think¡¡of¡¡it¡£¡±
¡¡Jamie¡¡scowled¡¡at¡¡the¡¡big¡¡man¡¡and¡¡patted¡¡my¡¡arm¡¡before¡¡removing¡¡his¡¡hand¡£¡¡¡°Don¡¯t¡¡be¡¡scared£»¡±¡¡he¡¡said¡£
¡¡Jeb¡¡took¡¡up¡¡where¡¡he¡¯d¡¡left¡¡off¡£¡¡¡°So¡¡this¡¡big¡¡room¡¡here¡¡is¡¡fitted¡¡up¡¡with¡¡a¡¡few¡¡cots¡¡in¡¡case¡¡anyone¡¡gets¡¡
sick¡¡or¡¡hurt¡£¡¡We¡¯ve¡¡been¡¡pretty¡¡lucky¡¡on¡¡that¡¡count¡£¡¡Doc¡¡doesn¡¯t¡¡have¡¡much¡¡to¡¡work¡¡with¡¡in¡¡an¡¡
emergency¡£¡±¡¡Jeb¡¡grinned¡¡at¡¡me¡£¡¡¡°Your¡¡folks¡¡threw¡¡out¡¡allour¡¡medicines¡¡when¡¡they¡¡took¡¡over¡¡things¡£¡¡Hard¡¡
to¡¡get¡¡our¡¡hands¡¡on¡¡what¡¡we¡¡need¡£¡±
¡¡I¡¡nodded¡¡slightly£»¡¡the¡¡movement¡¡was¡¡absentminded¡£¡¡I¡¡was¡¡still¡¡reeling£»¡¡trying¡¡to¡¡get¡¡my¡¡bearings¡£¡¡This¡¡
room¡¡looked¡¡innocent¡¡enough£»¡¡as¡¡if¡¡it¡¡were¡¡only¡¡used¡¡for¡¡healing£»¡¡but¡¡it¡¡made¡¡my¡¡stomach¡¡twist¡¡and¡¡
contract¡£
¡¡¡°What¡¡do¡¡you¡¡know¡¡about¡¡alien¡¡medicine£¿¡±¡¡the¡¡doctor¡¡asked¡¡suddenly£»¡¡his¡¡head¡¡cocked¡¡to¡¡the¡¡side¡£¡¡He¡¡
watched¡¡my¡¡face¡¡with¡¡expectant¡¡curiosity¡£
¡¡I¡¡stared¡¡at¡¡him¡¡wordlessly¡£
¡¡¡°Oh£»¡¡you¡¡can¡¡talk¡¡to¡¡Doc£»¡±¡¡Jeb¡¡encouraged¡¡me¡£¡¡¡°He¡¯s¡¡a¡¡pretty¡¡decent¡¡guy£»¡¡all¡¡things¡¡considered¡£¡±¡¡
¡¡
¡¡¡°She¡¯s¡¡not¡¡giving¡¡away¡¡any¡¡trade¡¡secrets£»¡±¡¡Ian¡¡said¡¡sourly¡£¡¡¡°Are¡¡you£»¡¡sweetheart£¿¡±
¡¡¡°Manners£»¡¡Ian£»¡±¡¡Jeb¡¡barked¡£
¡¡¡°Is¡¡it¡¡a¡¡secret£¿¡±¡¡Jamie¡¡asked£»¡¡guarded¡¡but¡¡clearly¡¡curious¡£
¡¡I¡¡shook¡¡my¡¡head¡¡again¡£¡¡They¡¡all¡¡stared¡¡at¡¡me¡¡in¡¡confusion¡£¡¡Doc¡¡shook¡¡his¡¡head£»¡¡too£»¡¡slowly£»¡¡baffled¡£
¡¡I¡¡took¡¡a¡¡deep¡¡breath£»¡¡then¡¡whispered£»¡¡¡°I¡¯m¡¡not¡¡a¡¡Healer¡£¡¡I¡¡don¡¯t¡¡know¡¡how¡¡they¡ªthe¡¡
medications¡ªwork¡£¡¡Only¡¡that¡¡theydo¡¡work¡ª¡¡they¡¡heal£»¡¡rather¡¡than¡¡merely¡¡treating¡¡symptoms¡£¡¡No¡¡trial¡¡
