Disclaimer: See part one.

Two years later . . . Kathryn stretched out on her mattress, studying Christopher's latest report on the changing weather patterns. She kept one ear open, listening to the shrieks and laughs of the children playing outside. She's been with them most of the morning, and felt she needed a rest. She'd turned the children over to Naomi and Katie (at fifteen and eleven they were more than capable) and went in to relax for a moment.

Not for the first time, she felt upset that her son would probably never have the opportunity to live in a larger community. He showed the makings of a great scientist or leader who would never have the ability to fully develop in this tiny society. She shared the eleven-year-old's concern that they might be in for a particularly cold and early winter this year.

Her reading was interrupted by a shriek that clearly did not belong among the other, happier sounds, followed by Naomi's angry voice shouting, "Johnny! Get away! Get away!" In an instant she was up and out of bed, running for the yard where the children were playing.

She had to struggle not to laugh when she saw what was going on. Evidently, Johnny had caught Naomi in the bathtub behind the cave. Naomi, now wrapped in a towel, was humiliated, but Johnny was just curious. "Naomi, go in and get some clothes on," she ordered.

"Mama Kate!" she objected. "Johnny was spying on me! You have to do something!"

"I plan to, Naomi. Now go in and get some clothes on." The teenage girl gave her brother one last dirty look and went inside. Kathryn turned to face her other children. "Sit down, everybody." They did so, reluct