Geron Kees

I think it important to remember that colonists are chosen with an ability to get along in mind. That being the case, their views of what constitute bad behavior in others might be nothing like our own!

It's an idea, but it seems it would be faster to let him watch TV. Um...just no Lawrence Welk, please. With Bzup's voice, a polka could take on several new dimensions in sound!

Hope so!

The thing is, none of the characters really know what is happening yet, so none of the readers do, either!

We are more than halfway through the story now.

That's on a need-to-know basis, 007!

Douglas Adams applied to emigrate to Benteen, but was denied. They said his sense of humor was too weird!

So...you're saying that Lawrence Welk was an alien?

His first words to Mikulsa will be, "Hey fella! You look like a smart consumer, intelligent, thoughtful, a man who knows what he wants. Wanna buy some ice?"

The characters are doing their best to analyze what is going on while in the unfortunate position of having to wait for something to happen. Having been in such a situation before, I remember vividly how much talk preceded the awaited event (in this case, the arrival of the people from colonial admin), and that everyone was surprised at the eventual outcome.

An interesting turn of events!

I support PBS, even if I don't watch Lawrence Welk!

No question. People read subtleties in each other's eyes more than with any other feature. Sometimes, eyes speak louder than mouths!

Lawrence Welk? Wasn't he a trans-absorptive condominium salesman on Altair Four? And a one, and a two...

In the morning, Jem and Nico skipped breakfast after rising and went straight to the catch room. They found Nita and Deera there, standing before Bzup's tank, watching the little alien as he stood peacefully inside. Both women looked tired, and Jem could well understand that. Neither he nor Nico had slept well, either. They had talked too late, wondering what the new day would bring, and then found sleep hard to hold onto. Jem had found his eyes popping open at odd moments throughout the night,

You guys always think of things I missed!

You mean like two, two, two toots in one?

The enemies we imagine are usually worse than the real thing!

Wow. Thank you!

There you go. So many good chefs that not even a glutton can keep up!

The rationing isn't my idea! But, really, if you could have it all at once, there'd be no sense of anticipation!

I didn't mean for you to lose sleep over it, though! I'm happy, if you're happy!

The genetic alterations to humans was in the area of their ability to process certain amino acids in their diet. The animal proteins in meats, fish, and poultry are rife with amino acids. There are 20 amino acids present on Earth, and nine are considered essential to health. The genetic alterations allowed for the colonists to process two amino acids not found in the terrestrial diet. These alterations would have to be marked dominant in order to carry over to offspring in the line. I would see no reason why humans from Earth and Benteen could not produce children, with the kids equipped to survive on Benteen, but then having a problem with eating foods from Earth. But the genetic alterations stopped there specific to Benteen. Jem should be no different than anyone else on this world.

Somehow, I don't think Bzup is learning the same things that Nico is!

I haven't mentioned cows, pigs, or any other earth animal being brought along by the colonists, other than dogs and cats. Cows and pigs and other animals have to eat, and so would need to be genetically altered, just like the humans, to eat plants grown on Benteen. Would the locals be eating siffle burgers if they had beef? Still, since I didn't specifically address that issue, we can assume that the human tendency to 'find a way' would prevail here, too! Bring on the bacon!