Diane turned her pale face to Dr. Hubley, and said, �An incubus can get you pregnant. With a demon child.�

�Diane, an incubus is a medieval European religious invention to explain sexual misconduct in people who didn�t want to take responsibility for sinful behavior. We�ve come a long way since then.�

�Have we?�

�You have reservations about that?�

�Well, Denby used to brag about his Jesuit education. It would be just like him to haunt me as an incubus and impregnate me,� Diane leaned her elbows on her knees and braced her pounding head in her hands.

�Okay, let�s have a reality check before you turn into some drooping clock in a Dal� painting,� Dr. Hubley said, noting Diane�s posture. She knew she would laugh about this conversation later, but she had no problem maintaining her supportive, professional attitude while Diane chuckled and relaxed into the couch.

�Let�s start with the pregnancy part. Are you pregnant in real life, outside the dream?�

�Yes,� Diane said, and fished in her pocket for a second. She handed the doctor the home pregnancy test kit that bore the pink X.

Dr. Hubley gasped, but quickly recovered. �Oh. My,� she said, and thought for a second. Diane watched her, waiting for this gentle Rose to explain that last bombshell away. �Well, okay. Let�s see. How about other partners? On this side of the grass?�

�Danny. A few times. But I menstruated after the last time we were together. Regularly. Until after this incubus, or whatever you want to call it, came to me in the night.� Diane looked out into space as she recounted his last visit. �He seemed so real. It was Harry Denby, but slightly different. His hair was longer, and it reached his shoulders. And it was brown. His body was tan all over, like he had been living on some Caribbean island. His eyes were bright green in contrast to that tan. He was calm, and seductive like a snake charmer.�

�And you never had sexual intercourse with Denby when he was alive?�

Diane shuddered in horror. �Never!�

Dr. Hubley flipped through the chart and read the description of Denby again. She had memorized his face, the crease between his eyebrows, the deeply pained expression in his eyes, and the sensuous curve of his mouth. If Diane were going to be visited by an incubus, she could do worse. This incident happened less than a week ago. Not enough time for a positive pregnancy test.