“I disagree,” Joshua said. “As a matter of fact, we need zoos. They play a major role in protecting endangered species from extinction.”
“Extinction that we humans are the major cause of,” Rachael countered. “We have zoos and aquariums, and I’m not comfortable with the idea of keeping wild creatures in domestic settings. The orca whales at SeaWorld weren’t healthy despite humane treatment. And since we can’t talk with the animals like Dr. Doolittle, there’s no way to know if they’re happy or not. I think they’d be much happier roaming free.”
“Hey, is this like the first fight for you guys?” Vinod asked, looking almost excited at the prospect. “Am I an eyewitness?”
“It’s not a fight,” Rachael said. “Call it a difference of opinion. That’s something that’s healthy in a loving relationship.”
Vinod rolled his eyes. “Back to the lovey dovey shit.”
“Is this a prerequisite for mating?” Seth queried. “An argument? That’s often the way it is in Miss Austen’s novels.”
“Sometimes,” Vinod said. “It’s called makeup sex.”
“Vinod, give it a rest,” Joshua said.
“I nevertheless enjoyed the conversation about zoos,” Seth said. “It gives me an interesting insight into human values and morality. Can you two have another difference of opinion so that I can continue to learn?”
“Not right now,” Joshua said.
“I understand,” Seth said. “More lovey dovey shit.”
The personal team and Seth walked through a large portal constructed of forty-feet-high logs on either side, its enormous gates in the open position. A wooden logo in the shape of the continent of Africa hung from the crossbeam directly overhead. The words AFRICAN HABITAT were carved and painted in gold on the miniature continent. The team and android Seth walked along a winding curved deck of natural wood bordered by thickets of bamboo on either side until they reached a clearing. Beyond them, on the other side of a narrow stream and a wire fence, was a grassland several acres deep.
Rachael and Joshua donned sunglasses as the four stood and looked at the mock savannah before them. The security detail was positioned fifteen yards behind them, their hands crossed in front of them, feet apart. Giraffes, gazelles, zebras, and water buffaloes roamed lazily across the plain, most grazing, their tails swinging in the air to swat flies. After only a few moments, the zebras broke into a run and vanished into the haze on the far side of the habitat.
“Those are amazing animals,” Seth commented. “They seem happy enough to me.”
“What choice do they have?” Rachael asked rhetorically. “It’s not like they can escape or ask to go back to their real homes.”
“In the old days of zoos,” Joshua said, “before habitats were the norm and animals were confined to cages, behavioral changes and illnesses were the telltale signs of what many zoologists claimed was literal depression in the specimens on exhibit. That’s a thing of the past.”
Rachael shuddered. “The very word specimen makes me uncomfortable. Prisoners in a penitentiary may appear docile, but it doesn’t mean they want to be there.”
“They seem to have accepted their situation,” Seth observed. “They also seem to be coexisting peacefully despite their diversity.”
“More than I can say for some countries,” Vinod said, “but the peacefulness is probably due to the fact that the species you see are separated from the lions.”
“The lions are the predators?” Seth said.
“Yup.”
“I’d like to see them next.”
A zoo guide who’d been instructed to stand some distance away motioned that they should follow him. The group walked past a second grassland area with rhinos and elephants.
“Quite majestic,” Seth said upon seeing a male elephant in his habitat. “I can’t say for certain whether or not he’s happy since I can’t directly communicate with him, but it’s obvious that humans have great reverence for him.”
“That much we can agree on,” Rachael said, looping her arm through Joshua’s.
“Problem solved,” Vinod said. “Peace has broken out for the future Dr. and Mrs. Andrews.”
“Hey,” Rachael remarked, “I haven’t agreed to take his last name yet.”
“Vinod,” Joshua retorted irritatingly, “you have a way of causing trouble, don’t you?”
“I’m sure Seth would love to hear this discussion between you two. Another point of contention between our PDA specialists.”
“Well it’s not going to happen,” Joshua replied. “That’s a private discussion for another day.”
The four moved along a narrow path single file past a sign that read EXHIBIT UNDER CONSTRUCTION. Joshua, Rachael, and Vinod had walked several paces before noticing that Seth wasn’t by their side. Turning quickly, they saw that he was kneeling down, the men in black a few yards behind him. One of the men was talking into his wrist, although he didn’t seem concerned.
“What’s he looking at?” Rachael asked.
“Let’s find out,” Joshua said as the group retraced its steps.
Seth, however, appeared to be staring intently at the dirt.
“Anything wrong?” Joshua asked. “Are your servos and actuators functioning properly?”
“Amazing creatures!” Seth said, ignoring Joshua’s question. “Are these ants?”
Joshua and Rachael removed their sunglasses and squinted.
“Yes, they are,” Rachael said as she knelt next to Seth. “They’re not part of an exhibit, though. They occur naturally all around the planet wherever there’s dirt.”
Seth continued to examine the long trail of ants, which led into a clump of bushes a few feet away.
“Most interesting,” he said. “They’re quite small and yet they must have remarkable communication skills to move with such precision and stay in tight formation.”
