Leo Frankowski

reproduce,
expanding his memory and intelligence. It had worked on experimental animals.
The computer said that it should work on him. But a computer analog is only a
model of reality, and models are never perfect.
    An hour later he
leaned back, stretched, and disconnected himself from his machine.
    “So much for the
joys of do-it-yourself brain surgery.”
    Copernick ate a
lonely supper, looking often at his watch. She was late. He considered calling
the airport, but changed his mind. If she was to grow up, she had to be allowed to make her
own mistakes. He felt like a worrying parent. In a way, he was.
     
    An incredibly
beautiful woman rang the doorbell.
    A big woman, she was
six feet tall and full bodied. She was dressed in a precise, finishing school manner that accented her
glorious red hair and freckles. Her clear green eyes held a curious combination
of intelligence and vacancy. She looked to be about twenty.
    “I’m
sorry,” she said. “I thought that this was the Co pernick
residence.”
    “It is. Welcome
home, Mona. I’m Heinrich.”
    “Oh. You look
so different.” Her smile wasn’t artificial. But it was somehow empty.
    “I know. I’ve
spent this last year mostly working on myself. Please come in.”
    “You look very
nice, Heinrich.”
    “I’m glad you
approve. I only wish Uncle Martin did.”
    “Will you let
me meet him now?” Mona said.
    “In a few
months. He still doesn’t know that you exist.”
    “I wish you
were more proud of me, Heinrich.”
    “It isn’t that, Mona. I’m very proud
of you. It’s just that my uncle has some
old-fashioned concepts of what morality is.”
    “And your other
friends?”
    “I don’t have
many friends. Those that are left haven’t seen me in six months. Mona, please
try to understand
that we must not let the world know about what we are doing. If the authorities
found out about us, they would shut me down tomorrow.”
    Mona was silent.
    “Come on,
darling. Let me show you around our new home.”
    “Is this one of
those tree houses? The girls at the finishing school talked about them, but none of
us had ever seen one.”
    “It is. And Uncle Martin designed it
especially for us.”
    “You mean
especially for you,” Mona said.
    “Now don’t
start on that again. Homecomings should be pleasant occasions.”
    “Yes,
Heinrich.”
    “The kitchen is
this way. Have you eaten?”
    “They fed us on
the plane.”
    “Oh. Well, there really isn’t much to
taking care of the kitchen. The end cabinet
is a dishwasher. It works continuously, so you can just leave the tableware in
it. Most of the other cabinets grow food. I’ve labeled things so you can find your way around.”
    “Everything is
so huge.”
    “Bigger than
you think. The house and all the gardens around it are one single plant. It’s five
stories high.”
    “But why so big,
Heinrich?”
    “Why not? It
doesn’t cost any more to have a thing grow large. Anyway, my work has been taking
up more and more room lately. I don’t want to have to go through the bother of
moving again for some time.”
    “Oh. Is this
the bathroom?”
    “Yes. You cut
the membrane on one of the shower nozzles to make them work. The five nozzles
on the left vent a soapy
water; the five on the right are fresh. In each
set the one to the left is the hottest; the others get progressively cooler.
Once you cut a membrane, you drain a
fifty-gallon tank. Whether you want that much or not.”
    “Fifty gallons!
At school the water was rationed.”
    “It’s rationed
in most places these days. But a tree house recycles everything, so you can afford
to splurge.”
    “Can I use it
now? Please?”
    “Of course,
darling.”
    Mona eagerly stripped
off her clothes, folded them neatly, and set them on a bench. No one had ever told her that people
should be ashamed of their bodies. Hers was something to be proud of. The only flaw
was that her
navel was twice the usual diameter. Heinrich made a note to correct that
as soon as possible.
    Soon she was
splashing and playing like a child in the warm sudsy water. Copemick was tempted to
join her, but she seemed to be having so much fun that he was afraid of dampening it. He sat on a
recliner chair, lit a cigar, and enjoyed.
Having Mona around was going to be w onderful.
    “Where are the
towels?” Mona said after she had drain ed all ten nozzles.
    “You use that
white blanket thing over there.”
    “Okay—oh! It’s
stuck to the wall.”
    “It’s part of
the house. Cleans