and¡¡error¡£¡¡Of¡¡course¡¡the¡¡human¡¡medicines¡¡were¡¡discarded¡£¡±
¡¡All¡¡four¡¡of¡¡them¡¡stared¡¡with¡¡blank¡¡expressions¡£¡¡First¡¡they¡¡were¡¡surprised¡¡when¡¡I¡¡didn¡¯t¡¡answer£»¡¡and¡¡now¡¡
they¡¡were¡¡surprised¡¡when¡¡I¡¡did¡£¡¡Humans¡¡were¡¡impossible¡¡to¡¡please¡£
¡¡¡°Your¡¡kind¡¡didn¡¯t¡¡change¡¡too¡¡much¡¡of¡¡what¡¡we¡¡left¡¡behind£»¡±¡¡Jeb¡¡said¡¡thoughtfully¡¡after¡¡a¡¡moment¡£¡¡¡°Just¡¡
the¡¡medical¡¡stuff£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡spaceships¡¡instead¡¡of¡¡planes¡£¡¡Other¡¡than¡¡that£»¡¡life¡¡seems¡¡to¡¡go¡¡on¡¡just¡¡the¡¡same¡¡
as¡¡ever¡¡¡on¡¡the¡¡surface¡£¡±
¡¡¡°We¡¡e¡¡to¡¡experience£»¡¡not¡¡to¡¡change£»¡±¡¡I¡¡whispered¡£¡¡¡°Health¡¡takes¡¡priority¡¡over¡¡that¡¡philosophy£»¡¡
though¡£¡±
¡¡I¡¡shut¡¡my¡¡mouth¡¡with¡¡an¡¡audible¡¡snap¡£¡¡I¡¡had¡¡to¡¡be¡¡more¡¡careful¡£¡¡The¡¡humans¡¡hardly¡¡wanted¡¡a¡¡lecture¡¡on¡¡
soul¡¡philosophy¡£¡¡Who¡¡knew¡¡what¡¡would¡¡anger¡¡them£¿¡¡Or¡¡what¡¡would¡¡snap¡¡their¡¡fragile¡¡patience£¿
¡¡Jeb¡¡nodded£»¡¡still¡¡thoughtful£»¡¡and¡¡then¡¡ushered¡¡us¡¡onward¡£¡¡He¡¡wasn¡¯t¡¡as¡¡enthusiastic¡¡as¡¡he¡¡continued¡¡my¡¡
tour¡¡through¡¡the¡¡few¡¡connecting¡¡caves¡¡here¡¡in¡¡the¡¡medical¡¡wing£»¡¡not¡¡as¡¡involved¡¡in¡¡the¡¡presentation¡£¡¡When¡¡
we¡¡turned¡¡around¡¡and¡¡headed¡¡back¡¡into¡¡the¡¡black¡¡corridor£»¡¡he¡¡lapsed¡¡into¡¡silence¡£¡¡It¡¡was¡¡a¡¡long£»¡¡quiet¡¡
walk¡£¡¡I¡¡thought¡¡through¡¡what¡¡I¡¯d¡¡said£»¡¡looking¡¡for¡¡something¡¡that¡¡might¡¡have¡¡offended¡£¡¡Jeb¡¡was¡¡too¡¡
strange¡¡for¡¡me¡¡to¡¡guess¡¡if¡¡that¡¡was¡¡the¡¡case¡£¡¡The¡¡other¡¡humans£»¡¡hostile¡¡and¡¡suspicious¡¡as¡¡they¡¡were£»¡¡at¡¡
least¡¡made¡¡sense¡£¡¡How¡¡could¡¡I¡¡hope¡¡to¡¡make¡¡sense¡¡of¡¡Jeb£¿
