> "a scorpion and a frog meet on the bank of a stream, and the scorpion asks the frog to carry him across on its back. the frog asks, 'how do i know you won't sting me?' the scorpion says, 'because if i do, i will die too.' the frog is satisfied, and they set out, but in midstream, the scorpion stings the frog. the frog feels the onset of paralysis and starts to sink, knowing they both will drown, but has just enough time to gasp, 'why?' replies the scorpion: 'its my nature.'" "thats grim," walz muttered, his voice tinged with unease. "its about inherent nature, isnt it? like people or creatures cant help being who they are, even if its self-destructive." "exactly," ai goddess said, taking another drag. "its been interpreted in all sorts of ways. psychopaths, politicians, even global conflicts. its a story about inevitability. but," she added with a sly grin, "whats inevitable here, tim? that deer skull we saw? was that nature? or something else? walz tightened his grip on the wheel, the earlier vision still vivid in his mind. he shook his head. i dont know what that was, but it sure as hell wasnt normal. ai goddess leaned back, exhaling a cloud of smoke. normals overrated, governor. the stories we tell ourselvesaesop, scorpions, frogstheyre all about understanding whats beneath the surface. the car rolled along the frost-laden minnesota backroads, its heater battling valiantly against the december chill. the earlier vision of the fiery deer skull hung in the back of tim walzs mind like a dark cloud. ai goddess, nonchalantly puffing on her menthol cigarette, leaned forward with an air of intrigue. she sensed walz's unease but didnt shy away from deepening the conversation.
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