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suggests he is fighting back the desire to cuff Frank right now. Frank, too, notes the rising anger in his genetic father. Continuing the lie will only land him in even more trouble, so Frank capitulates to the truth. “Please, Dad,” he begs, “Todd can’t afford a voc. No one knows, I swear!”
    “Your Papa Dean knows! He found out, didn’t he?”
    “It’s not like it’s illegal,” Frank mutters weakly.
    Growling now, Geoffrey asks, “Are you aware that people are currently debating making use of all outside technology illegal in Hadrian?” Staring intently at his son, he continues, “And if it becomes a crime, that means one of only two punishments: exile or death.” Pausing to the let the gravityof the situation sink in, he concludes, “You know we have no prisons in Hadrian.”
    “I know, sir,” Frank mutters into his chin. Frank is now pale with fear. Roger begins to cry.
    “And,” Geoffrey adds, a little too cruelly, “they are suggesting anyone who would want to use outsider technology must be straight. To be caught with a cell phone could mean a one-way ticket to a reeducation camp. I do not want either of my boys to be thought of as a strai .”
    “Don’t use that word, please,” says Dean, surprised by his husband’s word choice when Geoffrey knows how much he hates this commonly accepted slur.
    “But,” a horror-stricken Roger cries out, “Frank’s not straight!”
    Turning to his youngest, Dean attempts to calm him. “Roger, dear, dry your eyes. Frank is not in that kind of trouble.”
    “But he could be,” Geoffrey growls.
    Dean begins to regret that he brought up the subject in front of Geoffrey. “It is not necessary to frighten the boys, Geoffrey.”
    Geoffrey gives Dean a knowing stare. “Yes, I think it is. You of all people should understand that.”
    Neither boy catches the undertone of Geoffrey’s remark, but Dean feels its sting. He closes his eyes briefly before re-summoning his strength. “Well, owning outsider tech is not illegal yet, and we’ve caught the boy before anyone else has.” Waving his open palm as a reminder to Frank, he says, “As soon as he hands over the device, this whole uncomfortable business will be over.”
    “You heard your Papa, Frank!” Geoffrey orders. “Give him the phone!”
    “Give it to him, Frank. Give it to him,” Roger begs. Frank obeys.
    “Now, Frank,” Geoffrey instructs, “you can forget about the rest of your supper. Go to your room and study.”
    “Yes, sir,” Frank says as he stands and turns to leave.
    Before Frank can walk past his father, though, Geoffrey grabs hold of his arm. “Promise me right now that you will never use outsider technology again.” When Frank’s response comes a second too late, Geoffrey tightens his grip and growls, “Promise!”
    “Yes, sir,” Frank weeps. His only contact with Todd is lost now because Anthony won’t even let him look at his friend in school. “I promise.”
    Geoffrey releases his grip. “All right, go to your room.”
    * * * * *
    Later that night, after Geoffrey retreats into his study to prepare for another week at the office, Dean sneaks up to Frank’s room. He brings the remains of Frank’s dinner with him. Because Frank is tall, he often gets lightheaded if he doesn’t eat properly. Dean often wonders where the boy gets his height since Geoffrey is so short by comparison. Obviously from his genetic mother , he reminds himself, and yet, Roger, Frank’s genetic sibling, is also short. Ah well, there really is no explaining the oddities of genetics , Dean muses. Knocking lightly on the door, Dean waits for Frank’s acknowledgment before entering. Frank is sitting at his desk studying (as his father had instructed). Dean crosses the room and places the plate next to the computer slate Frank uses for school. The Hunters are wealthy enough that they were able to purchase Frank his own slate rather than make do with the school’s slower version.
    Frank smiles