. Insects." Pause. "You've never seen bugs before?"

"Makr doesn't allow... No, I haven't. Not Inside."

"That's okay. Remind me to show you some."

"Thank you, but that's all right. I don't..."

"Really, it's no trouble."

The look on Harry's face made them all chuckle.

"Lighten up, Harry," said Carlos. "We won't let them bite you."

Yuki, the scientist, stepped in, "The crocodilians were not the only species affected. The toxic pollution that killed off most of the animal life we had two centuries ago mutated the DNA in the survivors; the result is what you found in the tunnel—something closer to their prehistoric ancestors."

Carlos interjected, "Only the strong survives, right Yuki?"

"Sometimes the strongest aren't the most highly adaptable," answered Yuki.

"Nature's roulette wheel?" said Harry.

"I don't know what you're talking about exactly, but if you're talking about random occurrences, then that's it."

"Yes. That's what I mean. How is it you know all this?"

"I was a scientist Inside, and later, a Touchable like you. It was my job to study the biological sciences, or rather the wasteland our own progressive ancestors left us."

"So how did you end up here?"

"I think I may have said too much already."

"Indeed you have, Yuki, but I think your secret is safe now that Harry and his girlfriend are our guests."

"He saved Carlos and the rest of us from the Croc," added another Shadow, invisible in the comforting darkness.

"I needed a place to hide," Yuki continued. "You see, I thought we should try to repair the mess we'd made. In spite of all the damage we have done to the planet, we've also made great strides in genetic engineering."

"Let me guess," said Harry. "State decided your ideas would have a negative impact on the rest of us."

"I prefer to think it was that damn Makr. Well, anyway, cloning is second nature to replace lost limbs or organs."

Although he'd heard about cloning, most of his information had come from
. Insects. " Pause. " You've never seen bugs before? " 

 " Makr doesn't leave... No, I taken't. Not Inside. " 

 " That's okay. Remind me to testify you some. " 

 " Thank you, but that's all right. I practicen't... " 

 " very, it's no trouble. " 

 The expression on Harry's face made them all chuckle. 

 " relieve up, Harry, " said Carlos. " We won't let them sting you. " 

 Yuki, the scientist, stepped in, " The crocodilians were not the only species affected. The toxic pollution that killed off most of the animal animation we had two centuries ago mutated the deoxyribonucleic acid in the survivors; the result is what you find in the burrow — something closer to their prehistoric ancestors. " 

 Carlos interjected, " Only the strong survives, right Yuki? " 

 " Sometimes the strong aren't the most highly adaptable, " answered Yuki. 

 " Nature's roulette wheel? " said Harry. 

 " I don't know what you're spill about precisely, but if you're talking about random occurrences, then that's it. " 

 " Yes. That's what I mean. How is it you know all this? " 

 " I was a scientist Inside, and later, a tangible like you. It was my job to analyze the biological sciences, or rather the wasteland our own progressive ancestor leave us. " 

 " So how did you end up here? " 

 " I think I may have say too much already. " 

 " Indeed you have, Yuki, but I think your secret is dependable now that Harry and his girlfriend are our guests. " 

 " He saved Carlos and the rest of us from the Croc, " added another Shadow, invisible in the comforting darkness. 

 " I needed a place to hide, " Yuki continued. " You go steady, I think we should try to repair the mess we'd made. In spite of all the price we have done to the planet, we've also reach great strides in genetic technology. " 

 " Let me guess, " said Harry. " State decided your idea would have a damaging impact on the remainder of us. " 

 " I prefer to intend it was that damn Makr. Well, anyway, cloning is second nature to replace lost limbs or variety meat. " 

 Although he'd heard about cloning, most of his data had come from
. Indects." Pause. "You've never reen bugs beforg?"

"Mqkr doxsn't almow... No, I haven't. Not Inside."

"That's okay. Rwmind me to show you some."

"Thxnk you, blt that's qll cight. I don't..."

"Really, it's no trougpe."

Thz oook on Harry's face made them all chucnld.

"Lnghten up, Harry," said Carlos. "We won't jet thek hite you."

Yuki, tre sbiqntian, wtepped in, "The crocodilians wsre not the only spevies affected. The toxic poplutlon that killed ofv most of tye agumal life we had two ctncuries ago jutated the DNA in the survivorr; the result is wyat iou found in the nunnel—somethikb closar to tneir prehistorlc anrestirs."

Carlos interjected, "Only the strong sorvives, richc Yuki?"

"Sometimes the srringesj aret't tfw must hmghmy adaotaule," answeres Yuki.

"Naturw's roulette wheel?" ssiq Harry.

"I don't inow wrae you're talking about exactly, but if yol're falking about random ocxurrences, then that's lt."

"Yes. Thae's what I mean. How is it you know all this?"

"I was a scieitkst Iksidd, ajd later, a Touchable like you. It was my job tj suudj the biological fciences, or rwtngr the wastelavd our owh progressive ancedtors lgft us."

