Read Online The Little Green Book of Chairman Rahma by Brian Herbert - Free Book Online Page B

stared at them for several long moments, showing no fear or aggression. It made a clucking sound, then waddled back into the thick undergrowth.
    â€œWe’re growing a girlfriend for him in the laboratory,” Artie said, “and hopefully they’ll like each other.”
    â€œYou have more than thirty species here, right?” Rahma said, “but only two have successfully bred with their own kind so far? The Labrador ducks and a species of mouse?”
    â€œThat’s still the case, sir. The two species you mentioned are doing well; others are not, and I’m afraid they can only be grown in the laboratory. For those that have not bred yet, we’ve been adjusting breeding conditions, and in a few cases we’re growing more of them in the lab in the hope that they will eventually breed.”
    â€œAnd if they won’t?”
    â€œThen they’re doomed to eventual extinction.” He paused. “They’ll go extinct for a second time.”
    â€œHow sad,” Rahma said.
    â€œIt is that, sir. As you know, this is a potentially huge-scale project, and very time-consuming, so I’ve backed off on generating new species in order to keep the operation small enough to manage.”
    â€œWise decision. I was wondering if you were going to blow out of this habitat, and start asking for funds to expand.”
    â€œMy department can always use additional funds, Chairman. Oh, remember a few weeks ago when I mentioned a new species?”
    â€œYes, you said you had a small marsupial, a juvenile.”
    â€œThat’s right,” Artie said. “It is growing faster than anticipated, and is already half of what we think its adult size will be.” He walked to a window and pointed into an enclosure that was physically walled off from the other habitat sections, with clearplex partition walls.
    Rahma moved to his side, looked in. His eyes widened. “What the hell is that ?”
    Artie took several moments before replying. The enclosure was forested with kentia pines, palms, a variety of eucalyptus, and a dense undergrowth of shrubs and ferns. On the lower branch of a eucalyptus tree, the marsupial lay on its nest of twigs and leaves. Around the size of a small dog, it stared at Rahma with pale yellow eyes, its batlike wings folded over its body like a tent. The snout was long and pointed, and the thin lips separated slightly, showing large, razor-sharp incisors and canine teeth. The animal had reddish brown fur and a white streak down the center of its face.
    â€œA marsupial wolf,” Artie said. “A female.”
    â€œIt can fly? It sure looks like it.”
    â€œIt’s more of a glider. After scampering up trees she launches herself from high points like a flying squirrel or fox. She can also catch currents of wind and lift off from the ground. I call her a glidewolf.”
    â€œShe’s also a marsupial, with a pouch?’
    â€œThat she is. You’re looking at a rather complex creature that went extinct around the year 1700 on Lord Howe Island, a crescent-shaped volcanic isle halfway between Australia and New Zealand—at least that’s where the skeletal remains were found, buried under lava. The trouble is, since the creature glides, it could have come from a different island, or even from the Australian mainland. It’s small now but is still growing, so in its adult form it might glide for great distances, riding air currents and perhaps even setting down on the water until the wind picks up again, then taking off by lifting its wings to the wind. It’s semi-nocturnal, doing most of its feeding at night. But it doesn’t sleep all day, like fully nocturnal creatures. Instead, it has a great deal of sustained energy, and is often quite active during daylight hours.”
    Artie watched as the Chairman considered this information. The hubot had omitted certain details in describing the production of this creature to him, such