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neighbors.”
    Eden sighed irritably. “I’m not crazy about being next door to you, but do you see me complaining!”
    Liz was taken aback until she noticed the gleam of humor in Eden’s eyes. “Funny! You know what I mean.”
    “I’m thinking they need to get laid,” Deb put in her two cents worth.
    Eden gaped at the woman. “You’re joking, right?”
    Deb glanced around at the other sectors leaders. “I’m not, and I’m not saying anything that hasn’t crossed anybody else’s mind. It’s the males over there. Everyone knows they’re there. If they weren’t maybe nobody would’ve thought about the fact that we haven’t been near a man in fifteen years and we’re unlikely ever to see one until the first crop of babies reach adulthood--another twenty years at least.
    “But their being there changes everything. Now everybody’s acutely conscious of the lack of companionship.”
    After examining the expressions of the other women assessingly for several moments, Eden returned her attention to Deborah. “So, what are you suggesting?”
    Deb’s jaw dropped in dismay. “I’m not suggesting anything! Cripe! We don’t know anything about them. I’m just pointing out that we are all affected by their presence and that’s probably got more to do with putting everyone on edge than anything else. And it isn’t going to resolve itself. And it isn’t going to go away, not unless they do--Or unless we discover that we really don’t want to get to know them for some reason.”
    “Their being alien isn’t reason enough? Their strange society doesn’t seem unnerving enough to be a turn off? They look alien! It’s not like they could pass for human.”
    Stacy frowned at her folded hands. “They’re close enough in my book--assuming, of course, that the plumbing’s close.”
    Eden couldn’t help it, the comment provoked a snicker. She thought it was more hysteria than humor, but it was out before she could stop it. “This is--this isn’t an appropriate council topic,” she managed finally.
    “Why not?” Liz demanded. “It pertains to the health and well being of the entire colony.”
    “Et tu, brute!” Eden snapped. “We don’t need men. We have everything we need to build this colony and produce future generations.”
    “Speak for yourself! Ok, so maybe I don’t need, but I still want, damn it!” Joy snapped, shoving her chair out and jumping to her feet to pace around the room agitatedly. “If we’re going to be living this close it seems stupid to keep our distance.”
    “The safety of the colony could be jeopardized! And, if you’re talking companionship here, it’s my opinion you’re barking up the wrong tree. I hardly got five words out of the talkative one!” Eden snapped.
    Lynn shrugged. “My last companion spent most of his time on the couch watching the vid. It irritated the piss out of me, but I have to say that right now I’d settle for a ‘presence’. I could talk at one anyway and it would beat the hell out of talking to myself.”
    Eden studied the faces of each of the council women carefully. “Is this something the council has been discussing that I haven’t been privy to?” she asked finally.
    “Nobody’s discussed it, Eden!” Liz said quickly. “I didn’t realize they were even thinking along these lines before, and I’m sure none of them did, but I’m not going to say it hadn’t occurred to me that it might be something to consider.”
    Eden frowned thoughtfully and finally shrugged. “I’m not going to veto the suggestion--or support it. We need to know more about them before we make any sort of decision. Liz, this is really your area of expertise. You’ll need to do some studies. Maybe we could invite a small group for some sort of celebration so that we could observe them a little better?”
    The suggestion was met with enthusiasm. “Thanksgiving? That’s seems appropriate considering we made the journey in one piece and we’ve got the colony