Outside, the first rain of the morning swept over the forest and steamed up the windows. Huth stood statuesquely by the door, arms folded. The tall nurse remained watchfully beside him.
Lucifer struggled with an unaccustomed inner turmoil. Dissecting the tangle of his emotions, he was astonished to realize that his pulse was thumping with excitement.
Abruptly, the young mother spoke up. "My baby is hungry. She wants to be fed."
"Go feed her then!" commanded Nina.
She helped the young woman from the chair. Together they led the way down the corridor. As they neared the nursery, Lucifer edged closer to them. He saw that the child was still asleep. The mother saw it, too.
"But she's still asleep!" she said, bewildered. "I thought—"
"Does a child have to be awake to tell of its hunger?" Nina asked gently.
The young mother went ahead of them into the nursery. She took the child from the crib and cradled it in her arms.
The baby stirred, grimaced. Its lips groped in small, sucking motions.
The young mother hesitated, then opened her robe and brought the baby's lips to her breast. The child began to feed contentedly.