Lilo said sternly: "You must not be flippant! Such ideas are debilitating and disturb the flow of logic. As the Primer tells us, the erratic impulses of evolution have caused anomalies which we have been trying to correct. Our goal is the imposition of order on chaos. Remember "Three' in the Index?

"Unity is purity! Energy is direction! Duality is collision, disorder and stasis!"" Half amused, Glawen studied Lilo's features, which, like those of Zaa, were fine, delicate and accented by large dark eyes. Lilo asked:

"Are those ideas firmly in your mind?"

"Absolutely."

"Duality is to logical unity what death is to life. The chapter "Opposites and Apposites' analyzes the subject in broad outline and is adequate for the beginner's needs."

"What do you mean by "Duality'?"

"That should be clear even to you! Duality is the source of the Great Schism which drove us apart from the Polymantics.

In any event, they were dominated by the masculines, which again caused polarities. In the Progressive Formula, which we endorse, sexual polarization is either ignored or avoided."

"And what do you think of that?"

"There is no need for me to think. The Monomantic Creed is correct."

"But how do you feel, in personal terms?"

Lilo again compressed her lips.

"I have never thought to analyze the subject. Introspection is not a productive employment."

"I see."

Lilo darted him a sidelong glance.

"What of yourself?"

"I like Duality."

Lilo gave her head a shake of disapproval, though seeming to smile.

"I suspected as much. You must accept Unity." She darted him another quick glance.

"Why do you look at me like that?"

"I wonder how you think of yourself. Female? Male? Unified?

Type unknown? Or what?"

Lilo looked off across the room.

"These ideas are not considered appropriate for discussion. An irrational evolution has blighted us with dualism; we thrust it aside with all the force of our philosophy!"

"You did not answer my question."

Lilo sat looking down at the Index.

"How do you regard me?"

"You are properly female."

Lilo gave a slow reluctant nod.

"I am physiologically female, that is true."

"If you let your hair grow you might even be considered pretty."

"What an odd thing to say! It would mean conscious duality."

Impelled in equal part by mischief, malice and feckless Clattuc gallantry, Glawen went to sit beside Lilo on the cot. She looked at him with startled eyes.

"Why are you doing that?"

"So that we can study Duality together and learn how it works. It's far more interesting than Monomantics."

Lilo went to sit in the chair.

"That is the most extraordinary suggestion I have ever heard!"

"Are you interested?"

"Of course not. We must give our attention wholly to the approved regimen." A musical tone sounded.

"It is time for supper. Come; you and I will go together."

In the refectory Glawen and Lilo were served bread, beans and boiled greens from a row of iron pots. They went to sit at a long table. About thirty other members of the order hunched over their platters. Glawen asked Lilo: "Is anyone here your special friend?"

"We love each other and all of humanity with the same deep fervor. You must do the same."

"I find it hard to love Mutis."

"At times Mutis is inclined to be arbitrary."

"But you love him, nonetheless?"

After a moment Lilo said: "All of us must generate our share of universal love."

"Why waste any on the likes of Mutis?"

"Ssst! Quiet! You are a noisy person. In the refectory silence is the rule. Many of us set aside this time to ponder, or to clarify some apparent parados, and no one wants to be disturbed."

"Sorry."

Lilo looked down at Glawen's plate.