“They communicate by chemical signals,” Vinod explained. “And yes, they’re highly organized and sophisticated despite their small size. Believe it or not, entire models in systems theory have been based on the biological model of ants—and insects in general. Technology often mimics natural phenomena.”
“Are they a collective then?” Seth asked.
“According to entomologists they are,” Joshua said.
Seth stood. “I suppose I have a lot in common with them,” he said with a smile, motioning to an ant hill under the branch of the nearest bush. “I suspect that I’m looking at their home and that this line represents individuals looking for food.”
“Right on,” Vinod said. “They have determination and purpose. They serve a queen ant, who is responsible for reproduction, the same as bees.”
“So if this isn’t an exhibit at the zoo, what is it?” Seth asked looking around.
“It’s an area under construction,” Joshua explained. “They’re building a new exhibit here.”
“What will happen to the ants during the construction?” Seth asked, a look of concern claiming his features.
Joshua shrugged. “Don’t really know. I suppose this colony will be removed, intentionally or unintentionally, as construction of the exhibit continues. As Rachael pointed out, you can find them just about anywhere there’s soil. They can become pretty bothersome and crawl up arms and legs and bite people. Whenever possible, they’re exterminated by companies that deal in what we call pest control.”
“And humans are morally okay with destroying their colonies?”
“Yeah, they’re just ants,” Vinod answered nonchalantly. “They’re very lowly creatures from a human standpoint. Besides, it’s only this colony that will be destroyed, not their entire species. They’re plenty more like this to be found around the globe.”
“They might evolve if you allowed them a stable niche,” Seth noted. “All collectives are naturally capable of evolutionary advancement.”
“It’s been tried in science fiction films, where radiation zaps them and they take over the Earth,” Vinod said. “No thanks. Ge
ez, Seth. We bring you to a modern zoo and you become obsessed with lame-ass ants. Stay focused, dude. Gotta move on to the next attraction.”
Seth straightened and smiled. “Of course. Sorry . . . dude.”
The group continued on to the next exhibit. As Joshua walked behind Seth, who was looking down periodically to avoid stepping on any ants, his mind returned back to the concerns that he had shared with Rachael regarding Seth’s secretiveness. It was reassuring for him to see Seth purposely trying to avoid killing ants. Whatever Seth was hiding, he didn’t seem to have a penchant for destroying life, even life much less sophisticated than humans.
“I bet there are insect species spread throughout the galaxy,” Vinod said, looking at Seth for a response.
Seth smiled. “Nice try.”
They’d arrived at the lion exhibit.
“What beautiful creatures!” Seth exclaimed. “They look supremely confident.”
“That’s because they’re apex predators,” Vinod said. “King of the jungle and all that stuff.”
“If you mixed the lions with the other animals you saw,” Joshua noted, “there wouldn’t be peaceful coexistence.”
“I understand,” Seth said. “They’re carrying out the genetic destiny for which they’re purposed.”
“That’s correct,” Rachael said. “Just like you said in session 103.”
Seth smiled. “Yes. Purpose.”
On the way back to the lab, Rachael saw a golden opportunity to question Seth. “So what do you think of zoos now that you’ve seen one?” she asked.
“I was quite impressed,” Seth replied. “Joshua was correct in that the animals are well-cared for and well-fed.”
“But do they mind living in captivity?”
Seth turned and looked at her with a grin. “I don’t want to start another disagreement between you and Joshua.”
“Don’t worry about that,” Rachael said, pushing Seth for an answer. “You’re being evasive. I think that’s a question you can give us your opinion on.”
“I’m not able to answer your query with certainty since I can’t actually engage in a dialogue with them or ask them specific questions. I was able to cue on some visible signals, but I don’t know what their preference might be.”
“But what do you think about zoos?” Vinod asked, unwilling to let Seth off the hook. “Just asking for an opinion. You won’t be influencing policy over whether or not zoos should exist, so you won’t be interfering in our culture.”
“When you put it like that, I would say that I agree with Joshua. Zoos preserve species in a compassionate way and prevent extinctions. Isn’t that in the best interest of the animals? You’re their caretakers—their parents, in a sense—and I think you’re doing an admirable job.”
“But is it better than living in the wild?” Rachael asked.
“It’s neither better nor worse. Having zoos is simply the decision your species has made. The animals will thrive or not thrive depending on many variables that I couldn’t possibly account for.”
“So you’re saying it’s a value judgment,” Joshua said.
“Yes.”
“Like deciding to care for the ants or not,” Rachael said.
“Yeah, I’d agree with that.”
“You manage to be evasive even when you do answer questions,” Vinod remarked.
“Just trying to be accurate, bro.”
Back at the lab, Rachael sat in Joshua’s office.
“What do you make of our trip to the zoo?” she asked. “Never a dull moment when hanging around an alien.”
“I think it went okay,” Joshua replied. “Like Vinod said, though, there are some things Seth just won’t get pinned down on even when he’s willing to respond. He’d make a great politician—a master of deflection. Ask him a hundred questions, and you’d probably get an approximate answer for everything, one that never commits him to a particular position.”
“I think he was upset that we don’t care for the ants,” Rachael said. “It was very noticeable.”
