Shepherd by Piers Anthony Page B

another detail,” Mona said. “As you see, Bela accepts me. I am his godmother; indeed, I am his genetic mother. But when I go he will know, and be concerned. Elen will have to make his acquaintance directly. He is shy around strangers, but friendly enough once he knows them.”
    Shep worked it out. “So that if Elasa should, well, glitch, and Bela rejects her, Elen will be able to take him without a problem. Because he will know her, apart from the body she is in.”
    “Yes,” Elasa said. “It is a small safety net.”
    “Meanwhile I will be having the experience of birthing, nursing, and nurturing my body's baby,” Mona said. “Just as Elen will have the experience of sharing her body's baby. Parallel experiences, essential to both of us, and to the babies.”
    “I appreciate that,” Shep said.
    “You need to get to know Bela too,” Mona said. “Take him.” She held the baby out.
    “But I know nothing about--” He broke off. Obviously he would have to learn, both here on Earth and on the Colony planet when he returned there with Elen. He took the baby.
    Bela wriggled uncomfortably. “You're holding him wrong,” Mona said quickly. “Don't let him dangle. Put a hand under his bottom.” She guided his hand.
    Now that he was comfortable, Bela was satisfied to remain. He must have been passed to a number of other people on occasion; many folk liked to hold a baby.
    But in a moment Bela became restless. Elasa reached out and took him back. “That's all right; he doesn't know you yet, but he didn't reject you.”
    “You and Elen will really enjoy changing diapers,” Mona said mischievously.
    Elasa looked surprised. “I just received a message: there was a cancellation, and they are moving up your transfer, Mona. The tech will be here within the hour.”
    Shep realized that because Elasa was a machine, she had integral communication circuits. She could answer the phone without moving or talking.
    “But I haven't yet introduced Shep to my father,” Mona protested.
    Elasa smiled. “So are you going to tell them no, you changed your mind?”
    “No way! But you'll have to introduce Shep to my father.”
    “I will do that,” Elasa agreed. “Do you want to hold Bela when you exchange?”
    “So he can tune in on it? Maybe that's best.”
    The tech arrived with the equipment. Mona took her seat, holding the baby. Shep watched somewhat nervously. Would Mona really transform into Elen?
    “Ten, nine,” the tech counted. “...three, two, one, time.”
    Bela's expression changed. Startled he looked at Mona's face.
    “Oh, a baby!” she exclaimed, and kissed him.
    “He didn't fuss,” Elasa murmured. “That's a good sign.”
    “Elen?” Shep asked. “I'm Shep.”
    “Shep!” she said, looking up. Then down at the baby. “But who--?”
    “Mine,” Elasa said, taking Bela. “I am Elasa, Mona's friend. Mona is your host; she is now in your body on Colony Jones.”
    “Yes, of course,” Elen said, standing. “Is this really Earth?”
    “It really is,” Shep said, taking her in his arms.
    “Oh, I'm so relieved! I know it's routine, but I feared—never mind.” She put her face to his and kissed him ardently. It was Elen, all right.
    They led her to a mirror so she could see her new body. She gazed at it, amazed. “I'm so big, all around! At least I kept my hair.”
    “We have a whole lot of explaining to do,” Shep said.
    “Right now? I had hoped...” She trailed off, looking at him.
    “Use my bedroom,” Elasa said. “The rest can wait that long.”
    “Oh, to freshen up?” Shep said. “I'll wait.”
    “Get in there, idiot,” Elasa said, shoving him after Elen.
    Oh. In moments they were naked on the bed, making wild love. Her vagina gripped his member, grasping it in the way Elen's had. If he had had any lingering doubt about her identity, that erased it. She was doing the holddown on him.
    Then they lay beside each other, holding hands. “I missed you so much,” Elen said.
    “And I