one had lived on it, since its 2.67 gravity field produced a sea-level atmosphere lethal to unenhanced humans. Its air was a bit dense even for Achuultani lungs, and it was inconveniently placed—it was far enough from Birhat that travelers by mat-trans had to stage through Earth to reach the capital planet—but its settlers had fallen under the spell of its rugged beauty as they set about carving out their new Nest of Narhan as loyal subjects of their human overlord on a world beyond the reach of hysterical xenophobes.
“Cohanna had reported on progress with the genetic engineering to recreate Narhani females,” Brashieel said at last. The rogue computer had eliminated all sexual reproduction by eliminating all Achuultani females. Every Achuultani was male, either a clone or an embryo fertilized in vitro. “Thereafter, she turned to discussion of her suggestion to increase our life spans to something approaching those of humans.”
Colin nodded. Achuultani—Narhani, he corrected himself—were bigger and far stronger than humans. They also matured much more rapidly, but their normal span was little more than fifty years. Bio-enhancement, which all adult Narhani who’d taken the oath of loyalty had received as quickly as Cohanna got a grip on their alien physiology, stretched that to almost three hundred years, but that remained much shorter than for enhanced humans.
Extending Narhani lives was a challenge, but unlike humans, Narhani had no prejudice against bioengineering. They regarded it as a fact of life, given their own origins and the cloned children Jiltanith’s Terra- born sister Isis had managed to produce over the last few years, and the possibility of recreating females of their species simply strengthened that attitude.
“We discussed the practical aspects,” Brashieel continued, “and I mentioned Tinker Bell.”
“I know you did, but surely I never okayed
“I regret that I must disagree,” Brashieel said, and Colin frowned.
Hector MacMahan’s big, happy half-lab, half-rottweiler bitch Tinker Bell had fallen in love with the Narhani. It amused Colin, given the way the dogs in every bad science-fiction movie ever made hated the “alien menace” on sight, but it was more than amusing to the Narhani. The Nest of Aku’Ultan had nothing remotely like her—indeed, one of the most alien things about the nest was the absence of any form of pet—and they found her fascinating. Almost every Narhani had speedily acquired a dog of his own, but they, like any other Terrestrial animal, would have been unable to survive on Narhan, and the Narhani were fiercely devoted to their four-footed friends.
“Look, I know I authorized limited bio-enhancement so you could take the dogs with you, but I never contemplated anything like this.”
“I cannot, of course, know what was in your mind, but the point was raised.” Colin clenched his teeth. The Narhani were as intelligent as humans but less imaginative and far more literal-minded. “Cohanna pointed out that genetic engineering would permit her to produce dogs who required no enhancement, and you agreed. She then reminded you of Dahak’s success in communicating with Tinker Bell and suggested the capability for meaningful exchanges might also be enhanced.”
Colin opened his mouth, then shut it with a snap as his own memory replayed the conversation. She
He closed his eyes and counted to five hundred. Dahak had insisted for years that Tinker Bell’s barks, growls, and yips were more value-laden than humans believed, and he’d persisted with an analysis of her sounds until he proved his point. Dogs were no mental giants. Their cognitive functions were severely limited, and their ability to manipulate symbols was virtually nonexistent, but they had lots more to say than mankind had guessed.
“All right,” he said finally, opening his eyes and glowering at Cohanna, who returned his gaze innocently. “All right. I admit the point came up, but you never told me you had anything like this in mind.”
“Only because I thought it was self-evident,” she said, and Colin bit off an acid response. He sometimes toyed with the notion that the millennia Cohanna had spent in stasis had affected her mind, but he’d known Terra- born humans just like her. She was brilliant and intensely curious, and little things like political realities, wars, and nearby supernovas were totally unimportant compared to her current project—whatever it might be.
“Look,” he tried again, “I’ve got several million Terra-born who find simple biotechnics scary, ’Hanna.” Her nose wrinkled with contempt for such benighted ignorance, and he sighed. “All right, so they’re wrong. But that doesn’t change the way they feel, and if
“Evolution,” she replied, “is an unreasoning statistical process which represents no more than the blind conservation of accidental life forms capable of surviving within their environments.”
“
“Barbarians!” Cohanna snorted, and Colin sighed.
“I ought to order you to destroy them,” he muttered, but he shied away from the rebellion in her eyes. “All right, I won’t. Not immediately, anyway. But before I promise not to, I want to see them with my own eyes. And you are
The doctor nodded frigidly, and Colin walked around his desk to flop into his chair. “Good. Now, I’ve got a meeting with Horus and Lieutenant Governor Jefferson in ten minutes, so we’re going to have to wrap this up. But before we do, are there any problems—or surprises—with Project Genesis?”
“No.” Cohanna’s spine relaxed. One thing about her, Colin reflected; she was a tartar when her toes got stepped on, but she recovered. “Although,” she added pointedly, “I’m a bit surprised you don’t object to the name.”
“I wish I’d thought about it when Isis suggested it, but I didn’t. And we’re only using it internally and all the reports are classified, so I don’t expect it to upset anyone.”
“Hmph!” Cohanna sniffed, then smiled wryly. “Well, it’s really more her project than mine, anyway, so I suppose I shouldn’t complain. Anyway, we should be ready to move within the next year or so.”
“That soon?” Colin was impressed, and he cocked his head to gaze at Brashieel. “How do you folks feel about that, Brashieel?”
“Curious,” the alien said, “and possibly a bit frightened. After all, the concept of females is still quite strange, and the notion of producing nestlings with a nestmate is … peculiar. Most of us, however, are eager to see what they’re like. For myself, I look forward to it with interest, though I’m highly satisfied with the way Brashan has turned out.”
“Yeah, you might say he’s a chip off the old block.” Brashieel, whose race was given neither to cliches nor puns, looked blank, but Cohanna winced, and Colin grinned. “Okay, that’s going to have to be it.” His guests rose, and he wagged a finger at Cohanna. “But I meant what I said about experiments, ’Hanna! And I want to see them myself.”
“Understood,” the doctor said. She and Brashieel walked from the office, pausing to exchange greetings with Horus, Hector, and Jefferson on their way out, and Colin leaned back in his chair with a sigh. Lord! Combining Narhani literal-mindedness with someone like Cohanna was just begging for trouble. He’d have to keep a closer eye on her.
He opened his eyes to see his father-in-law studying the carpet. A quirked eyebrow invited explanation, and Horus chuckled.
“Just checking to see how deep the blood was.”
“You don’t know how close to right you are,” Colin growled. “Jesus! After all the times I’ve lectured her on the subject—!” He stood to embrace Horus, then extended a hand to Jefferson. “Good to see you again, Mister Jefferson.”
“Thank you, Your Majesty. You might see more of me if I didn’t have to come by mat-trans.” His shudder was only half-feigned, and Colin laughed.
“I know. The first time I used a transit shaft I almost wet my pants, and the mat-trans is worse.”
“But efficient,” the stocky, brown-haired Lieutenant Governor replied with a small smile. “Most efficient— damn it!”
“True, too true.”
“Tell, me, Colin, just what has ’Hanna been up to now?” Horus asked.
