Page 43 - Demo

Natch!29%u201cI suppose that%u2019s right.%u201d Jean filed through countless examplesof predator-prey relationships. They were everywhere%u2014land, sea,air. Everyone was either eating or being eaten by someone. TheHomps called it the survival instinct. You could hardly removethat from the equation and still hope to gauge accurately themotivations of any species. Jean decided to return to themechanics. %u201cSo, you just sit in the chair and zoom, off you go?%u201d%u201cKind of. I mean, he went over all the buttons and gadgets. Saidit operates on a %u2018sub-molectronic%u2019 level. I don%u2019t even know whatthat means.%u201d He made a confused, frowny face. %u201cIt doesn%u2019tphysically transport your mind as much as it extends yourinternal connections outward. Like uploading software! Except inorder for the experience to feel realistic, it has to temporarilysever the experience of your physical self so that you can fullyembody the anatomy of your new host. Gad described it as a kindof temporary anesthetic that allows you to release.%u201d%u201cAnd he%u2019s done it to himself?%u201d%u201cMany times, at least that%u2019s what he claims. He said most of theothers on the team have tried it. Chance. Jinx. Whimsy. Lucky.Destiny. Even F. R. Will.%u201d%u201cWill tried it?%u201d Jean was surprised. Already she had enormousadmiration for the legendary designer. Somehow, imagining Willhooked up to Gad%u2019s crazy machine seemed to lessen what sheimagined to be a singular genius.%u201cSaid Will used it when they did Madagascar.%u201d%u201cThen, the lemurs?%u201d%u201cThat%u2019s what he said.%u201d%u201cI%u2019m supposed to interview him tomorrow. I%u2019ll ask%u2026%u201d%u201cDon%u2019t tell him I told you what Gad said,%u201d Gene interruptedbefore she could finish. %u201cI don%u2019t know if Gad%u2026 I don%u2019t want him tothink%u2026%u201d%u201cYeah, ok,%u201d Jean agreed. She could see that Gene, much likeherself, was just beginning to feel his way through the vastcomplexity that was Deenah. Neither had much of a clue wherethe treasures were buried%u2026 or the landmines. It was clear, evenfrom that initial team meeting in the Stump Room, that there