"Fine. Gave birth an hour ago. Beautiful little girl—"
I didn't wait for more. I dashed upstairs to the maternity ward, where Sara had finally consented to be moved, and slipped into her room.
She was tired, but conscious. She smiled at me peculiarly.
"So it's a girl!" I exclaimed. "Wait until I see Sansome. A beautiful, healthy, normal baby!"
A hand tapped me softly on the shoulder, and I turned to look into Sansome's triumphant eyes.
"Without a navel," he said.
—WINSTON MARKS