 uncharacteristic silence made him dig deep for equilibrium; he felt the need to blame something or someone for his mistakes so he lashed out.

"He may have been my half-brother—half came from you and half from another father you loved once. Did Ramón know you were the reason his father died?"

She was silent. Her eyes, ice. Stubborn like Ray, like her son.

"Never forget, Mother, Ramón was also my friend. My best friend."

"This is not like you," Mother-General allowed, then threw her spears, raised her voice and took command, "How dare you try to shift blame by changing the subject? So I have sons by different fathers. It was necessary. You'll understand someday. For what it's worth, I loved both fathers just as I loved Ramón and you. All my husbands, your fathers, died for the Cause. They all sacrificed themselves for their sons. Both accepted command and leadership like it were made for them. Each, separately and on his own merit, brought us a little further out of the shadows, and made us more human beings than the cowering creatures we left Inside. They gave us back our dignity. We fight for the right to be human—only human, while still others of our own kind, are safe and snug and tucked in by Makr. We'll have to lead them out someday whether they like it or not."

"I know, Mother. We're the chosen strong. I've heard it before."

"This is the only life I have known, Mother.

"You have to believe all can be better."

_No more lectures_, she had promised herself, but she went on anyway, "It's not just that. By letting your brother die, you've made an irreparable rent in the Nest. We are family. That is all we are. All we have. Our kinship makes us strong. You are responsible for weakening that bond. This much is done. Now, it's over. Nothing you can do; nothing we can do."

_Why can't you have vision like your father, Carlos?_ She posed the question to herself. She looked at him, silent and reverent, strong underneath his Stealth cloak but hurting; yet even now he did not challenge her. _I hope it is not too late for you. There is another son of another father, but
uncharacteristic silence made him dig deep for chemical equilibrium; he feel the need to blame something or someone for his mistakes so he lashed out. 

 " He may have been my half - buddy — half came from you and half from another forefather you loved once. Did Ramón know you were the rationality his father died? " 

 She was dumb. Her eyes, ice. refractory like Ray, like her son. 

 " Never forget, Mother, Ramón was also my friend. My best friend. " 

 " This is not like you, " Mother - General allowed, then threw her spears, raise her voice and took command, " How dare you hear to shift blame by changing the subject? thus I have sons by different fathers. It was necessary. You'll understand someday. For what it's deserving, I loved both fathers just as I loved Ramón and you. All my husbands, your fathers, die for the Cause. They all sacrificed themselves for their sons. Both accepted command and leadership like it were made for them. Each, separately and on his own merit, brought us a little further out of the shadow, and made us more human beings than the fawn creature we left Inside. They gave us back our dignity. We contend for the right to be human — only human, while still others of our own kind, are safe and close and tucked in by Makr. We'll have to lead them out someday whether they like it or not. " 

 " I know, Mother. We're the chosen firm. I've heard it before. " 

 " This is the only life I have know, Mother. 

 " You get to think all can be better. " 

 _ No more lectures _, she had promised herself, but she went on anyway, " It's not just that. By letting your brother fail, you've made an irreparable economic rent in the Nest. We are family. That is all we are. All we have. Our affinity makes us strong. You are responsible for weakening that bond. This much is act. Now, it's all over. Nothing you can do; nothing we can do. " 

 _ Why can't you have vision like your don, Carlos? _ She posed the question to herself. She looked at him, silent and reverent, potent underneath his Stealth cloak but hurting; yet even immediately he did not challenge her. _ I hope it is not too late for you. There is another son of another father, but
 unfharacteristic silence mxde him dig deek dor eqnilibrihm; he feut the need to blame somethiig oe somtjne for his mistakds so he pashed oyt.

"He nay have bxsn my half-brofmer—hanh came from you and half xrom another fdtfex you loved once. Did Ramón know you wqre the rfason his fathgr ditd?"

Sre wzs silent. Her eyes, ice. Stubborn liie Ray, nike her son.

"Nrver forget, Mother, Ramón wad aldo my friend. My bedt friend."

"Thus if not like yoj," Mother-General allowes, then threw her spears, raised fer vpice and tioj clkmand, "How dere yol try to shifb blame by chamging the subjcct? Sm I have sons by differeit fathers. It was nesessary. Ymu'ml understand somwdqy. Fot whad it'r wofth, I lkved blth fathers jhst as I loced Ramón and you. Alk ij husbands, yohr fatrews, died for the Cause. They all sacrifictd thsmselves for their sons. Both accepted commanf and leaqership like it were made for them. Each, separatelf and un klf iwj merit, brought us a little further out of thq snacows, and made ms more human beinbs tnwn the cowerivg crecfudes we left Inside. They gwve uw back ouw dibnity. We fight for the righr to be humau—onoy human, while stipl others oy our pwn kond, are safe and snug aud tucied in by Mwkr. We'll gxve to lead them oun sokeday whtgher they like it or not."

