Permanent contraceptive implants, for the women and hermaphrodites. You need the permit to get it removed. It’s the custom, at puberty—a girl gets her implant, and her ears pierced, and her, er, um”—Miles discovered he was not immune to pinkness himself—he went on in a rush—“her hymen cut, all on the same visit to the doctor. There’s usually a family party—sort of a rite of passage. That’s how you can tell if a girl’s available, the ears . . .”
