perceptiveness. Bov facial expressions were very different from Akkaliza’s and of course from all other umas, the dominant species of this world. The umas regarded bovs, and most other animals of their planet simply as assets. Most we say, therefore not all because some were pets. Species arbitrarily chosen, or rather not chosen, because we should readily agree that to choose arbitrarily is an oxymoron. A few species thus had the chance to be those that were privileged by uma cultural customs. These included prominently the thacs and the hinecs. The first were small felines, the latter canines, generally a little larger.
So, Akkaliza had noted the caged bov’s embarrassment despite the difficulty for umas to read these animal’s facial expressions. Maybe it could be explained by the fact that she had studied with great interest and remarkable insight the behavior of this particular bov, but especially from many wild bovs images in animal documentaries. Thanks to these, she was fascinated by the discovery that they knew how to make tools. Still rudimentary tools, but sufficiently effective to be very useful. Of course, this demonstrated their intelligence, but also, just like umas, they had a culture. Because they had passed down this know-how from generation to generation.
“ Peekaboo!” she said upon arriving. “I’ve the impression that you were doing something and that I’ve disturbed you. I’ve got to persuade you that I’m your friend! I won't steal what you’ve hidden, if you hid something.”
She used two hands to manipulate her recording equipment, while, with the other two, she took a bottle of water from the bag she had slung on her back. With swift gestures, she removed the memory card from the device for safe-keeping in her pocket and put a second one in place, while filling the water vessel in the grass to replenish its contents.
“ I’ve pocketed footage of you," she said. “Don’t feel bad for my spying, eh! It’s rather a mark of interest, in fact. Tonight, before sleeping, I’ll look at what you did. You see, I can no longer do without you!”
The bov delivered several long bovgrunts. Ensuring, with a quick look, that the camera was recording, she was relieved to see that this was the case. When the animal became silent, she also kept silent a while for fear of interrupting. She produced knocking noises as she tapped two flexible fingers on her beak, in a patient attitude that invited discourse, but as he continued to remain silent, she replied:
“ You’ve waited until I removed the memory card to finally start telling me all about your life! You joker! But I’m very happy, I won’t scold you. I'm going to retrieve your beautiful speech now for later tonight.”
She reinserted the memory card that she had just removed into a second slot on the device to add to it what had just been recorded.
“ There! Okay, you still haven’t eaten anything. I'm giving you fresh food and getting rid of that. Here you are! I brought you rice, since you seem to like it. And also carrots, soybean and two bananas.”
It wasn’t strictly speaking rice, carrots, soybeans and bananas, but they were close enough in likeness to make it appropriate to use these words in the translation.
The bov sniffed at the food from a distance.
“ I’m leaving you now. We’ll be back together shortly. Soon, you know, I'll most likely let you free, because you seem to be getting better and better. I’ll be sorry to no longer be able to see you, but it would be much worse if I kept you in prison...”
The animal bovgrunted.
“ Well, okay! But, I have to go now. My father has been in a bad mood for a few days! That’s the least I can say!”
*
Etos found himself alone, both a bit disappointed to see it go and happy to finally have free rein to act. He watched Gentle-Lightning until it completely disappeared behind the trees and then squatted down again to retrieve his tool. He
So, Akkaliza had noted the caged bov’s embarrassment despite the difficulty for umas to read these animal’s facial expressions. Maybe it could be explained by the fact that she had studied with great interest and remarkable insight the behavior of this particular bov, but especially from many wild bovs images in animal documentaries. Thanks to these, she was fascinated by the discovery that they knew how to make tools. Still rudimentary tools, but sufficiently effective to be very useful. Of course, this demonstrated their intelligence, but also, just like umas, they had a culture. Because they had passed down this know-how from generation to generation.
“ Peekaboo!” she said upon arriving. “I’ve the impression that you were doing something and that I’ve disturbed you. I’ve got to persuade you that I’m your friend! I won't steal what you’ve hidden, if you hid something.”
She used two hands to manipulate her recording equipment, while, with the other two, she took a bottle of water from the bag she had slung on her back. With swift gestures, she removed the memory card from the device for safe-keeping in her pocket and put a second one in place, while filling the water vessel in the grass to replenish its contents.
“ I’ve pocketed footage of you," she said. “Don’t feel bad for my spying, eh! It’s rather a mark of interest, in fact. Tonight, before sleeping, I’ll look at what you did. You see, I can no longer do without you!”
The bov delivered several long bovgrunts. Ensuring, with a quick look, that the camera was recording, she was relieved to see that this was the case. When the animal became silent, she also kept silent a while for fear of interrupting. She produced knocking noises as she tapped two flexible fingers on her beak, in a patient attitude that invited discourse, but as he continued to remain silent, she replied:
“ You’ve waited until I removed the memory card to finally start telling me all about your life! You joker! But I’m very happy, I won’t scold you. I'm going to retrieve your beautiful speech now for later tonight.”
She reinserted the memory card that she had just removed into a second slot on the device to add to it what had just been recorded.
“ There! Okay, you still haven’t eaten anything. I'm giving you fresh food and getting rid of that. Here you are! I brought you rice, since you seem to like it. And also carrots, soybean and two bananas.”
It wasn’t strictly speaking rice, carrots, soybeans and bananas, but they were close enough in likeness to make it appropriate to use these words in the translation.
The bov sniffed at the food from a distance.
“ I’m leaving you now. We’ll be back together shortly. Soon, you know, I'll most likely let you free, because you seem to be getting better and better. I’ll be sorry to no longer be able to see you, but it would be much worse if I kept you in prison...”
The animal bovgrunted.
“ Well, okay! But, I have to go now. My father has been in a bad mood for a few days! That’s the least I can say!”
*
Etos found himself alone, both a bit disappointed to see it go and happy to finally have free rein to act. He watched Gentle-Lightning until it completely disappeared behind the trees and then squatted down again to retrieve his tool. He
Similar Books