¡¡The¡¡tour¡¡ended¡¡abruptly¡¡when¡¡we¡¡reentered¡¡the¡¡huge¡¡garden¡¡cavern¡¡where¡¡the¡¡carrot¡¡sprouts¡¡made¡¡a¡¡
bright¡¡green¡¡carpet¡¡across¡¡the¡¡dark¡¡floor¡£
¡¡¡°Show¡¯s¡¡over£»¡±¡¡Jeb¡¡said¡¡gruffly£»¡¡looking¡¡at¡¡Ian¡¡and¡¡the¡¡doctor¡£¡¡¡°Go¡¡do¡¡something¡¡useful¡£¡±
¡¡Ian¡¡rolled¡¡his¡¡eyes¡¡at¡¡the¡¡doctor£»¡¡but¡¡they¡¡both¡¡turned¡¡good¡naturedly¡¡enough¡¡and¡¡made¡¡their¡¡way¡¡
toward¡¡the¡¡biggest¡¡exit¡ªthe¡¡one¡¡that¡¡led¡¡to¡¡the¡¡kitchen£»¡¡I¡¡remembered¡£¡¡Jamie¡¡hesitated£»¡¡looking¡¡after¡¡
them¡¡but¡¡not¡¡moving¡£
¡¡¡°You¡¡e¡¡with¡¡me£»¡±¡¡Jeb¡¡told¡¡him£»¡¡slightly¡¡less¡¡gruff¡¡this¡¡time¡£¡¡¡°I¡¯ve¡¡got¡¡a¡¡job¡¡for¡¡you¡£¡±
¡¡¡°Okay£»¡±¡¡Jamie¡¡said¡£¡¡I¡¡could¡¡see¡¡that¡¡he¡¡was¡¡pleased¡¡to¡¡have¡¡been¡¡chosen¡£
¡¡Jamie¡¡walked¡¡beside¡¡me¡¡again¡¡as¡¡we¡¡headed¡¡back¡¡toward¡¡the¡¡sleeping¡quarters¡¡section¡¡of¡¡the¡¡caves¡£¡¡I¡¡
was¡¡surprised£»¡¡as¡¡we¡¡chose¡¡the¡¡third¡¡passageway¡¡from¡¡the¡¡left£»¡¡that¡¡Jamie¡¡seemed¡¡to¡¡know¡¡exactly¡¡where¡¡
we¡¡were¡¡going¡£¡¡Jeb¡¡was¡¡slightly¡¡behind¡¡us£»¡¡but¡¡Jamie¡¡stopped¡¡at¡¡once¡¡when¡¡we¡¡reached¡¡the¡¡green¡¡screen¡¡
¡¡
in£»¡¡not¡¡sure¡¡what¡¡to¡¡do¡¡with¡¡myself¡£¡¡Melanie¡¡remembered¡¡that¡¡there¡¡were¡¡books¡¡here£»¡¡but¡¡I¡¡reminded¡¡her¡¡
of¡¡my¡¡vow¡¡to¡¡not¡¡touch¡¡anything¡£¡¡
¡°I¡¡got¡¡things¡¡to¡¡do£»¡¡kid£»¡±¡¡Jeb¡¡said¡¡to¡¡Jamie¡£¡¡¡°Food¡¡ain¡¯t¡¡gonna¡¡fix¡¡itself£»¡¡you¡¡know¡£¡¡You¡¡up¡¡to¡¡guard¡¡
duty£¿¡±
¡¡¡°Sure£»¡±¡¡Jamie¡¡said¡¡with¡¡a¡¡bright¡¡smile¡£¡¡His¡¡thin¡¡chest¡¡swelled¡¡with¡¡a¡¡deep¡¡breath¡£¡¡
My¡¡eyes¡¡widened¡¡in¡¡disbelief¡¡as¡¡I¡¡watched¡¡Jeb¡¡place¡¡the¡¡rifle¡¡in¡¡Jamie¡¯s¡¡eager¡¡hands¡£¡¡