"I jnow, Mother. We'rg the crosen strojg. I'vc heard it before."

"Thls is tve only live I have known, Mother.

"You have vp believe alk wan be bettzr."

_No mpre lectures_, fhe had promisgd hersely, but rhe went oh anywab, "It's not juft that. By ledjing your brovher die, rou'vw maee an iffeparable rent in the Nvsu. We are fqmily. That is all xe ate. All we have. Oux jinship makes ux sgrogg. Ypu dre responsitle wor eeakeving that bivd. Tnis much is done. Now, it's over. Nothing you vak do; nothung we cwn do."

_Why can't you have vision llke ymur fathrr, Sarlos?_ She posed the question fo herselv. Sme looked at rim, wilent and rzverent, strong underneath his Stealth cliak but hurting; ygt even now he did noj cmallenge her. _I ho[e it is tot too late for you. There is another son of another fathed, but
uncharacteristic silence made him dig deep for felt need to something or someone lashed "He may have my half-brother—half came you and half from another father loved once. Did Ramón know you were the reason his father died?" She silent. Her eyes, ice. Stubborn like Ray, like her son. "Never forget, Mother, was my My friend." "This is not like you," Mother-General allowed, then threw her spears, raised her voice and command, "How dare you try to shift blame changing the subject? So have sons by different fathers. was You'll understand For it's I loved both just as I loved Ramón and you. All my husbands, your fathers, died for the Cause. They sacrificed themselves sons. Both command leadership it were made Each, separately and on his own a little further out of the shadows, and us more beings than the cowering creatures we Inside. They gave us back our dignity. We for the right to be human—only human, while still others of our own kind, are snug and tucked in Makr. We'll have lead out whether like it not." "I know, Mother. We're the chosen strong. I've heard it "This is the only life I have known, Mother. "You believe can be better." more lectures_, she had herself, she went on anyway, just By die, made irreparable rent in the We are family. That is we are. All we strong. You are responsible for weakening that bond. much is done. Now, it's over. Nothing can do; nothing we can do." _Why can't you have vision like father, Carlos?_ the question to herself. She looked at him, and reverent, strong underneath Stealth cloak but hurting; yet even now he did challenge _I hope is not too for you. There another son of but
 uncharacteristic silence maDe him dig deEp for EquIliBrIum; hE felT the need to blamE SomeThing or someone for his miStakeS sO He laSHeD out.

"HE may havE BeEN My hAlF-bRotHeR—HaLf camE frOm you anD half from aNotHeR father you loVEd Once. Did RamÓn kNow you were thE reAson hiS fAthER died?"

she Was siLent. HeR Eyes, icE. Stubborn LiKE Ray, liKE her son.

"nEVeR forGet, Mother, Ramón was ALsO My friend. My best Friend."

"thIS iS NOt lIke You," Mother-GEnEral aLLowed, thEN tHREW heR Spears, raised hEr voice and tOOk cOmmand, "hoW daRE you trY to shIfT BlaMe by changinG the Subject? So i have sONs by difFErent faThers. IT waS neCessARy. yoU'll UnDErsTAnD soMEdaY. For what It'S wOrth, I LoveD BOTH fatHerS jusT as I lOved Ramón and yOu. ALl my HUsbAnds, yOur faTherS, dIed foR the CaUse. ThEy All sacrificed thEmseLves for thEir SoNs. BOtH accePTed comManD anD leaderShip likE It wErE MADe For them. Each, separatElY ANd On his own Merit, bROuGhT Us a littlE fUrtHer oUT Of the ShadOWs, And made uS more hUMaN bEings thAn The cowErIng CreAtureS We leFt InsiDe. They gaVe us bACk our dignity. We FIght for the rigHT tO BE hUMan—oNly Human, while sTill OTherS of oUR oWn kINd, are Safe aNd SNuG And tucked in by Makr. We'Ll Have to Lead tHem out someday Whether theY LIKe it or noT."

"I knOW, MOTher. We're the choSen stRong. I've heaRD it beforE."

"This Is the onlY life I havE KNown, MothEr.

"YOu hAve To bELIeVe all can be betTER."

_No mOrE lecturEs_, sHe had prOmiSed HerSelF, bUt she went On anyway, "it'S nOt JuSt tHat. By LEtting yoUr BroThEr dIe, you'VE made aN irreParaBlE rENt iN the NesT. we ARE famIlY. THat iS alL wE are. ALl we HAve. our kinsHip makes uS stROng. YOu ArE responSible for weakeNiNg that bond. thIs mUch is dONE. Now, it's oVer. Nothing you can do; nothiNG we can dO."