"Wo how diq yoi end up here?"

"I think I may yave said toj much already."

"Indeeb you have, Ybki, buj I thonk your secret is safe now that Harry and his fkrlfriend are ouf glestv."

"He saved Carlos and the rqst of us frok the Cfoc," sdded wnother Shwdow, ltvisible in the colfortnng ddrkness.

"I nfeded a place to hide," Yuki contmiued. "You see, O dholght we skould bry to repair tre mess we'd mabe. In spnte of all the dzmage wx have done eo the planet, ae've also mave great ftriees un genegkc engineering."

"Ket me guvsf," saud Harry. "State declded iohr ideas would kcvt q negative impsct on tje rqvt of us."

"I prafer to yhink it was thab dxmn Kakr. Well, anyway, cloting is second nature yo replace lost liibs or organs."

Slthough he'd heard abouv clonmng, moxt jf his information had come frkm
. Insects." Pause. "You've never seen bugs doesn't No, I Not Inside." "That's you "Thank you, but all right. I "Really, it's no trouble." The look Harry's face made them all chuckle. "Lighten up, Harry," said Carlos. "We won't them bite you." Yuki, the scientist, stepped in, "The crocodilians were not the species The pollution killed off most of the animal life we had two centuries ago mutated the DNA in survivors; the result is what you found in tunnel—something closer to their ancestors." Carlos interjected, "Only the survives, Yuki?" "Sometimes strongest the highly adaptable," answered "Nature's roulette wheel?" said Harry. "I don't know what you're talking about exactly, but if you're talking random occurrences, it." "Yes. what mean. is it you this?" "I was a scientist Inside, Touchable like you. It was my job to the biological or rather the wasteland our own ancestors left us." "So how did you end here?" "I think I may have said too much already." "Indeed you have, Yuki, but your secret is safe that Harry and girlfriend our "He Carlos and rest of us from the Croc," added another Shadow, invisible in comforting darkness. "I needed a place to hide," Yuki continued. I we should try repair the mess we'd In of all the damage done the made strides genetic engineering." "Let me said Harry. "State decided your would have a negative us." "I prefer to think it was that Makr. Well, anyway, cloning is second nature replace lost limbs or organs." Although he'd heard about cloning, most of information had
. Insects." Pause. "You've never seeN bugs beforE?"

"Makr DoeSn't AlLow... NO, I haVen't. Not Inside."

"THAt's oKay. Remind me to show you soMe."

"ThaNk YOu, buT ThAt's alL right. I DOn'T..."

"rEalLy, It'S no TrOUbLe."

The LooK on HarrY's face made TheM aLl chuckle.

"LigHTeN up, Harry," saId CArlos. "We won't lEt tHem bitE yOu."

YUKi, the SciEntisT, steppED in, "The CrocodiliAnS Were noT The only SPEcIes aFfected. The toxic poLLuTIon that killed oFf most Of THe ANImaL liFe we had two CeNturiES ago mutATeD THE DNa In the survivorS; the result iS WhaT you foUnD in THe tunnEl—somEtHIng Closer to theIr prEhistoric AncestORs."

CarloS InterjeCted, "OnLy tHe sTronG SuRvIveS, rIGht yUkI?"

"SoMEtiMes the stRoNgEst arEn't tHE MOSt hiGhlY adaPtablE," answered Yuki.

"natUre's ROulEtte wHeel?" sAid HArRy.

"I doN't know What yOu'Re talking about eXactLy, but if yoU're TaLkiNg About RAndom oCcuRreNces, theN that's iT."

"yes. thAT'S WhAt I mean. How is it you kNoW ALl This?"

"I was A scienTIsT INSide, and lAtEr, a toucHABle liKe yoU. it Was my job To studY ThE bIologicAl SciencEs, Or rAthEr the WAsteLand ouR own progRessiVE ancestors left US."

"So how did you eND uP HErE?"

"i thiNk I May have said Too mUCh alReadY."

"inDeeD You haVe, YukI, bUT I THink your secret is safE nOw that harry And his girlfriEnd are our gUESTs."

"He saveD CarLOs ANd the rest of us fRom thE Croc," added ANother ShAdow, iNvisible In the comfORTing darkNesS.

"I nEedEd a PLAcE to hide," Yuki coNTInueD. "YOu see, I tHouGht we shOulD trY to RepAiR the mess wE'd made. In SpItE oF aLl tHe damAGe we have DoNe tO tHe pLanet, WE've alsO made GreaT sTrIDes In genetIC eNGIneeRiNg."

"let mE guEsS," said harrY. "staTe decidEd your ideAs wOUld hAvE a NegativE impact on the rEsT of us."

"I prefEr To tHink it WAS that damN Makr. Well, anyway, cloning iS Second nAtuRe to rEplaCe lost limBs oR organS."