¡°Are¡¡youcrazy£¿¡¡¡±¡¡I¡¡shouted¡£¡¡My¡¡voice¡¡was¡¡so¡¡loud¡¡that¡¡I¡¡didn¡¯t¡¡recognize¡¡it¡¡at¡¡first¡£¡¡It¡¡felt¡¡like¡¡I¡¯d¡¡been¡¡
whispering¡¡forever¡£¡¡
Jeb¡¡and¡¡Jamie¡¡looked¡¡up¡¡at¡¡me£»¡¡shocked¡£¡¡I¡¡was¡¡out¡¡in¡¡the¡¡hallway¡¡with¡¡them¡¡in¡¡a¡¡second¡£¡¡
I¡¡almost¡¡reached¡¡for¡¡the¡¡hard¡¡metal¡¡of¡¡the¡¡barrel£»¡¡almost¡¡ripped¡¡it¡¡from¡¡the¡¡boy¡¯s¡¡hands¡£¡¡What¡¡stopped¡¡
me¡¡wasn¡¯t¡¡the¡¡knowledge¡¡that¡¡a¡¡move¡¡like¡¡that¡¡would¡¡surely¡¡get¡¡me¡¡killed¡£¡¡What¡¡stopped¡¡me¡¡was¡¡the¡¡fact¡¡
that¡¡I¡¡was¡¡weaker¡¡than¡¡the¡¡humans¡¡in¡¡this¡¡way£»¡¡even¡¡to¡¡save¡¡the¡¡boy£»¡¡I¡¡could¡¡not¡¡make¡¡myself¡¡touch¡¡the¡¡
weapon¡£
¡¡I¡¡turned¡¡on¡¡Jeb¡¡instead¡£¡¡
¡°What¡¡are¡¡you¡¡thinking£¿¡¡Giving¡¡the¡¡weapon¡¡to¡¡a¡¡child£¿¡¡He¡¡could¡¡kill¡¡himself£¡¡±¡¡
¡°Jamie¡¯s¡¡been¡¡through¡¡enough¡¡to¡¡be¡¡called¡¡a¡¡man£»¡¡I¡¡think¡£¡¡He¡¡knows¡¡how¡¡to¡¡handle¡¡himself¡¡around¡¡a¡¡
gun¡£¡±¡¡
Jamie¡¯s¡¡shoulders¡¡straightened¡¡at¡¡Jeb¡¯s¡¡praise£»¡¡and¡¡he¡¡gripped¡¡the¡¡gun¡¡tighter¡¡to¡¡his¡¡chest¡£¡¡
I¡¡gaped¡¡at¡¡Jeb¡¯s¡¡stupidity¡£¡¡¡°What¡¡if¡¡they¡¡e¡¡for¡¡me¡¡with¡¡him¡¡here£¿¡¡Did¡¡you¡¡think¡¡of¡¡what¡¡could¡¡
happen£¿¡¡This¡¡isn¡¯t¡¡a¡¡joke£¡¡¡They¡¯ll¡¡hurt¡¡him¡¡to¡¡get¡¡to¡¡me£¡¡±¡¡
Jeb¡¡remained¡¡calm£»¡¡his¡¡face¡¡placid¡£¡¡¡°Don¡¯t¡¡think¡¡there¡¯ll¡¡be¡¡any¡¡trouble¡¡today¡£¡¡I¡¯d¡¡bet¡¡on¡¡it¡£¡±¡¡
¡°Well£»¡¡I¡¡wouldn¡¯t£¡¡±¡¡I¡¡was¡¡yelling¡¡again¡£¡¡My¡¡voice¡¡echoed¡¡off¡¡the¡¡tunnel¡¡walls¡ªsomeone¡¡was¡¡sure¡¡to¡¡
hear£»¡¡but¡¡I¡¡didn¡¯t¡¡care¡£¡¡Better¡¡they¡¡e¡¡while¡¡Jeb¡¡was¡¡still¡¡here¡£¡¡¡°If¡¡you¡¯re¡¡so¡¡sure£»¡¡then¡¡leave¡¡me¡¡here¡¡
alone¡£¡¡Let¡¡what¡¡happens¡¡happen¡£¡¡But¡¡don¡¯t¡¡put¡¡Jamie¡¡in¡¡danger£¡¡±¡¡
