Imago

by Octavia E. Butler

João’s face underwent several changes. Surprise, regret, shame, anger, renewed hatred and revulsion. “I did not ask you to save me.” “Why do you hate me?” “I know what you do—your kind. You take men as though they were women!” “No! We—” “Yes! Your kind and your Human whores are the cause of all our trouble! You treat all mankind as your woman!” “Is that how I’ve treated you?” He became sullen. “I don’t know what you’ve done.” “Your body tells you what I’ve done.” I sat for a time and looked at him with my eyes. When he looked away, I said, “That male over there is my Human father. The female is my Human mother. I came from her body. I didn’t heal you so that you could insult these people.”