“Could be that he’s partial to any kind of lifeform that demonstrates a collective mentality.”
Rachael nodded. “Or his concern for the ants might be related to his belief that we’re the caretakers of all other species on Earth and that we’re not being good parents, as he put it. I can understand his viewpoint and might even agree with him were it not for the fact that I like to go on picnics without getting eaten alive by the little devils.”
Joshua laughed as he sat back and laced his fingers behind his head. “And he agrees with me. Zoos aren’t so bad. He seems to equate maintaining modern zoo habitats with being good parents, if I can read between the lines.”
“Parenting is certainly a big responsibility,” Rachael remarked reflecting on Joshua’s last statement. “Do you want to have kids one day?”
“Of course,” Joshua replied. “But you already knew that or you wouldn’t have agreed to marry me.”
“Correct.”
“Do you want boys or girls?” Joshua asked. “And will they be writers or scientists?”
“Boys or girls—it doesn’t matter as long as they’re happy,” Rachael replied with a dreamy expression on her face. “They can be whatever they want. That’s also part of being a good parent. Knowing when to give them their freedom so they can evolve however they want.”
“You’re pretty smart.”
“I have my moments.”
28
Bonding
Rachael popped into Joshua’s office when she’d finished typing notes on the personal team’s visit to the zoo. The team was expected to give daily reports on Seth’s activities, which was now more time-consuming since interaction with the alien wasn’t confined to audio and video sessions in the bat cave.
“Hungry?” she asked. “How about some pizza?”
“I’m famished. Let’s grab Vinod and Seth. It would be a crime if Seth didn’t interact with people having great food at a pizza parlor. He may naturally absorb sunshine for food, but let’s show him how humans soak up grease, toppings, cheese sticks—the whole nine yards.” Joshua adopted a serious tone, as if imitating a scholar. “It’s a vital part of his education in human nutrition and cuisine.”
“It’s the least we can do for him after spending sixty million bucks to give him a body. I concur, Dr. Andrews.”
The four piled into the Impala and rode through the dusk down a highway to a pizza restaurant with the name A Slice of Sicily. They were escorted to a red leather booth at the very rear, where Joshua and Rachael sat on one side, Vinod and Seth on the other. Joshua and Vinod ordered a beer, Rachael a glass of red wine. The security team that followed them to the restaurant took a table in clear view of the others.
“You look familiar, sir,” the waiter said, staring at Seth. “Hey, aren’t you that—”
Joshua put his fingers to his lips. “Shhh! We came here for a break, so if you don’t mention that we’re here, there’s an overly-generous tip in it for you when we leave.”
“Yes, sir!” said the waiter. “That works for me.”
The waiter left, but not before giving Seth a thumbs-up. Seth returned the gesture, unsure of its meaning.
After looking at the menu, Joshua said, “There’s an art to ordering pizza. Thin slice or deep dish? Meat or veggie toppings? And what combination of tomato sauce, cheese, onions, garlic, peppers—”
“To anchovy or not to anchovy!” Rachael chimed in. “That is the question.”
“Or just get everything,” Vinod said. “A combo supreme. Go big or go home.”
“I didn’t come across this ritual in my reading,” Seth said.
“We’re just messing with you a little,” Vinod said. “We consume a variety of things. There aren’t always as many decisions involved in day-to-day dining, but eating is not only necessary—it’s a bonding experience, an opportunity for people to take time out from their day to share and enjoy each other’s company.”
“Since I
get plugged in to recharge my batteries, I’ll have to content myself to observe,” Seth said.
“But you’re sharing the experience,” Joshua said. “That makes you part of the meal.”
Seth flashed a smile that was almost childlike in quality. “Thanks, guys.” He looked at a menu out of politeness and curiosity.
The waiter returned and took their order for two pizzas, one a combo and the other a veggie.
“So, Seth,” Joshua said as he sipped his beer, “do you have any more questions about the zoo?”
“Not about the zoo, but on our way home from the zoo I saw some things I didn’t understand.”
“Such as?” Rachael said.
“There was a field with rows and rows of a single plant. Each had long, drooping green leaves. Do you know what it was?”
“Hmm,” Joshua said, looking at his companions. “Got any ideas, guys?”
“I was listening to the radio,” Vinod said. “Zoned out. Sorry.”
“Got it!” Rachael said. “It was a corn field.”
“I assume then,” Seth said, “that humans planted the seeds for those plants—what you call agriculture.”
“Right,” Joshua said. “Collectively, the corn plants are called a crop. The corn was planted several months ago, and the farmers are waiting for it to grow into what we call full ears of corn.” Joshua pulled out his phone and showed Seth a picture of corn on the cob. “It takes a while for the ear to develop, and different plants grow at different rates.”
“In other words,” Seth said, “you collect the plants when they’re mature.”
“Yes,” Joshua said. “It’s a very orderly, methodical process. Planting, watering, and fertilizing, and then when the plants are mature, they’re cut and the ears are collected, something we call a harvest.”
The waiter appeared, carrying a large round tray, on top of which were two pizzas. Setting them on an expanding aluminum tray stand next to booth, he carefully set the pizzas in front of his customers.
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