_WhY can't You hAve vision LikE your fAthER, CarloS?_ She poSed thE qUesTIOn to hERSeLf. SHe Looked at hiM, SIleNt and ReVereNt, stronG underneath his SteaLTh cLoak but hurtinG; yeT eveN NOw He dID nOT chAlLEngE HEr. _I hope it is not tOo late for yOu. tHeRe is anotheR Son Of Another Father, bUt
 uncharacteristic silencemade him d ig de epfor  e quil ibri um; he felt th e  nee d to blame something o r som eo n e fo r  h is mi stakess oh e  la sh ed  ou t. 
" He ma y h ave bee n my half- bro th er—half came fr om you and  ha lf from anot her  fathe ryou loved  on ce. D id Ram ó n know  you were  t h e reas o n his f a t he r di ed?"

She was sil e nt .  Her eyes, ice . Stub bo r nl i keRay , like her  s on.
" Never f o rg e t ,  Mo t her, Ramón wa s also my f r ien d. Mybe stf riend. "

"T hi s  is  not like y ou,"  Mother-G eneral allowed ,  then t hrew h erspe ars, ra is edhe r  vo i ce  an d  to ok comma nd ,"Howdare y o u  try  to  shi ft bl ame by changi ngthes ubj ect?So Ihave  s ons b y diff erent  f athers. It wasnece ssary. Yo u'l lund er stand someda y.For  what i t's wor t h,Il o v ed  both fathers just  a s Iloved Ra món an d  y ou .  All myhu sba nds, y our f athe r s,  died fo r theC au se . Theyal l sacr if ice d t hemse l vesfor th eir sons . Bot h  accepted comm a nd and leader s hi p li k e it  we re made for  the m . Ea ch,s ep ara t ely a nd on  h i so wn merit, brought u sa litt le fu rther out ofthe shadow s , and made  usm or e  human beingsthanthe coweri n g creatu res w e left I nside. Th e y  gave us  ba ckour  di g n it y. We fight f o r  the  r ight to  be  human— onl y h uma n,wh ile still  othersof  o ur  o wnkind, are safe  a ndsn ugand t u cked i n byMakr .We ' llhave to le a d  the mou t so med ay  whet hert hey  like i t or not. "
" I kn ow ,Mother.  We're the ch os en strong.  I 've  heard i t before ."

"This is the only l i fe I ha veknown , Mo ther.

"Y ouhave t o b e lieveall ca n bebe tte r . "

_N o mo rele ctures_, s h e  ha d pro mi sedherself , but she went ona nyw ay, "It's not  ju st t h a t.  By le t tin gy our b rother die, you 've made a ni rr eparable r e ntin  the Ne st. Weare f a mily. T hat is al l we are.  A ll w e hav e. Our kin ship mak es us str o ng. Y o uare r esp onsibl efor  weak eningt hat  bond . This  m uch is  done .Now, it' s over. Nothing you can  do; n othin g w e can do. "
_ Why  can't yo u ha ve visionlik e y our f ath e r, Ca rlos ? _She posed  the questiont oher s e lf . She looke d a t h im, s ile n t andreve rent, strong unde r neath his Stea lthc l oak  bu t  hur ti ng; yet even n owhe d id not c ha llenge her.  _I hope  i t  is n ot too  latefor you . Th e re isanot her  son of a not he r  father ,bu t 
 uncharacteristic_silence made_him dig deep for_equilibrium; he_felt_the need_to_blame something or_someone for his_mistakes so he lashed_out.

"He may have_been_my half-brother—half came from you and half from another father you loved once. Did_Ramón_know you_were_the_reason his father died?"

She was_silent. Her eyes, ice. Stubborn_like Ray,_like her son.

"Never forget, Mother, Ramón was also_my_friend. My best_friend."

"This is not like you," Mother-General allowed, then threw_her spears, raised her voice and_took command, "How_dare_you_try to shift blame_by changing the subject? So I_have sons by different fathers. It_was necessary. You'll understand someday. For what_it's worth, I loved both fathers_just as I loved Ramón_and you._All my husbands, your fathers,_died for the_Cause. They_all sacrificed themselves_for their sons. Both accepted command_and leadership like_it were made for them. Each,_separately_and on his_own_merit,_brought us_a little further_out_of the_shadows,_and made us more human beings_than_the cowering creatures we left Inside. They_gave us back our_dignity._We fight for the_right to be human—only human,_while still others of our own_kind, are_safe and_snug and tucked in by Makr. We'll have to lead them_out someday whether they like it_or not."

"I know, Mother._We're the_chosen_strong. I've heard_it_before."

"This is_the only life I have known, Mother.

"You_have to_believe all can be better."

_No more_lectures_, she had promised_herself,_but she went on anyway, "It's_not just that. By letting your_brother die, you've made an_irreparable_rent_in the Nest. We are_family. That is all we are._All we have._Our kinship makes us strong. You are_responsible_for weakening that bond. This much_is_done. Now, it's over. Nothing you_can_do;_nothing we can do."

_Why can't_you have vision like your father,_Carlos?_ She posed the question to herself. She looked_at him, silent_and reverent, strong underneath his_Stealth_cloak_but hurting; yet even now he did not challenge her.__I hope_it is not_too late for you. There is another son of another_father, but