In the years after the Final War, the Council of Women decide to secede from men. They create a world of their own away from men, where they can raise their children without fear. Once a year men may visit briefly to procreate. Boys are sent to the Land of Men when they reach puberty. At eleven, Bergman was sent across the sea and placed with his fathers, Spencer and Harris. Years later, he meets Hastings at the Beach Festival, an annual event for young men. It’s love at first sight for Bergman. But the course of true love never runs smoothly. In time Hastings desires a son, a subject Bergman paid little thought to. Yet their son Taylor brings great joy to their lives. Life is further complicated when Hastings is chosen to travel to the Land of Women to father children. He wants to accept, but Bergman can’t understand why he would consider going. Isn’t he happy with what he already has? If he goes, what will that do to their relationship? To their future? Is this a betrayal, or is it something else?

In the Land of Men

There were many changes throughout my time with them. We enlarged my room. They acquired another horse, Chester, which they said was theirs, but I was the only one who rode it. Jones died shortly after we got the horse and for a long while we had to live on what Smith could produce. When we had enough to trade, we got a pregnant cow—so two for the price of one.


I was about twenty—keep in mind all these ages are approximate. I was about twenty when I began to want to strike out on my own. Spencer and Harris had been wonderful fathers to me. Every day I learned something new. They had done a good job with every facet of my education. I had no complaints.


I’ll never forget the look on their faces when I told them I wanted to leave home. A man on the other side of the township had passed away and, as is the custom, I filed a claim on his property. And it was granted to me. I had the deed to the property hidden under my mattress at the time I broke the news to them.


Chapter 5