Realization seems to dawn on Shrieky, and he reaches out to pop his index finger on her belly button, with a suddenly knowing expression.

"It's this, isn't it? I knew they had to do something. All the other holes do something..." Then, almost as if now that Ilde's safety seems assured the rest of his brain has processed what she was saying, Shrieky turns in slow motion to stare at her belly. There is a baby in there. A tiny miniature version of Ilde. It'll be like the goats, and like the manticore, needing her to provide it with affection an sustenance, but it won't vanish and it won't go away. It'll grow up and be a person, just like they are.

And because it's mother will be Ilde, and it will be born in Baedal where there is a long and wide river full of souls? It'll be happy. It's whole life will be happy.

"Gods, you're making a baby! You've already made it, even! Ilde, that's incredible!"

And Shrieky will murder anyone who tries to stop it from being happy.