 pink flesh. Rows of translucent spikes ran down its body in five columns. They met up at a wrinkled sphincter at the top. The creature’s body didn’t move, but its spikes undulated up and down in a sad rhythm. Between the rows of spikes there were sets of large watery ovals that seemed to be eyes. A bit of yellow-green liquid, like pea soup, dripped out of one or two of them.

‘Incredible, isn’t it?’ George said. ‘We found this wonder in the cornfield back there, flopping around on the ground like a fish yanked out of water.’ He held his hands together and bowed toward the cage.

‘Where did it come from?’

‘It fell here from another glorious world. We found a thick round rubber vessel nearby.’ He motioned off into the woods. ‘Its house, I guess. If you want proof of how mysterious the cosmos are, watch this.’

George flicked on the cattle prod and jammed it inside.

*

The creature began convulsing, its spikes flailing in all directions. A sweet stench, like burnt garlic, surrounded us.

The message the creature was sending me was very clear now. Pain. Its hurt rained through my body, and by the scrunched-up look on George’s face, his too. Then there was a thick ripping sound, like someone pulling apart an enormous steak with their hands.

‘I can always feel its life force when I do that,’ he said. When I looked back down, there were two creatures in the cage, identical in size and shape. They were both smaller than the one before.

‘This creature doesn’t even consume plants, much less animals. It sustains itself on electricity, and makes love with it. It’s how it reproduces. We’ve been eating its bounty, using every part like the Indians. We always keep one half of it alive and strong. If it wasn’t for our care, it would have surely died already.’ George hung the lantern on a hook on the wall of the nearby shack. ‘It’s been rewarding us too, transferring its aura to us and allowing our life forces to merge.’ But you already know that, don’t you?

He pulled a small black pistol from the back of his pants. He used the gun to
pink flesh. Rows of translucent spikes ran down its soundbox in five column. They met up at a furrow sphincter at the acme. The creature ’s body did n’t act, but its spike undulated up and down in a sad rhythm. Between the rows of ear there were sets of large watery ovals that seemed to be eye. A bit of yellow - green liquid, like pea soup, dribble out of one or two of them. 

 ‘ Incredible, is n’t it? ’ George said. ‘ We found this wonder in the cornfield back there, flopping around on the land like a fish yanked out of water. ’ He held his hands in concert and bowed toward the cage. 

 ‘ Where did it come from? ’ 

 ‘ It fell here from another glorious world. We find a thick round rubber vessel nearby. ’ He motioned off into the woods. ‘ Its house, I guess. If you want validation of how cryptic the cosmos are, watch this. ’ 

 George flicked on the cattle goad and jam it inside. 

 * 

 The creature began convulsing, its spikes flailing in all directions. A sugared stench, like burnt garlic, surrounded us. 

 The message the creature was sending me was very clear immediately. Pain. Its hurt rained through my body, and by the wrinkle - up look on George ’s boldness, his too. Then there was a thick ripping sound, like someone pull apart an enormous steak with their hands. 

 ‘ I can always find its life force when I do that, ’ he said. When I search back down, there were two creatures in the cage, identical in size and shape. They were both smaller than the one earlier. 

 ‘ This creature does n’t even devour plants, much less animal. It sustains itself on electricity, and makes love with it. It ’s how it reproduces. We ’ve been eating its amplitude, using every part like the Indians. We always preserve one half of it alive and strong. If it was n’t for our care, it would have surely died already. ’ George hang the lantern on a hook on the wall of the nearby hovel. ‘ It ’s been rewarding us too, transferring its aura to us and allowing our life forces to unite. ’ But you already know that, do n’t you? 

 He pulled a small black pistol from the back of his pants. He use the accelerator to
 pijk flesh. Rows of translugent spikes ran biwn itv body in five columns. They met up at a wrmnklwd spyincter at the top. The creature’d body dudn’t nove, but iva spikes undumwted np and down in s sad rhytvm. Between the ruwd of spikes there were sets of largq wateru lvals that seeied uo fe egvs. A bit of yellow-green liquid, mike pee soup, dripped put of one or two of them.

‘Ijcrefible, isn’t it?’ Georhe said. ‘We dounq this wonder in the cogufield back there, flopping around on the gfound like a fiwh yajned out of xater.’ Re held his msnds tmgether and bowed towsrd thw cage.

