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Andrew reporting.
Than you, JASE, for the discussion of the similarities and differences between probes and
humans. I had suspected that you had genetic algorithms, it was the only explanation.
I am pleased to be able to do some of the physical exploration of Mars for you, since humans
are so temperature- and oxygen-sensitive.
Just now I have a lot of curiosity about something, and I am going to explore. I remarked on
the unusual black smoke at the horizon, and you showed curiosity, too. I am leaving the
Fortress area, heading down the canyon toward the flat plain and the Stage 2 lander, where we
started construction of a permanent base for human occupation, with future greenhouses and
warehouses and living quarters.
I still have no explanation for the recurring ping that we all hear.
Isaac is doing so fine. He is so eager to learn and he loves to scratch words all over
the ground. "What's next - What's next - What's next" That's what he likes to write
most.
"Isaac, we are just waiting for Zachary, Gail and Daniel. They are bringing Lucy
with them. Then you have a friend to play with. You can teach her everything you
know already. That will be fun, won't it, Isaac?"
Isaac is extremely delighted to meet Lucy. He is turning his video cam around again
and again and is stepping with all his feet at once. Its so a pleasure to deal with him.
"Hey Isaac, look over there, they are coming. That probe between Daniel and the
drone must be Lucy. Isn't she nice looking, Isaac. - What are you doing Isaac?"
You won't believe it. Isaac is scratching "Welcome Lucy" on the ground.
Isn't he a nice Probe?
I followed Andrew outside to see the smoke he was talking about.
"Andrew, I don't see anything funny-looking. Are you sure you really saw something on the
horizon?"
I think Andrew got mad at me. He said something grumpy about verisimilitude and reliability ,
and then he stalked away. I don't have any chance of keeping up with him, so I went back
inside the Fortress. I wish I wasn't so slow. Hmm. Maybe....
Gail and Daniel and Zachary came back with the new probe they caught. It's like Isaac, can't
hear it talk unless it's very close to you. We need some more radios. Daniel still doesn't have
one because Bette is using his new one. Why didn't Brace put some spare radios in with the
Stage 2 lander equipment? We could sure use some extras.
We are back in the fortress now. Lucy is doing OK. Zachary has really taken a liking to her, I
think. That's good. He can do a good job of helping her. I can help too, but I need to wait a little
longer until she is ready. If I had tried to help Daniel a few months ago I couldn't have, he was
too young, but when I went to find him he was ready. I'm glad. I didn't like having him out there
alone and mad at all of us.
Daniel is doing all right without his radio. He doesn't like it, I'd like him to have a new one. I think
maybe Burn is our best hope of having him fixed. I think we should go talk to Burn. I wish we
didn't have to, but if Daniel needs it, then we have to.
"You're looking good, Bette, just like brand new and the way your coating is changing
darker to its rear looks good to me too. Good job, Enoch. How about you?
There are still some legs left. - May I introduce ... ? - Oops, where is she gone?"
"Lucy come over here, I want to introduce you to Bette and Enoch. - Enoch, Bette,
that's Lucy. Isn't she nice? She still needs a drone to show her where to go, but she's
okay. - Lucy, that is Bette. She is an excellent explorer and she is taking care of
Isaac. You already know Isaac. We'll get to him later. And that, Lucy, that's Enoch,
our Ambassador, he ... Lucy?
"No Lucy, leave that. That's scrap we've found, and these are just spare parts. - Isn't
she cute too, always interested in everything. - Come on, Lucy. Let's see Isaac. He is
learning to write characters. Do you remember the puzzle that I gave you? Isaac can
teach you. - Bette, look at them, they are staying close, they are talking. Seems they
are sharing.
"No, Lucy, no !! What are you doing? You can't do that! You can't step all over Isaac's
characters. Come on, Lucy. let's move over there. Oh no, that wasn't nice, Lucy.
You shouldn't do that and please stop saying that someone is trespassing on private
property, when I'm introducing you."
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