Chapter 143

‘It’s a bit uncomfortable,’ the doctor said, ‘but I promise you it’s not hurting anyone.’

Ariston didn’t look convinced, and Lucette said quietly, ‘I’m all right, Ariston .’

‘There we are,’ Dr Tallos announced, and they all turned to look at the fuzzy shape on the screen.

Lucette blinked, trying to connect what looked like nothing more than a few blobby circles into a shape that resembled a baby.

Then Dr Tallos started pointing things out on the screen. ‘There’s the head, and the stomach, and you can see fingers and toes—look.’

And almost as if by magic Lucette could see it: the curled up bud of her baby unfurling as he—or she—stretched out arms, kicked tiny legs.

‘Kicking up a storm,’ Dr Tallos said cheerfully. ‘Do you feel anything?’

Lucette shook her head. ‘Not yet.’

‘Well, don’t worry, you’re sure to in the next few weeks. And there’s the heart, beating away.’ She pointed to the flickering image on the screen, pulsing with life. ‘Let me turn up the volume and you can hear it.