Several thousand people had spontaneously combusted worldwide, though plenty were also roasted alive by me and the news couldn’t tell the incidents ...apart, so reported them all as flukes.News reports of growing numbers of sterile men didn’t help, either, with a trend toward absolute sterility in one in ten cases now quite apparent. Twice as many as the entirely infertile were low-motility guys, victims of very “slow seed” or “slow sperm,” and of course, the total counts of sperm dropped. I didn't even have to think. I crushed the pistol in her hand before she could take aim and fire. I then grabbed her by the throat again and lifted her off the ground."Hirielle, you are only still alive because of Sharon. If you were to so much as scratch her, I would tear your head from your neck!" I growled low in my throat."I will report this to Garhael, Heretic! You have thrown away your heritage and your people for this human whore!" Hirielle snarled at me, and I could no longer stand. "So, we're off to move you." Mallory laughed, tearing off downthe hall. "Wait! Not NOW!" James shouted after Mallory, chasing her as shedodged past another resident who had entered the hallway. Mallory had too much of a head start, and banged rapidly on thedoor of James' former room. "Go away!" The muffled shout of Patricia from within was followedby faint masculine snort of amusement. "Mallory, we can do this later!" James tugged on her arm, tryingto get her to move away from the door. "I can. Normally both women went out on weekends doing various different things.Parties, dates with men, sometimes traveling out of town or across town tovisit relatives and friends. Then one day they had a party to celebrateSandra's promotion to district manager. About 50 friends and coworkers ofSandra were invited, and Jerry was given the job of serving food andrefreshments for the guests. He no longer worried about anyone wondering if he was male as he passed soconvincingly whenever he went out in.