surprised consternation that she found Spring not only wide awake, but pouring through some questionable reading matter spread across the bed covers.
    "You promised to rest," she scolded gently.
    "Rest?" Spring laughed mirthlessly. "Yes, I will rest, but not until-" she stopped abruptly, finding the page she wanted in the index. "Here it is."
    Flipping to the page, she read hastily, then spoke. "Will you post a letter for me, Iolanthe ?"
    "You know the rules, Lady. No outside communication while under the sanctuary of the-"
    "Yes, yes. I've heard all that before. But I also know you have posted letters for others here at the sanctuary." Actually, she didn't know this, but felt it likely from observation of the kind hearted girl. Her bluff turned out to be correct.
    "I should not have done so," Iolanthe answered contritely.
    Spring scribbled on the sheet of paper and copied the magazine's address onto the sealer. She tucked in the paper along with some standard Planetary Payment notes and sealed it, passing it over to Iolanthe .
    "Lady-" the girl began to protest.
    "Please, Iolanthe . This is important. I know you don't understand, but my life may depend on the answers I receive from this letter. This is no time to balk." Iolanthe sighed, but tucked it into her tunic, then looked with disapproval at the lurid magazines scattered across the bed. "I don't see how anything sent to that type of publication could be so important."
    "And how would an innocent young thing like yourself know about such magazines? Don't tell me you Companions have your own secret library? I found these here, under the bed." Iolanthe looked scandalized. "Here? I don't know how they came to be. This room was that of a former Companion."
    "Could be why she's former," Spring teased.
    "That is not for me to say," Iolanthe answered primly. "But I do know that no good can be coming from this." She patted the sealer beneath her tunic as if it were tainted, and excused herself.
    Spring looked after her departing figure, thinking aloud. "I hope you're wrong, Iolanthe . I'm betting my life on it."

7
     
    A Tangled Vine
     
    The tri-moons were just peeping over the horizon. It was a peaceful summer evening with only the sound of the soft warm breeze playing in the trees. A lone dogwood barked in the distance. It was a night made for romance in Paradise.
    Herb and Lily sat entwined in the swinging vine on her parent's front porch. His arm rested comfortably around her shoulder. Her head reclined against his chest while they swung gently to and fro in thoughtless pleasure. Lily was the first to break the silence.
    "It feels so natural being with you again, Herb. I missed you while you were away. All my dreams were tied to you. My heart withered, and I simply went to seed."
    Herb shifted and sat up straight. "You weren't-!" His heart plunged into his stomach.
    "Of course not; don't be silly." Lily smiled in embarrassment. "You know as well as I that we never," she paused, "never."
    "Yes, I know," Herb said, but he still felt a wave of profound relief at the negative confirmation. At the time, it had been a major source of annoyance to him, but now he was honestly glad they had waited. What if she had become with child? Lily was an innocent, and probably didn't even know about proper prevention. It very well could have happened. Thank the Founder for her high morality.
    "I