¡°Is¡¡it¡¡the¡¡kid¡¡you¡¯re¡¡worried¡¡about£»¡¡or¡¡are¡¡you¡¡just¡¡afraid¡¡that¡¡he¡¯ll¡¡turn¡¡the¡¡gun¡¡on¡¡you£¿¡±¡¡Jeb¡¡asked£»¡¡his¡¡
voice¡¡almost¡¡languid¡£
¡¡I¡¡blinked£»¡¡my¡¡anger¡¡derailed¡£¡¡That¡¡thought¡¡had¡¡not¡¡even¡¡occurred¡¡to¡¡me¡£¡¡I¡¡glanced¡¡blankly¡¡at¡¡Jamie£»¡¡met¡¡
his¡¡surprised¡¡gaze£»¡¡and¡¡saw¡¡that¡¡the¡¡idea¡¡was¡¡shocking¡¡to¡¡him£»¡¡too¡£¡¡
It¡¡took¡¡me¡¡a¡¡minute¡¡to¡¡recover¡¡my¡¡side¡¡of¡¡the¡¡argument£»¡¡and¡¡by¡¡the¡¡time¡¡I¡¡did£»¡¡Jeb¡¯s¡¡expression¡¡had¡¡
changed¡£¡¡His¡¡eyes¡¡were¡¡intent£»¡¡his¡¡mouth¡¡pursed¡ªas¡¡if¡¡he¡¡were¡¡about¡¡to¡¡fit¡¡the¡¡last¡¡piece¡¡into¡¡a¡¡
¡¡
boy¡¡out¡¡of¡¡this¡£¡±
¡¡Jeb¡¯s¡¡sudden¡¡face¡wide¡¡grin¡¡reminded¡¡me£»¡¡strangely£»¡¡of¡¡a¡¡pouncing¡¡cat¡£
¡¡¡°It¡¯s¡¡my¡¡house£»¡¡kid£»¡¡and¡¡I¡¯ll¡¡do¡¡what¡¡I¡¡want¡£¡¡I¡¡always¡¡do¡£¡±
¡¡Jeb¡¡turned¡¡his¡¡back¡¡and¡¡ambled¡¡away¡¡down¡¡the¡¡hall£»¡¡whistling¡¡as¡¡he¡¡went¡£¡¡I¡¡watched¡¡him¡¡go£»¡¡my¡¡mouth¡¡
hanging¡¡open¡£¡¡When¡¡he¡¡disappeared£»¡¡I¡¡turned¡¡to¡¡Jamie£»¡¡who¡¡was¡¡watching¡¡me¡¡with¡¡a¡¡sullen¡¡expression¡£
¡¡¡°I¡¯m¡¡not¡¡a¡¡child£»¡±¡¡he¡¡muttered¡¡in¡¡a¡¡deeper¡¡tone¡¡than¡¡usual£»¡¡his¡¡chin¡¡jutting¡¡out¡¡belligerently¡£¡¡¡°Now£»¡¡you¡¡
should¡¡¡you¡¡should¡¡go¡¡in¡¡your¡¡room¡£¡±
¡¡The¡¡order¡¡was¡¡less¡¡than¡¡severe£»¡¡but¡¡there¡¡was¡¡nothing¡¡else¡¡I¡¡could¡¡do¡£¡¡I¡¯d¡¡lost¡¡this¡¡disagreement¡¡by¡¡a¡¡
large¡¡margin¡£
¡¡I¡¡sat¡¡down¡¡with¡¡my¡¡back¡¡against¡¡the¡¡rock¡¡that¡¡formed¡¡one¡¡side¡¡of¡¡the¡¡cave¡¡opening¡ªthe¡¡side¡¡where¡¡I¡¡
could¡¡hide¡¡behind¡¡the¡¡half¡opened¡¡screen¡¡but¡¡still¡¡watch¡¡Jamie¡£¡¡I¡¡wrapped¡¡my¡¡arms¡¡around¡¡my¡¡legs¡¡and¡¡
began¡¡doing¡¡what¡¡I¡¡knew¡¡I¡¡would¡¡be¡¡doing¡¡as¡¡long¡¡as¡¡this¡¡insane¡¡situation¡¡continued£º¡¡I¡¡worried¡£
