We did not
want those beards, but had so far been unable to induce them to
give us any cutting instruments.
"Ladies," Terry began, out of a clear sky, as it were,
"are there no men in this country?"
"Men?" Somel answered. "Like you?"
"Yes, men," Terry indicated his beard, and threw back his
broad shoulders. "Men, real men."
"No," she answered quietly. "There are no men in this country.
There has not been a man among us for two thousand years."
Her look was clear and truthful and she did not advance this
astonishing statement as if it was astonishing, but quite as a
matter of fact.
"But--the people--the children," he protested, not believing
her in the least, but not wishing to say so.
"Oh yes," she smiled. "I do not wonder you are puzzled.
We are mothers--all of us--but there are no fathers. We thought
you would ask about that long ago--why have you not?" Her look
was as frankly kind as always, her tone quite simple.
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