biochemistry
Number 8 was pursuing its official task of learning biochemistry. There certainly seemed a lot of it about on Earth. Planet AloeVera had only contained two varieties of fern and one species of insect, as far as they knew and even that had seemed complicated enough. The insects ate leaves and grew legs, eyes and laid eggs that hatched into complete smaller versions of the adult insect. How did the leaves of one species of plant manage to become that? Number 8 had wondered. Well that seemed a picnic compared to Earth with its endless varieties of plant-eating insects, and other creatures that ate the insects too.
‘Start at the beginning,’ generation 6 always had advised hence Number 8’s interest in chemistry.
At this point in Number 8’s deliberations Number 14 arrived requesting a discussion but also intending to further its plan.
Light relief amongst the inventors
‘How’s it going Number 8?’
‘Steady progress, thank you. I’m working my way through the few relevant books Buck (probably) left behind, but I think we’ll need to go to Earth and borrow some of theirs soon.’
‘I realise you have to pursue your designated activities, but when you have some leisure time you might like to observe the hairy mammals called Zorba and Fidget. They seem most likely to have books useful to you.’
‘Thank you for your advice. So the hairy mammals have names?’
‘Oh yes. Chairentity Number 12 doesn’t think they are worth studying but I’m sure its okay in our free time.’
‘Good. Where can I find this Zorba entity?’
‘I’ll show you if you’ve got a minute,’ said Number 14, and approached Number 8’s monitor. ‘Here we are. Just along this road to the east of Poddle’s boatyard.’
As Number 8 peered into its monitor Number 14 sat companionably alongside to share its interest.
‘Zorba is a bit like you really, Number 8. He does experiments in his garden shed and at his allotment.’
‘Oh really?’
‘And his pal Fidget is even more so. Well, Fidget actually does lots of interesting things - inventing the bicycle-powered TV, for instance, to help people keep fit! Zorba seems to get stuck in the “having ideas” stage.’
Copyright Peter Fairbother
2 comments:
I followed the link for 'apostropheosis' and can't find it. Should the blog search find it?
Sorry anaon. I'm republishing the novel and haven't got to yhat part yet!
A preview of the future:-
Brian was invited to come and see him if he was interested. Brian wasn’t sure if he was interested. Margaret was sure that he was. Brian didn’t like writing letters and during his years as a market trader he’d developed acute apostropheosis which made getting his thoughts down on paper very difficult.
phone 2346 5, Southside Villa’s,
mobile 2347 Grockel’s Bay,
Kidneyswamp,
KS4,SV5
Dear Mr Toller,
Thank you for you’re letter about munnee and such. Mrs’ Moore (and me) think a mobile market would be a good idea. Only the oth’er day I was taking some banana’s to Joe’s stall (I swap him banana’s for a couple of his pizza’s, for my lunch) and when I got back a dog had we’d all over the front of my stall. If the stall was mobile I reckon the dog’would have to be very fast to cache me out!
You coul’d phone me on my mobile phone while I’m work’ing if you like. Too make an appointment.
(I mean when to meet). Too discuss investment, sort of thing.
you’re’s’,
Brian Moore (Mr)
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