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now lost to us; where they may have gone, my people do "Why does nobody know of this on Earth?" | asked, my not know, for that was indeed a longtime ago. But while eyes wide open. we are on the subject of interbreeding, there are a few "Your various governors, in their wisdom, decided tha questions | would ask of you, if | may," Zeena requested. the Earth's general population was not then ready for I nodded my approval, knowing I would get more _ the message and knowledge we had planned to give your chances to ask the hundred-and-one questions | was __ people. If you think back to the subjects we have waiting to ask. recently discussed, it is hardly surprising, is it? They fee Her first question took me a little by surprise. you are still not ready, and we will not tell your people a “Have you bred on your home planet?" half-truth to suit others. So we have this situation— “That's an interesting question," was my startled reply. | what do you say?—a stalemate,” Zeena concluded. "By ‘breed’, | suppose you mean have | any children of "What did the governors say when you said you would my own?" like to return to Earth at some time in the future?" I couldn't believe she didn't already know the answer asked. to this question. Perhaps she was just being polite. "All they wanted were the ‘lollies'," she commented, "Yes," she said. without expanding on that subject. "Well, | have a son who is fourteen years old and is fit "There are not that many of us," Zeena continued. and healthy. He doesn't appear to have too many Fifteen million is but a small total, is it not, among your problems, except that he could be without a proper _ billions? And our technology trade-off would make life father from now on." so much easier for your “What do you mean by that?" population. If! dare be so brave she asked. as to say history could repeat itself, you may find we interbreed to become one race “| was in the process of leaving w 7 my family unit permanently Your various governors, when you guys zapped me up in their wisdom, decided that again, as happened so long ago here!" I replied. "Don't ask why. the Earth's general population in your past histories. It's very complicated, and I'm "At this point in time there not sure I know the answer was not then ready for the are still some important things anyway.” message and knowledge we had that we must physically do here "This breeding process, in the planned to give your people." on Earth—some repair work, as it were; a legacy from the past which | am not permitted to form you Homo sapiens use, | have studied as much as | can from our records but there is still discuss at this time. much I wish to know. “We must correct that which is "| have been selected for a modified reproductive in a state of disrepair. Just by way of coincidence, that process when | return to my home planet. We as a __ work is now almost completed. This is no small thing, people are running out of time to develop offspring for repairs have been going on for many of your years. which could survive on any other planet apart from our Time is now short, for next will come the changes—your own without life-support systems. By this | mean we — awakening." have not yet found another world that is compatible with She answered my question before | could ask it. There our specific and rather unique needs. | may be able to was not much I could do but sit in silent amazement. elaborate on this point a little later. "You must realise," she continued, as I couldn't think “For now, it is enough to say we have few options and _ of any worthwhile thing to say, "that we are quite a may have to adjust to new environments such as planet primitive race compared to other extraterrestrials that Earth—which we still like to call our second home, even may communicate with Earth people from time to time. hough we are far removed from being able to live there _—‘ That is one of the reasons we are so attracted to Earth ull time," Zeena finished, sounding rather distressed. and to you as a race. We feel a real kindred or bonding “Our planet is rather full already," | commented, not for your people. We also think Earth is a most beautiful really wishing to add to her burden. place." In spite of what I had already witnessed and been party "Where would you like to live on Earth if you had a o, | was in no way prepared for her reply to my choice?" | asked. statement. "We have an area that we call our own.” "Oh, we have already had communication with Earth Zeena explained to me that they were already using an governors on that subject; since the 1950s, in fact. They underwater base in the general area of this land that had now of our desire and need. We have even made a __ been set aside for them, although she would go no rade, as you might call it. I cannot elaborate on it at — further in describing where that might be. She was then his time. But not everyone has lived up to their called away, promising to return as soon as possible to agreements since then.” continue our conversation. "Your various governors, in their wisdom, decided that the Earth's general population was not then ready for the message and knowledge we had planned to give your people." 62 ¢ NEXUS JUNE — JULY 2009 www.nexusmagazine.com