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Published: 2010-08-01 21:09:44 +0000 UTC; Views: 87; Favourites: 0; Downloads: 5
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Eliza began to read."Ozoude! Kawira!" barked Turay, his leaves shaking in consternation. "Come here. We have scans of the planet."
"Excellent," pealed Ozoude. "Kawira, how goes that cultural data we asked for?"
Kawira turned one eye towards her commander, leaving two glued to the screen. "Nothing on the inhabitants yet, sir," she said, her branch-like arms tapping the console.
Turay looked down at the verdant, swirling planet through the orange glass of the cockpit. "I wonder which inhabitants are best suited for questioning."
"As far as I can tell, sir, all sentient species on this planet are faunal life forms. I've not found any reference to sentient plants."
"Faunal?" Ozoude shuddered.
"No worries, Ozoude," chuckled Turay. "Once we've commandeered the planet we'll work to educate its flora. That is, after all, the prime goal of the Egailof Emporium, is it not?"
"Yes sir!"
"Now." He shook out his leaves. "That continent there looks like a good place to start. Assume a geosynchronous orbit and prepare a specimen for interrogation."
"I believe I found a dominant species, sir."
"Indeed? I trust your analysis, Kawira. Beam the specimen into the lab."
All was quiet on the African savanna. The sun was sinking brilliantly into the undulating grass. Hues of purple and pink and orange chased a herd of giraffes across the horizon. But one small giraffe trailed behind the group; nobody noticed when Georgia went missing as the sun died that evening.
"The specimen has been transported into the lab, sir," Kawira reported.
"Excellent. Both of you, come with me and we'll proceed with the interrogation."
Georgia the giraffe did not turn as the lab doors opened, but stare aloofly into the abyss of space that could be seen through the large window.
"Kawira," said Ozoude in awe. "You never mentioned the incredible height of this creature!"
"Indeed!" marveled Turay.
"I am sorry, sir. I had no idea."
Georgia stood there, unperturbed by her change of environment. Turay stepped in front of the giraffe, craning his body to look up at the peculiar beast. "Excuse me," he stated, rustling his leaves in a pompous fashion. "I am Turay, representative of the Egailof Emporium Please, state your identity."
The rustling seemed to catch the Georgia's attention; the giraffe stared down at Turay, blinking twice but otherwise not moving.
"I said," warned Turay, "state your identity!"
Georgia lowered herself to Turay's level and, without hesitation, grabbed the alien in a mouthful. Turay yelled and struggled, but Georgia continued chewing on what she saw as just another tree branch.
Kawira and Ozoude rushed out of the laboratory. "Beam that thing out of here! Forget it, we're never coming back here! The project is hereby canceled!"
"And with that order, they transported her to the surface again, and Georgia was very happy. She will never know how she saved the world with her innocence! And so the moral of the story is simple; sometimes it's better to be clueless!" Eliza smiled as the children clapped, though inside she wanted to cry. She was teaching the children that ignorance is better than knowledge – but then, a teacher has to follow government study plans to keep his or her job.
