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I finally let it go by asserting ex cathedra that some stories were just for fun and not necessarily true…Gulliver's Travels were not the same sort of thing as The Adventures of Marco Polo； while Robinson Crusoe lay somewhere in between…and they should ask me； if in doubt。
They did ask； sometimes； and accepted my decision without argument。 But I could see that they did not always believe me。 That pleased me； they were starting to think for themselves…didn't matter if they were wrong。 Llita was simply politely respectful to me about Oz。 She believed in the Emerald City with all her heart and； if she had had her druthers； she would have been going there rather than to Valhalla。 Well； so would I。
The important thing was that they were cutting the cord。
I did not； hesitate to use fiction in teaching them。 Fiction is a faster way to get a feeling for alien patterns of human behavior than is nonfiction； it is one stage short of actual experience…and I had only months in which to turn cowed and ignorant animals into people。 I could have offer them psychology and sociology and parative anthropology…I had such books on hand。 But Joe and Llita could not I put them together into a gestalt…and I recall another tea who used parables in putting over ideas。
They read every hour I would let them； huddled toge like puppies and staring at the reading machine and nag each other about how fast to raise the pages。 Usually I nagged Joe； she was quicker than he…but as may be； 1 spurred each other from illiterate to speedreaders in zip time； didn't let them have sound…and…picture tapes…I wanted them to read。
Couldn't let 'em spend all their time reading； they had to learn other things…not just salable skills but； much more important； that aggressive self…reliance necessary to a free man…which they totally lacked when I saddled myself with them。 Shucks； I wasn't certain they bad the potential； that may have been bred out of their line。 But if the spark was in them I had to find it and fan it into flame…or I would never able to make them run free。
So I forced them to make up their own minds as mud possible； while being cautiously rough on them in other； and greeted every sign of rebellion silently in my mind as a triumphant proof of progress。
I started by teaching Joe to fight…just hand to hand； didn't want either of us killed。 One partment was fitted a gymnasium； ent that could be adapted for free…fall； I used it that hour a day of lowered temperature。 Here 1 worked Joe out。 Lilta was required to attend just to exercise…although I had in mind that it might ***S＇*** Joe along if his sister saw him getting the ***whey*** knocked of him。
Joe needed that spur； he had a terrible time getting through his head that it was okay to hit or kick me； that I wanted him to try； that I would not be angry if he succeed…but that I would be angry if he didn't try his darnedest。
Took a while。 At first he wouldn't chop at me no matter how wide open I left myself 。 。 and when I got him past； calling him names and taunting him； he still hesitated in that split second that let me close and chop him instead。
But one afternoon he got the idea so' well that he landed good one on me and I hardly had to hold back to let him land it。 After supper he got his reward： permission to read a bound book； one with pages； him dressed in a pair of my surgical gloves and warned that I would clobber him if he got it dirty or tore a page。 Llita wasn't permitted to touch it； this was his prize。 She sulked and didn't even want to use the reading machine…until he asked if it was all right for him to read aloud to her。
I ruled that she could even read it with him…as long as she didn't touch it。 So she snuggled up close； head by his； happy again； and started bossing him about turning the pages。
The next day she asked me why she could not learn to fight； too？
No doubt she was fin？ing solo exercise a bore…I always found it so and did it only because it was needful to stay in shape…no telling what hazards next groundfall might bring。 Minerva； I've never felt that women should have to fight； it is a male's business to protect females and children。 But a female should be able to fight because she may have to。
So I agreed； but we had to change the rules。 Joe and I had been working out by dockside rules…no rules； that is； save that I didn't tell him that I planned not to do him any permanent damage and did not intend to let him give me anything worse than bruises。 But I never said this…if he could manage it； he was free to gouge out one of my eyes and eat it。 I just made damn sure that he didn't。
But females are built differently from males。 I could not let Llita work out with us until I devised a plastron to protect her tits…necessary； she was a bit oversized in that department； and we could have hurt her without intending to。 Then I told Joe privately that bruises were okay； but that if he broke one of her bones； I would break one of his； just for drill。
But I put no restrictions on his sister…and I underestimated her； she was twice as aggressive as he was。 Untrained but fast…and she meant business。
The second day we worked out with her； not only was she wearing that plastron； her brother and I were wearing jockstraps。 And Llita had been allowed to read a real book the night before。
Joe turned out to have talent for cooking； so I encouraged him to be as fancy as ship's stores permitted while crowding her to bee an adequate cook。 A man who can cook can support himself anywhere。 But anyone； male or female； should be able to cook； keep house； and care for children。 I hadn't located a trade for Llita； although she displayed a talent for mathematics once I set up inducements for that； too。 That was encouraging； a person who can read and write and has a head for math can learn anything she needs to know。 So I started her on bookkeeping and accounting； from books； not helping her； and required Joe to learn to use all the tools the ship boasted…not many； mainly maintenance gear…and supervised him closely； I didn't want him losing fingers or mining tools。
I was hopefuL Then the situation changed （Circa 3；100 words omitted）
…easy to say that I was stupid。 I had raised stock and a good many children。 Being ship's surgeon as well as everything else； I had given them the most thorough examinations my equipment permitted when we were a couple of days out…quite thorough for those days； I had not practiced medicine after leaving Ormuzd but did keep my sick bay stocked and equipped； and picked up the latest tapes whenever I was on a civilized pla and studied them during long jumps。 I was a good jackleg doctor； Minerva。
The kids were as healthy as they looked； aside from slight dental caries in him； two small cavities。 I noticed that the factor's allegation about her was correct…virgo intacta； semilunar hymen；infrayed； so I used my smallest speculum。 She neither plained nor tensed up nor asked what I was looking for。 I concluded that they had had regular checkups and other medical attent