The Color Of Her Panties by Piers Anthony Page B

telling; she had actually made it seem as if there were a sensible reason for the Conspiracy.
    Still “And the panties?” the Adult prodded.
    “Well, I really don't know about them, but maybe they have something to do with the stork.“ Jenny paused, trying to work it out.  “It seems that adults maybe really like summoning the stork, and they feel more like it if they see panties, and maybe children would feel like it too if they saw panties, and they might stumble onto the secret, so they have to be protected from that too.”
    “That will do, Jennifer.” Again that contemptuous dismissal.  The gaze swung across to pin Che again.  “Identify yourself.”
    “I am Che Centaur, of the Winged Monsters.”
    “Do you agree with the Adult Conspiracy?”
    Che knew that the correct answer was Yes.  But he was tired of being browbeaten by adult attitudes.  It was time to make a stand.  So he ventured into dangerous territory.
    “No.”
    “Elucidate.”
    If the Adult thought he wouldn't know the word, she would be disappointed.  She wanted his reasons?  Well, he might as well get into a lot of trouble, as long as he was traveling that route.  “Maybe the adults think they have a reason for keeping things from children and making them do things for their own good.  But I think that's the wrong way to do it.  Children should get good information and good experience, so they can grow to be responsible when they finally have to be adults.
    If saying a bad word starts a fire, then they should be warned about that, so they know not to set the house afire.  And if too much candy makes a bellyache, they should be told, and allowed to try it, and after they see that it's true, they won't do it again.
    If not getting enough sleep makes children feel bad the next day, they should be allowed to try it until they find out how much sleep is best.
    They don't need to have adults deciding for them all the time.”
    He paused, afraid the Adult was going to lift her monstrous foot and squish him to nothing.  But she merely sat there listening.  “And?” she prompted.
    “And about summoning the stork-well, I think that even a small child wouldn't want to hurt a baby.  So if children were taught how to summon the stork, but also told how important it is to take care of the babies, and that they would have to do that instead of going out to play whenever they wanted to, I think most of them wouldn't do it.  The few who did do it-well, my sire says that folk do have to take the consequences of their actions, and I think that's fair for children too.
    So I think children should be educated completely, about both actions and consequences, and then allowed to do what they wish.  I don't think any Adult Conspiracy is needed-if adults take the trouble to teach their children properly.”
    He stopped talking, waiting for the dread verdict that he had answered incorrectly, so that they would not be allowed to see the Good Magician.
    Yet it wasn't in him to falsify; it wasn't the centaur way.
    The Adult's gaze scared across the two girls.  “Do you agree?”
    Gwenny and Jenny exchanged yet another glance.  they fidgeted.
    “Well?” the Adult demanded in that warning tone.
    “Well, yes, I guess,” Gwenny said with understandable reluctance.
    “You actually approve of giving such information to children?” the Adult said with that this-is-your-last-chance attitude.
    “Yes,” Jenny agreed.  “I don't care what you think, he's making sense.”
    “And you too, Gwendolyn?” It was the verge of doom.
    “Yes!” Gwenny said recklessly.
    “And you are prepared to face the consequences of your attitude?” The gaze managed to transfix all three of them simultaneously.
    They were in too deep to escape.  They nodded with foolhardy bravery.
    “Then you are about to join the Adult Conspiracy,” the Adult said.  She reached somewhere far away and brought back two dolls.  Each was the size of one of the girls.  She set them