Strangelove stood up to photograph the city. Wichita got off her seat to rub her husband's back. "I always thought my man was good, but I had no idea there were legends about him," she said. She kissed the back of Columbus's neck and continued: "You seem so much sexier. I wish you'd told me sooner..."

Columbus coughed. "Uh-mm... Maybe that isn't what we needed..."

His wife wrapped her arms around him and sank her chin into his curls. "You have to tell me, Jack, how did you know? I mean, I'm at 6 weeks, and I know I put on a couple pants sizes already, but it's not actually showing- is it?"

Ketch turned an eye slyly. "Well, it would be easy enough to tell from how you look... You act like a lady with things on her mind, and there's an awful short list of the obvious possibilities." Wichita nodded and gave her husband a poke. "But really... and please, I mean no offense..." Ketch tapped his nose. "It's the smells. Hormones, pheromones, what have you. It's not bad, mind you, but- strong. Stronger'n zombie scent. If smells were light, they'd be neon signs, and you'd be the bloody Luxor light."

She smiled and touched one hand to her midriff. "Actually, that sounds sweet."

Columbus leaned in, gently distancing himself from his wife. "What can you recommend for getting to the hospital?"

"Don't bloody go," said Ketch. "But since I expect you will, here's how to play it smart. First off, forget the zombie disguise. It doesn't really fool the zombies, and the Threesome will just get pissed off. Second, don't bring any firearms." He raised a hand to quell protests. " Two reasons: First, we can smell the propellants, and to a pariah it's like catnip laced with crack. Second, there's flammable stuff in the hospital, including a unit for hyperbaric treatments: That's concentrated, high-pressure oxygen. Fire a shot in there, you get a lot more than a bang. A crossbow will be good, or even a high-powered air rifle, but no gun powder.

"Third, go at the right time. The Threesome rotate. About the middle of the second week, Tweedle Dee will be watching the north. Go then and go fast, and he might let you get away with it. Last, and absolutely non-negotiable, you go together. Columbus, if you try to go alone, I will hunt you down and break your leg."

"We need to go," said Strangelove. "It's almost noon, and there's going to be a sweep this afternoon.

***

That evening, Columbus got out of the shower to find Wichita wearing only her underwear, examining herself in the mirror. He coughed. "Uh... you look nice."

"Really?" She pinched her midriff to show love handles. "I'm only 6 weeks along, and I've already got this. It's not even my uterus sticking out, just fat. At six months, I'm going to look like a hippo."

He pulled her to him and kissed her. "You will look beautiful."

"Yeah, you would think so, all you care about is the size of my-" He silenced her with another kiss.

"It might have happened sooner than we thought," he said. He had noticed a certain look on Jack Ketch's face during the conversation.

"No... I'm sure when it happened," she said, in a tone that belied her words.

"Krista, I-" She shushed him. "But, I-" She pushed a hand over his mouth.

"You can have me, but I don't want you to say it," she said. "Not right now."

Columbus sighed and followed her to the bedroom.

***

Jack Ketch stepped out of the elevator onto the lower observation deck. A small figure seemed to materialize from the shadows. "Hi, Daddy," she said. "Is dinner ready?"

"No, sweetie, it will be a little while yet," he answered. "How's mommy?"

"I think she was angry when the guests came," said the girl. "She tried to get out. I gave her food and a pill, but she bit me. Does that mean she was angry at me?"

"No, she was just... hungry."

"Would she eat me?"

"Nope," said Ketch. He picked up his daughter and nuzzled her while she giggled. "I'd eat you first!"

He set down the girl and approached the store room. "Honey?" he said, opening the door. There was a hiss within. A woman crawled up to him on hands and knees. He knelt, and she rested her head on his shoulder. He stroked her pale, lesioned face. She made a sound somewhat like purring. Then he reached out with his hand, and felt a stirring within her swollen belly.

The infected showed no interest in sex. But, some were already pregnant when infected. When they gave birth, babies were either eaten or abandoned. The lepers had established that the offspring were usually not infected. That had been sufficient reason to try to save them. So far, their efforts had been unsuccessful. But he was the only one to sequester a zombie successfully. He clasped his wife's hand. They had had four children together, before the plague. This one had been a surprise. Only one of their four previous children had shared his immunity to the virus. It was a chance...

"Daddy," said the girl, "is Baby Brother ready to come out?"

"Not yet," he said, "but soon."