the human eye. With a startling
pop
,the crab tumbled backwards. The carapace between the crab’s eyes was shattered and the crab hung limp in the water.
The mantis shrimp moved in and dragged its quarry back into its vase.
The audience “wowed.”
“And that, my friends, is the awesome power of the stomatopod.” Angel sounded more like a circus barker than a stomatopod expert. “Its strike has the force of a .22 caliber bullet. It sees millions more colors than human beings with eyes that have independent depth perception, and its reflexes are faster than any creature on Earth. This mysterious miracle of Mother Nature is so different from other arthropods it might as well have come from an alien planet. It may even replace us someday
…Bon appetit
, Freddie!”
“Speaking of which, Jimmy’s has arrived,” Geoffrey said.
“Yay, Jimmy’s,” said a female lab mate.
“Glad you’re here,” Angel told Geoffrey. “I’ve got something to show you.”
Everyone took sandwiches. A computer monitor on the lab counter showed a cable newscast with the volume turned down. The
SeaLife
logo flashed behind the newscaster.
“Hey, turn it up!” someone called, as Angel simultaneously cranked up the volume.
“It’s only two miles wide, but if what the cable show
SeaLife
aired last night is real, some scientists are saying it might be the most important island discovery since Charles Darwin visited the Galapagos nearly two centuries ago. Others are claiming that
SeaLife
is engaging in a crass publicity stunt. Last night the show gave a tantalizing live glimpse of what appeared to be an island populated by horrific and alien life that viciously attacked the show’s cast. Network executives have refused to comment. Joining us is eminent scientist Thatcher Redmond for an expert opinion on what really happened.”
Everyone in the room groaned as the camera focused on the guest commentator.
“Dr. Redmond, congratulations on the success of your book
, TheHuman Effect,
and your Tetteridge Award which you received just yesterday, and thank you for giving us your insights today,”
gushed the newscaster.
“So, is it for real?”
“Photosynthesis in action,” Angel said. “The man grows in limelight.”
“Come on now, Angel,” Geoffrey said facetiously. “Dr. Redmond knows all.”
Thatcher smiled, showing a row of recently bleached teeth in his ruddy face. He wore his trademark cargo vest and sported his famous red mustache and overgrown sideburns.
“Thank you! Well, Sandy, I only hope that life on the island can withstand discovery by human beings, to be perfectly frank.”
“He’s got a point there,” muttered one of the female researchers, as she bit into her sandwich.
Thatcher continued.
“So-called intelligent life is the greatest threat to any environment. I don’t envy any ecosystem that comes in contact with it. That’s the thesis of my book
, The Human Effect,
as a matter of fact, and I’m afraid if this
SeaLife
show isn’t a hoax of some sort, I’ll soon have to add another tragic chapter to illustrate my point.”
“Oh brother,” Geoffrey groaned.
“Gee, I wonder if he wrote a book or something,” muttered Angel.
“But do you think it is a hoax? Or the real thing?”
persisted the newscaster.
“Well,”
Thatcher said,
“I wish it were true, of course—as a scientist, that is—but I’m afraid that, as a scientist, I have to say this is probably a hoax, Sandy.”
“Thank you, Dr. Redmond.” The
newscaster turned as the camera cut away from Thatcher.
“Well, there you have it…”
“No way,” Angel insisted. “It’s not a hoax!”
The others chattered about the controversy as they carried their lunches back to their offices.
“OK, Geoffrey, you’ve got to see this. I’ve got the clip right here.”
“OK, OK.”
Sitting beside Angel in their cramped office overlooking Great Harbor, Geoffrey watched the chaotic images of the last minutes of
SeaLife
that Angel had
pop
,the crab tumbled backwards. The carapace between the crab’s eyes was shattered and the crab hung limp in the water.
The mantis shrimp moved in and dragged its quarry back into its vase.
The audience “wowed.”
“And that, my friends, is the awesome power of the stomatopod.” Angel sounded more like a circus barker than a stomatopod expert. “Its strike has the force of a .22 caliber bullet. It sees millions more colors than human beings with eyes that have independent depth perception, and its reflexes are faster than any creature on Earth. This mysterious miracle of Mother Nature is so different from other arthropods it might as well have come from an alien planet. It may even replace us someday
…Bon appetit
, Freddie!”
“Speaking of which, Jimmy’s has arrived,” Geoffrey said.
“Yay, Jimmy’s,” said a female lab mate.
“Glad you’re here,” Angel told Geoffrey. “I’ve got something to show you.”
Everyone took sandwiches. A computer monitor on the lab counter showed a cable newscast with the volume turned down. The
SeaLife
logo flashed behind the newscaster.
“Hey, turn it up!” someone called, as Angel simultaneously cranked up the volume.
“It’s only two miles wide, but if what the cable show
SeaLife
aired last night is real, some scientists are saying it might be the most important island discovery since Charles Darwin visited the Galapagos nearly two centuries ago. Others are claiming that
SeaLife
is engaging in a crass publicity stunt. Last night the show gave a tantalizing live glimpse of what appeared to be an island populated by horrific and alien life that viciously attacked the show’s cast. Network executives have refused to comment. Joining us is eminent scientist Thatcher Redmond for an expert opinion on what really happened.”
Everyone in the room groaned as the camera focused on the guest commentator.
“Dr. Redmond, congratulations on the success of your book
, TheHuman Effect,
and your Tetteridge Award which you received just yesterday, and thank you for giving us your insights today,”
gushed the newscaster.
“So, is it for real?”
“Photosynthesis in action,” Angel said. “The man grows in limelight.”
“Come on now, Angel,” Geoffrey said facetiously. “Dr. Redmond knows all.”
Thatcher smiled, showing a row of recently bleached teeth in his ruddy face. He wore his trademark cargo vest and sported his famous red mustache and overgrown sideburns.
“Thank you! Well, Sandy, I only hope that life on the island can withstand discovery by human beings, to be perfectly frank.”
“He’s got a point there,” muttered one of the female researchers, as she bit into her sandwich.
Thatcher continued.
“So-called intelligent life is the greatest threat to any environment. I don’t envy any ecosystem that comes in contact with it. That’s the thesis of my book
, The Human Effect,
as a matter of fact, and I’m afraid if this
SeaLife
show isn’t a hoax of some sort, I’ll soon have to add another tragic chapter to illustrate my point.”
“Oh brother,” Geoffrey groaned.
“Gee, I wonder if he wrote a book or something,” muttered Angel.
“But do you think it is a hoax? Or the real thing?”
persisted the newscaster.
“Well,”
Thatcher said,
“I wish it were true, of course—as a scientist, that is—but I’m afraid that, as a scientist, I have to say this is probably a hoax, Sandy.”
“Thank you, Dr. Redmond.” The
newscaster turned as the camera cut away from Thatcher.
“Well, there you have it…”
“No way,” Angel insisted. “It’s not a hoax!”
The others chattered about the controversy as they carried their lunches back to their offices.
“OK, Geoffrey, you’ve got to see this. I’ve got the clip right here.”
“OK, OK.”
Sitting beside Angel in their cramped office overlooking Great Harbor, Geoffrey watched the chaotic images of the last minutes of
SeaLife
that Angel had
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