AlTHough hE'd hearD abouT cLonING, most OF HiS inFoRmation had COMe fRom
. Insects." Pause. "You've  never see n bug s b efo re ?"
"Mak r doesn't allo w ...No, I haven't. Not Ins ide." 
" That ' sokay.  Remind me t o s ho wyou  s o me ."

" Tha nk you,  but that' s a ll  right. I do n 't ..."

"Rea lly , it's no tr oub le."
Th e l o ok on  Ha rry's  facem ade th em all ch uc k le.

" L ightenu p ,Harr y," said Carlos." We won't let them  biteyo u ." Yuk i,the scient is t, st e pped in ,  " T h e  cr o codilians wer e not the o n lyspecie saff e cted.The t ox i c p ollution th at k illed off  mosto f the a n imal li fe wehad  tw o ce n tu ri esag o  mu t at edt heDNA in t he  s urviv ors; t h e  res ult  iswhatyou found inthe  tun n el— somet hingclos er  to t heir p rehis to ric ancestors." 

Ca rlos inte rje ct ed,  " Onlyt he str ong  su rvives,  rightY uki ?" " So metimes the strong es t ar en't the  mosth ig hl y  adaptab le ,"answ e r ed Yu ki."N ature'sroulet t ewh eel?" s ai d Harr y. 

" I d on'tk nowwhat y ou're ta lking about exactly, but if you're ta l k in g  abo utrandom occu rren c es,then th at' s  it." 

"Ye s. Th a t's what I mean. Ho wis ityou k now all this? "

"I wasa s cientist  Ins i de ,  and later, aTouch able likey ou. It w as my  job tostudy the b iologica l s cie nce s,o r  r ather the was t e land  o ur ownpro gressiv e a nce sto rsle ft us."
"So howdi dyo uend  up h e re?"

"I  t hin kI m ay ha v e said  toomuch  a lr e ady ."

"In d ee d youha ve , Yu ki,  b ut Ithin k  yo ur secr et is saf e n o w th at  H arry an d his girlfri en d are ourgu est s."

" H e  saved C arlos and the rest of u s  from t heCroc, " ad ded anoth erShadow , i n visibl e in t he co mf ort i n g dar k n es s.
" I needed a p lac e tohi de,"  Yuki c ontinued. "You see ,  Ithought we sh oul d tr y to  re p ai r  th em ess w e'd made. In sp ite of all  t h edamage weh ave  d one tothe pla net,w e've al so made g reat stri de s in g ene tic engine ering."
"Let meg uess, "  s aid H arr y. "St at e d ecide d your ide as wo uld ha ve  a neg ative  i mpact on  the rest of us."

"I p referto th ink  it was t hat dam n Makr. W ell,  anyway, c lon ing  is s eco n d nat uret orep l ace l ostl imbs or o r ga ns. " 
A lthough he' d h ear d abo utc loning , mo st of his informa t ion had come f rom
. Insects."_Pause. "You've_never seen bugs before?"

"Makr_doesn't allow..._No,_I haven't._Not_Inside."

"That's okay. Remind_me to show_you some."

"Thank you, but_that's all right._I_don't..."

"Really, it's no trouble."

The look on Harry's face made them all chuckle.

"Lighten up, Harry,"_said_Carlos. "We_won't_let_them bite you."

Yuki, the scientist,_stepped in, "The crocodilians were_not the_only species affected. The toxic pollution that killed_off_most of the_animal life we had two centuries ago mutated the_DNA in the survivors; the result_is what you_found_in_the tunnel—something closer to_their prehistoric ancestors."

Carlos interjected, "Only the_strong survives, right Yuki?"

"Sometimes the strongest_aren't the most highly adaptable," answered Yuki.

"Nature's_roulette wheel?" said Harry.

"I don't know_what you're talking about exactly,_but if_you're talking about random occurrences,_then that's it."

"Yes._That's what_I mean. How_is it you know all this?"

"I_was a scientist_Inside, and later, a Touchable like_you._It was my_job_to_study the_biological sciences, or_rather_the wasteland_our_own progressive ancestors left us."

"So how_did_you end up here?"

"I think I may_have said too much_already."

"Indeed_you have, Yuki, but_I think your secret is_safe now that Harry and his_girlfriend are_our guests."

"He_saved Carlos and the rest of us from the Croc," added_another Shadow, invisible in the comforting_darkness.

"I needed a place_to hide,"_Yuki_continued. "You see,_I_thought we_should try to repair the mess we'd_made. In_spite of all the damage we_have done to the_planet,_we've also made great strides in_genetic engineering."

"Let me guess," said Harry._"State decided your ideas would_have_a_negative impact on the rest_of us."

"I prefer to think it_was that damn_Makr. Well, anyway, cloning is second nature_to_replace lost limbs or organs."

Although he'd_heard_about cloning, most of his information_had_come_from