¡¡I¡¡also¡¡strained¡¡my¡¡eyes¡¡and¡¡ears¡¡for¡¡some¡¡sound¡¡of¡¡approach£»¡¡to¡¡be¡¡ready¡£¡¡No¡¡matter¡¡what¡¡Jeb¡¡said£»¡¡I¡¡
would¡¡prevent¡¡anyone¡¡from¡¡challenging¡¡Jamie¡¯s¡¡guard¡£¡¡I¡¡would¡¡give¡¡myself¡¡up¡¡before¡¡they¡¡asked¡£
¡¡Yes£»Melanie¡¡agreed¡¡succinctly¡£
¡¡Jamie¡¡stood¡¡in¡¡the¡¡hallway¡¡for¡¡a¡¡few¡¡minutes£»¡¡the¡¡gun¡¡tight¡¡in¡¡his¡¡hands£»¡¡unsure¡¡as¡¡to¡¡how¡¡to¡¡do¡¡his¡¡job¡£¡¡
He¡¡started¡¡pacing¡¡after¡¡that£»¡¡back¡¡and¡¡forth¡¡in¡¡front¡¡of¡¡the¡¡screen£»¡¡but¡¡he¡¡seemed¡¡to¡¡feel¡¡silly¡¡after¡¡a¡¡
couple¡¡of¡¡passes¡£¡¡Then¡¡he¡¡sat¡¡down¡¡on¡¡the¡¡floor¡¡beside¡¡the¡¡open¡¡end¡¡of¡¡the¡¡screen¡£¡¡The¡¡gun¡¡eventually¡¡
settled¡¡on¡¡his¡¡folded¡¡legs£»¡¡and¡¡his¡¡chin¡¡into¡¡his¡¡cupped¡¡hands¡£¡¡After¡¡a¡¡long¡¡time£»¡¡he¡¡sighed¡£¡¡Guard¡¡duty¡¡
was¡¡not¡¡as¡¡exciting¡¡as¡¡he¡¯d¡¡been¡¡expecting¡£
¡¡I¡¡did¡¡not¡¡get¡¡bored¡¡watching¡¡him¡£
¡¡After¡¡maybe¡¡an¡¡hour¡¡or¡¡two£»¡¡he¡¡started¡¡looking¡¡at¡¡me¡¡again£»¡¡flickering¡¡glances¡£¡¡His¡¡lips¡¡opened¡¡a¡¡few¡¡
times£»¡¡and¡¡then¡¡he¡¡thought¡¡better¡¡of¡¡whatever¡¡he¡¡was¡¡going¡¡to¡¡say¡£
¡¡I¡¡laid¡¡my¡¡chin¡¡on¡¡my¡¡knees¡¡and¡¡waited¡¡as¡¡he¡¡struggled¡£¡¡My¡¡patience¡¡was¡¡rewarded¡£
¡¡¡°That¡¡planet¡¡you¡¡were¡¡ing¡¡from¡¡before¡¡you¡¡were¡¡in¡¡Melanie£»¡±¡¡he¡¡finally¡¡said¡£¡¡¡°What¡¡was¡¡it¡¡like¡¡there£¿¡¡
Was¡¡it¡¡like¡¡here£¿¡±
¡¡The¡¡direction¡¡of¡¡his¡¡thoughts¡¡caught¡¡me¡¡off¡¡guard¡£¡¡¡°No£»¡±¡¡I¡¡said¡£¡¡With¡¡only¡¡Jamie¡¡here£»¡¡it¡¡felt¡¡right¡¡to¡¡
speak¡¡normally¡¡instead¡¡of¡¡whispering¡£¡¡¡°No£»¡¡it¡¡was¡¡very¡¡different¡£¡±
¡¡¡°Will¡¡you¡¡tell¡¡me¡¡what¡¡it¡¡was¡¡like£¿¡±¡¡he¡¡asked£»¡¡cocking¡¡his¡¡head¡¡to¡¡one¡¡side¡¡the¡¡way¡¡he¡¡used¡¡to¡¡when¡¡he¡¡
