T for Terminal
Dinnertime. Arguably, a bad time for a work-related argument.
The spread was sumptuous and toasty:
• Game hen with maize meal stuffing, roasted red potato wedges, mashed rutabagas, dandelion and watercress salad, grilled trout, plus peanut gravy thickened with quinoa flour.
The dining room had red wallpaper and an orange ceiling. The antique chandelier was of mediocre craftsmanship, but it was neither dainty nor gaudy. The 2, wooden doors at each end of rectangular room were varnished in a reddish, mahogany hue.
The pale, hardwood floor had seen better decades. Fortunately, the floor's wax covered varnish prevented anyone from getting splinters.
The lantern-lit setting was for 3. The sturdy, yet pedestrian, oak, dining table was covered with a tablecloth resembling Chantilly lace. The porcelain plates and ornate silverware were reserved for "special occasions" by Aunt Sadie. Her husband, Uncle Luigi, was home on military leave.
Add to the guest list her favorite niece, who was both a biologist and a forensic psychologist. This justified celebrating!
Even so, only the niece was dressed for a "fancy" occasion. Aunt Sadie and Uncle Luigi were dressed exceedingly casually in weathered, secondhand attire. Uncle Luigi was an opinionated general who despised his dress uniforms. "A man who works for a living has no excuse for wearing a monkey suit!"
However, both uncle and niece frequently worked together in what they "affectionately??" called The Kennels. "About Series-7, do we have a problem, Doctor?"
The niece almost dropped her fork. "More of a glitch, uncle. Well... Maybe 2 glitches."
He became annoyed. His ruddy complexion flushed a shade darker. "But why? They're predators!"
The auburn scientist closed her hazel eyes while silently counting to 7, her favorite number. Men are hard enough to understand, but give them military rank and authority...? "General, please allow me to explain!"
"By all means — doctor."
She was tempted to say, How suspiciously cordial of you. Instead, she said, "They're not chimpanzees or dogs! They're vastly more socially symbiotic!" She opened her eyes. "Look: if you raise a cat amongst mousies, then it won't be a mouser. Follow?"
"Unfortunately, yes. Please continue."
She took a deep breath, and then released it slowly. She said calmly, "The second glitch is profound. Namely, 7s won't harm their own species. That's amazingly rare for carnivores. A maybe third glitch is that they love horses."
"So?" the uncle ventured. "Series-5 and 6 like horses."
"Well! 7s love horses!"
"Wow. As food?" he ventured.
"No... Uncle Luigi, would you — eat live kittens, or sauté baby mice?"
"Absolutely not! And — I'm guessing that Series-7 feel the same way about horses. Curious."
"Quite," the niece said wryly. "They're as socially symbiotic with horses as they are with each other. Talk about your perfect equestrians!"
The hungry uncle completely ignored his food. "Wait. 'Socially symbiotic?' Aren't pack predators hierarchal, even militaristic?"
YOU ARE READING
ONE OF D-GIRLS
FantasyExcerpt from the Prolog: AFRICAN PROVERB: THE CHILD WHO IS NOT EMBRACED BY THE VILLAGE WILL BURN IT DOWN TO FEEL ITS WARMTH "It is better to suffer wrong than to do it." Samuel Johson "Damaged people are dangerous. They know they can surv...
