“You call it a trade. You’ve taken something you value from us and you’re giving us back our world. Is that it? Do you have all you want from us?” “You know it isn’t,” he said softly. “You’ve guessed that much.” She waited, staring at him. “Your people will change. Your young will be more like us and ours more like you. Your hierarchical tendencies will be modified and if we learn to regenerate limbs and reshape our bodies, we’ll share those abilities with you. That’s part of the trade. We’re overdue for it.” “It is crossbreeding, then, no matter what you call it.” “It’s what I said it was. A
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