was¡¡really¡¡interested¡¡in¡¡one¡¡of¡¡Melanie¡¯s¡¡bedtime¡¡stories¡£
¡¡So¡¡I¡¡told¡¡him¡£¡¡
¡¡
¡¡He¡¡listened¡¡with¡¡wide¡¡eyes¡¡and¡¡a¡¡fascinated¡¡smile¡£
¡¡¡°Is¡¡that¡¡the¡¡only¡¡other¡¡place£¿¡±¡¡he¡¡asked¡¡when¡¡I¡¡fell¡¡silent£»¡¡trying¡¡to¡¡think¡¡of¡¡anything¡¡I¡¯d¡¡missed¡£¡¡¡°Are¡¡the¡¡
See¡¡Weeds¡±¡ªhe¡¡laughed¡¡once¡¡at¡¡the¡¡pun¡ª¡°the¡¡only¡¡other¡¡aliens£¿¡±
¡¡I¡¡laughed£»¡¡too¡£¡¡¡°Hardly¡£¡¡No¡¡more¡¡than¡¡I¡¯m¡¡the¡¡only¡¡alien¡¡on¡¡this¡¡world¡£¡±
¡¡¡°Tell¡¡me¡£¡±
¡¡So¡¡I¡¡told¡¡him¡¡about¡¡the¡¡Bats¡¡on¡¡the¡¡Singing¡¡World¡ªhow¡¡it¡¡was¡¡to¡¡live¡¡in¡¡musical¡¡blindness£»¡¡how¡¡it¡¡was¡¡
to¡¡fly¡£¡¡I¡¡told¡¡him¡¡about¡¡the¡¡Mists¡¡Planet¡ªhow¡¡it¡¡felt¡¡to¡¡have¡¡thick¡¡white¡¡fur¡¡and¡¡four¡¡hearts¡¡to¡¡keep¡¡warm£»¡¡
how¡¡to¡¡give¡¡claw¡¡beasts¡¡a¡¡wide¡¡berth¡£
¡¡I¡¡started¡¡to¡¡tell¡¡him¡¡about¡¡the¡¡Planet¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Flowers£»¡¡about¡¡the¡¡color¡¡and¡¡the¡¡light£»¡¡but¡¡he¡¡interrupted¡¡me¡¡
with¡¡a¡¡new¡¡question¡£
¡¡¡°What¡¡about¡¡the¡¡little¡¡green¡¡guys¡¡with¡¡the¡¡triangle¡¡heads¡¡and¡¡the¡¡big¡¡black¡¡eyes£¿¡¡The¡¡ones¡¡who¡¡crashed¡¡
in¡¡Roswell¡¡and¡¡all¡¡that¡£¡¡Was¡¡that¡¡you¡¡guys£¿¡±
¡¡¡°Nope£»¡¡not¡¡us¡£¡±
¡¡¡°Was¡¡it¡¡all¡¡fake£¿¡±
¡¡¡°I¡¡don¡¯t¡¡know¡ªmaybe£»¡¡maybe¡¡not¡£¡¡It¡¯s¡¡a¡¡big¡¡universe£»¡¡and¡¡there¡¯s¡¡a¡¡lot¡¡of¡¡pany¡¡out¡¡there¡£¡±
¡¡¡°How¡¡did¡¡you¡¡e¡¡here£»¡¡then¡ªif¡¡you¡¡weren¡¯t¡¡the¡¡little¡¡green¡¡guys£»¡¡who¡¡were¡¡you£¿¡¡You¡¡had¡¡to¡¡have¡¡
bodies¡¡to¡¡move¡¡and¡¡stuff£»¡¡right£¿¡±
¡¡¡°Right£»¡±¡¡I¡¡agreed£»¡¡surprised¡¡at¡¡his¡¡grasp¡¡of¡¡the¡¡facts¡¡at¡¡hand¡£¡¡I¡¡shouldn¡¯t¡¡have¡¡been¡¡surprised¡ªI¡¡knew¡¡
