Primal Estate: The Candidate Species Read Online Free Page A

really need to engage your audience more,” Vwannan continued.

“Well, it was a vote on the issues. That’s all. It wasn’t like we needed to discuss anything. We had a question and answer period,” Synster explained.
“Sure, for those who were still awake,” Vwannan criticized.

“I had very little time to prepare. I had to make the decision about elimination of the moon. But they accepted my judgment. It is best this way, less wasted time, lower costs. I chose not to mention that the Algorithm predicted the removal was likely to cause various immediate but temporary extreme weather issues, possible minor earthquakes, and a polar ice sheet to break in half, flooding, extended global cooling and a drying period of the atmosphere for many centuries after the fact!” Synster sucked in a deep breath after his long and significant list as he rolled his eyes at the magnitude of it all.
“But I wasn’t required to divulge this, and no one asked. Besides, they are mostly fools on that committee. If I bring something new to the Project, it is their job to ask. It’s my job to make things work, to act, to get the job done. That’s why the charter is written as it is. I will not be delayed. Delay is right next to failure on these projects, and that is one of my main responsibilities.” Three days to the Contact Protocol, he was getting impatient; he had much work to do. “Do you think everything looks right?”

“I’m unsure.” She moved to take a step and after almost a century of marriage, he knew pacing meant she was about to get critical. “I think the deleterious effects are too aggressive, and this new spectral energy reading we have yet to fully qualify is disconcerting.”
Streyn arrived at his office cloak and entered. He immediately saw that Vwannan was in the room and extended his greeting. “Peace between us,” he said while moving toward her. She walked in front of him and as he leaned forward, extended her palms where he momentarily laid his right cheek, in the standard formal greeting of a married woman of her rank in the presence of her husband.

Streyn looked up as her hands retracted and she stepped back. “Ryvil was the one who moved up the meeting. Claimed he had a scheduling conflict and convinced the Project Minister that we already knew all the issues, so there was no reason to delay.”
“Did you check to see if he really had a conflict?” Synster asked.

“Yes, he did,” Streyn replied.
“He’s participating in preparations for the Contact. I hope he doesn’t have any more scheduling conflicts. Is there anything else?”

“No Synster.”
“Leave.” Synster responded.

Streyn did so quickly. Vwannan always made him nervous.
Looking at Vwannan, Synster inquired, “Please explain.”

“The deleterious effects are too greedy.” Vwannan resumed her pacing. “You’re trying to get everything you want with maximum efficiency. We know, regardless of what the Algorithm says, nature has its secrets. It has its ways of making this more difficult, or more efficient. It operates on its own agenda and circumvents our motives in ways that we cannot see. It is mystery. Providing a grain that gives them easy energy should be enough. We should determine another way to slow their technological growth. You don’t have to leave in proteins that force their genetics to express themselves in grotesque ways.
“For instance we could use the lead poisoning option. The deleterious effects are very nearly the same. The lead substitutes itself for vital minerals and creates aberrant genetic expression and immune system problems, almost exactly like the symptoms of wheat phytates sequestering minerals. We can easily put the end product through the biofilter before marketing, and it’s something they are likely to discover and correct for themselves just prior to our arrival, assuming their technology is properly tuned.”

“We can’t use lead. The biofilter treatment was unacceptable to the