Few cultures take gender inequality to the extent seen on the planet Bisbane. Bisbani women are city dwellers, enjoying high levels of education and technology. Males live in the wilderness, carefully enclosed in fenced preserves. The two sexes only interact when a woman wants a child, and even then she needs a sharp knife.

Hermione's ready for another child. Her first, a son, will soon be relocated to the wilderness. She's hoping for a daughter, a more permanent family member with whom to share her life. Without the money for a hunting license, however, Hermione can't access the preserves and hunt a male.

Help comes from an unexpected source - a human male hunting a fugitive from off world. The human's willing to pay for information leading to the criminal's capture.

Although Hermione finds dealing with an alien male distasteful, his money makes a hunting license possible, and his tracking technology makes locating a healthy Bisbani male easy. Even so, Hermione's not sure she's doing the right thing, and she might be right.

Jimm Grogan's tale of gender inequality, romance, and reproduction calls to mind the short stories of Robert Heinlein. Also included is a free sample from Grogan's new novel, Negative Zero.