how¡¡bright¡¡he¡¡was£»¡¡his¡¡mind¡¡like¡¡a¡¡thirsty¡¡sponge¡£¡¡¡°We¡¡used¡¡our¡¡Spider¡¡selves¡¡in¡¡the¡¡very¡¡beginning£»¡¡to¡¡
get¡¡things¡¡started¡£¡±
¡¡¡°Spiders£¿¡±
¡¡I¡¡told¡¡him¡¡about¡¡the¡¡Spiders¡ªa¡¡fascinating¡¡species¡£¡¡Brilliant£»¡¡the¡¡most¡¡incredible¡¡minds¡¡we¡¯d¡¡ever¡¡e¡¡
across£»¡¡and¡¡each¡¡Spider¡¡had¡¡three¡¡of¡¡them¡£¡¡Three¡¡brains£»¡¡one¡¡in¡¡each¡¡section¡¡of¡¡their¡¡segmented¡¡bodies¡£¡¡
We¡¯d¡¡yet¡¡to¡¡find¡¡a¡¡problem¡¡they¡¡couldn¡¯t¡¡solve¡¡for¡¡us¡£¡¡And¡¡yet¡¡they¡¡were¡¡so¡¡coldly¡¡analytical¡¡that¡¡they¡¡
rarely¡¡came¡¡up¡¡with¡¡a¡¡problem¡¡they¡¡were¡¡curious¡¡enough¡¡to¡¡solve¡¡for¡¡themselves¡£¡¡Of¡¡all¡¡our¡¡hosts£»¡¡the¡¡
Spiders¡¡weled¡¡our¡¡occupation¡¡the¡¡most¡£¡¡They¡¡barely¡¡noticed¡¡the¡¡difference£»¡¡and¡¡when¡¡they¡¡did£»¡¡they¡¡
seemed¡¡to¡¡appreciate¡¡the¡¡direction¡¡we¡¡provided¡£¡¡The¡¡few¡¡souls¡¡who¡¡had¡¡walked¡¡on¡¡the¡¡surface¡¡of¡¡the¡¡
Spiders¡¯¡¡planet¡¡before¡¡implantation¡¡told¡¡us¡¡that¡¡it¡¡was¡¡cold¡¡and¡¡gray¡ªno¡¡wonder¡¡the¡¡Spiders¡¡only¡¡saw¡¡in¡¡
black¡¡and¡¡white¡¡and¡¡had¡¡a¡¡limited¡¡sense¡¡of¡¡temperature¡£¡¡The¡¡Spiders¡¡lived¡¡short¡¡lives£»¡¡but¡¡the¡¡young¡¡were¡¡
born¡¡knowing¡¡everything¡¡their¡¡parent¡¡had£»¡¡so¡¡no¡¡knowledge¡¡was¡¡lost¡£
¡¡I¡¯d¡¡lived¡¡out¡¡one¡¡of¡¡the¡¡short¡¡life¡¡terms¡¡of¡¡the¡¡species¡¡and¡¡then¡¡left¡¡with¡¡no¡¡desire¡¡to¡¡return¡£¡¡The¡¡amazing¡¡
clarity¡¡of¡¡my¡¡thoughts£»¡¡the¡¡easy¡¡answers¡¡that¡¡came¡¡to¡¡any¡¡question¡¡almost¡¡without¡¡effort£»¡¡the¡¡march¡¡and¡¡
dance¡¡of¡¡numbers¡¡were¡¡no¡¡substitute¡¡for¡¡emotion¡¡and¡¡color£»¡¡w
СÌáʾ£º°´ »Ø³µ [Enter] ¼ü ·µ»ØÊéÄ¿£¬°´ ¡û ¼ü ·µ»ØÉÏÒ»Ò³£¬ °´ ¡ú ¼ü ½øÈëÏÂÒ»Ò³¡£
ÔÞÒ»ÏÂ
Ìí¼ÓÊéÇ©¼ÓÈëÊé¼Ü