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stairs to her room.   He had been curious about her body as a boy, and he had been jealous when she had taken other men for her lovers over the years. She could be a perfect lover for him. They were both the heirs of the chief, their union would produce fine children-- that was what his mother and her mother had suggested. That was probably her thoughts as well. But he couldn’t stand it. The children would belong to her. All he could do was to go check on them for an hour or two after dinner, before their bedtime. And if he broke up with their mother, he wouldn’t even be granted the visits. He might insist on taking his share of responsibility, but he had no rights to them. His presence wouldn’t matter to them. His role was dispensable. As they grew up, their impression of him would fade away in their minds. In short, he would be no more than a sperm donor, just like his own father was, just like every Moso man… Except his own grandfather, the chief, who had broken the rule and taken in a Han woman for a wife.   He himself didn’t plan to break the rule, but he didn’t plan to stick with it either.
                          For a while he thought he would settle with having occasional affairs with tourist women, whose purpose of having sex with him wasn’t procreation, but solely recreation. But he had never been content with that kind of relationship. Although those women would come see him a few times a year, he himself had never gone to look for them.   He longed for a relationship in a more intimate level, a relationship that was neither purely sexual, nor purely reproductive. He wanted a loving relationship free of condoms.
                         
     

Chapter 4
     
    The next day Sharon didn’t wake until noon. When she opened her eyes she saw sunshine filtered through the carved window frames and cast on the wall facing her, in intriguing patterns of squares and dots. She knew that it would be a gorgeous day.
    She put on her robe and went out to the balcony. The lake was a vast blueness glittering with golden specks.
    Quickly washed and dressed, she went to Charlene’s door. It was open. Charlene was sitting on her desk typing notes onto her computer. “Good morning Sharon, did you sleep well?”
    “Never so well for years. Not a stir. How about yourself, better?”
                  “Much better. If I get up really slowly I don’t even feel the dizziness.”
    “Great. Should I help you with the exercise?”
    “Um, no. I did one earlier.”
    “It won’t hurt to do it again.”
    Obediently Charlene sat down on her bed and with Sharon’s help she started the exercise.
    “Have you had breakfast?” Sharon asked her sister.
    “No, I ate so much at dinner last night that I thought I should skip breakfast. I’ve gained weight since I came, Sharon. My jeans don’t fit anymore.”
    “How could you have gained weight here, on such a healthy diet?”
    “That’s what I’d like to know. I guess it’s because I’ve been so relaxed working on my own schedule. It feels almost like a long vacation. Besides, the cookies and chocolates you’ve been sending me!” Charlene smiled contently.
    “Well, I was worrying that you would starve!” Sharon laughed. “While you were having such a good time.”
    Noticing a smudge in the corner of Charlene’s eye, Sharon asked, “You haven’t washed, have you?”
    “Not yet. I was going to do it after I finished the input...” Charlene was going to get up but Sharon stopped her.
    “Wait here!” She ran into the bathroom, soaked Charlene’s towel in hot water, wrung it and brought it to Charlene.
    “Thanks, Sharon, you’re the best sister on earth.” Charlene mumbled as Sharon covered her face with a damp towel. Sharon laughed. It felt like they were back in time. When they were little, their parents spent all day working, and Charlene was pretty much Sharon’s sole responsibility. In the evenings Sharon would take care of