3E

Any thoughts why the women possibly being pregnant was significant?

If the women were pregnant then they may be leaving their homeland because of being pregnant.

I think the women may already be pregnant or they are impregnated here. I think they are potential baby factories whose babies are being sold to couples who want children. This may be way off base but I feel like they keep coming back to Dana and Helen's quest for a baby. It's been a major theme in this book.

There is the additional market for the babies. I hope that Dana and Helen don't get pulled in to this.

>3 Olivermagnus: that’s been my thought as well - a black market baby adoption

I'd agree with all the above comments.

I thought about the time and expense that would be incurred to keep the women until they gave birth and then to sell actual babies. I think they're harvesting eggs and selling them. Easier, faster and there seems to be a growing market and it would mean more profit for them. Just a thought and I could be wrong.

>3 Olivermagnus: Good point about the connections. I did wonder if they had been forced into prostitution and killed when become pregnant.

>7 Carol420: A good thought, Carol. Pari mentions sleeping a lot (drugged, obviously) - this could fit your scenario, as the women would need to be unconscious.
(It also strengthens a theory of mine, concerning Thessa...)