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Show Janni sighed- "Ah, the devil!" she murmured, and the rustling bedlinen spoke of a stoical shift in position betwixt it. Dr'Anya unbuckled her girdle the whilst, slipped off her plisson, longdoublet, shortdoublet, tunic, leggings, jerkin, and briefs, and groped her way to the bed next to the young Janni's. "Sleep I will in my undershift tonight," she said. "I be overweary for searching about in that villainous cupboard for a sleeping gown." She slipped into the soft bed and sighed herself. "On the morrow, my Mother," whispered Janni across the darkness, "pray let us e'en overcome the NurseTech and bind her well up with our girdles." "Aye child," murmured Dr'Anya. 'Tis an idea, that, she thought. But, marry, she wished she'd brought a beaker of water back with her to the bed. Her mouth was as dry as the RedDesert. She turned over to face Janni. "Sleep now," she said. "For a surety we will o'ercome this evil." Though she felt more alone and lost at that point than in all the TwelveMonths she'd waited for Janni's return. And ah, but her mouth felt as though it were lined with fur! She settled like a stone in the sheets and sighed again, full thirsty and half in mind to get up a n d . .. . . . a nd then she was asleep. The fair Janni, on the other hand, lay awake for a long time, wondering full deep as to how fledglings felt when they were expelled from the nest. Her throat constricted. Never had she given a thought to that particular cruelty in nature. Ah marry, but all those poor young birds, all those children sore rejected! Then she wept a little into her pillow 123 |