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Scene #33
"See Harlan? I told you there was nothing to worry about."
"There were threats. You should take them more seriously. You
are tampering with a peoples' most fundamental beliefs, asking them
to accept this... beast as one of their own. You can't do that to
people and expect them not to react." We were back in Marlena's
lab. Beth, Marlena's daughter, was there, watched over by "Uncle
Harlan". Obediently, knowing what was expected of me, I heeled,
crouching at Marlena's side. "He's no beast, Harlan. Look at
him. He's our modern-day Romulus, but human for all of that."
She patted me on the shoulder, dismissing me. I ambled over in
ape-fashion to where Beth was seated. Human? Really. I picked
up one of Beth's plastic blocks, pretended I was going to eat it.
Squealing, she pulled it away from me, swatted at me playfully. I
cringed like a chastised puppy. Sarah... Somewhere, Sarah would be
playing with her toys... Or was she getting too big for toys? Did
her father's disappearance at such at early age thrust her too soon
into adult worries? Forcibly I dragged my thoughts from this
dark path. I must pretend... I must play my part, lest more of
Sarah's world be shattered. I picked up another block, set it
down deliberately unbalanced, watched with dull curiosity as the
tower crumbled under my attentions. Beth picked up the offending
block, and offered to show me again for the thousandth time. "No,
silly. Like this!" I tried to lull my mind back into the game,
playing the child to Beth's adult. Meanwhile, Harlan and
Marlena continued their familiar argument. "See how gentle he
is with her? Would I trust my own daughter to a wild animal? Now...
If we could tell them how he was dressed... Dressed! Harlan, when
we found him..." "A fluke. Some remnant of an otherwise
forgotten humanity. He's in the wilderness, he's cold... Instinct
tells him to seek shelter, eventually he learns that by forming the
skins of his prey in such a way, he can carry some of that shelter
with him. It means nothing. But it would aggravate an already tense
situation. It's better not to mention it." "Harlan, what kind
of a scientist are you, with that kind of attitude?" "A
cautious one. One who has learned not to rock the boat."
Harlan patted Marlena on the shoulder, his affection for his
sparring partner evident. "I'm old, Marlena. And I've gotten that
way by being careful, by picking only the fights I know I can win,
and by walking away from the rest. You might be right... But what
will it get you?" Marlena sighed. Harlan picked up his jacket,
and departed. I tried to eat another block. Beth giggled.
Harlan's right, I thought.
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