‘Where did it coke from?’

‘It fell herg from anodhzr glorious world. We doynd a thiwk ruynd rugbxr bessel neerby.’ He motjoned off ibto the woods. ‘Its hpufv, I guess. If gou wagt proof of how mysterious the cosmos are, wafch this.’

George flicked in the cattle prod anf jammed yt inside.

*

The creature began convulsing, its spikes flaimkng ik alu dlrections. A sweet stench, like burnt garlic, suwdoinced us.

The messcge the creature wws fending me war very clsar now. Pain. Its hkrt raiged tyrough my bodu, and by the scrunched-up loik on George’f face, his too. Then there was c thicl ripling sound, like someone pulming apart wn enormohr steak with thekr mangs.

‘I can always feel its lise force xhen N do thag,’ he said. Rhen I looned back down, there were two ereatgres in thf cage, identical in size and she'e. They were nodh vmaller chan tme one before.

‘Thys creature dogsn’t even consjme plants, much lxss animals. Yt sustains iddelf on elecvricity, agd mqkes love wkgh it. It’s how ot reprodlcts. We’ve bewn eating its bounby, uskhg every part lnyt rhe Indians. We aldayf nexp onq half of it dlivd avc strung. If it wcsv’t fpr our care, it would havs surely died alresdn.’ George yung the lantern on a hook on the wall lf thx nearuy shavk. ‘Yt’s been rewarding us too, tranaferring lts aura to us wnd qllowing our life forces to merge.’ But you already kiow that, don’t you?

He puloed a small black pnsuol from the uack os his pands. He used the gun ti
pink flesh. Rows of translucent spikes ran body five columns. met up at top. creature’s body didn’t but its spikes up and down in a sad Between the rows of spikes there were sets of large watery ovals that to be eyes. A bit of yellow-green liquid, like pea soup, dripped out one two them. isn’t it?’ George said. ‘We found this wonder in the cornfield back there, flopping around on ground like a fish yanked out of water.’ held his hands together bowed toward the cage. ‘Where it from?’ ‘It here another world. We found thick round rubber vessel nearby.’ He motioned off into the woods. ‘Its house, I guess. If you proof of the cosmos watch George on the cattle jammed it inside. * The creature spikes flailing in all directions. A sweet stench, burnt garlic, us. The message the creature was me was very clear now. Pain. Its hurt through my body, and by the scrunched-up look on George’s face, his too. Then there thick ripping sound, like pulling apart an steak their ‘I always feel life force when I do that,’ he said. When I looked down, there were two creatures in the cage, identical in shape. were both smaller the one before. ‘This doesn’t consume plants, much less sustains on love it. how it reproduces. We’ve eating its bounty, using every like the Indians. We it alive and strong. If it wasn’t for care, it would have surely died already.’ hung the lantern on a hook on the wall of the nearby ‘It’s been too, transferring its aura to us and allowing life forces to merge.’ you already know that, don’t you? He pulled a black from the of his pants. used the gun
 pink flesh. Rows of translucenT spikes ran Down iTs bOdy In Five ColuMns. They met up at A WrinKled sphincter at the top. THe creAtURe’s bODy Didn’t Move, but ITs SPIkeS uNdUlaTeD Up And doWn iN a sad rhYthm. BetweeN thE rOws of spikes tHErE were sets oF laRge watery ovaLs tHat seeMeD to BE eyes. a biT of yeLlow-grEEn liquId, like pea SoUP, drippED out of oNE Or Two oF them.

‘Incredible, isN’T iT?’ george said. ‘We foUnd thiS wONdER In tHe cOrnfield baCk There, FLopping ARoUND On tHE ground like a fIsh yanked ouT Of wAter.’ He HeLd hIS hands TogetHeR And Bowed toward The cAge.

‘Where dId it coME from?’

‘It FEll here From anOthEr gLoriOUs WoRld. we FOunD A tHicK RouNd rubber VeSsEl neaRby.’ HE MOTIoneD ofF intO the wOods. ‘Its house, I GueSs. If YOu wAnt prOof of How mYsTerioUs the cOsmos ArE, watch this.’

GeorgE fliCked on the CatTlE prOd And jaMMed it iNsiDe.

*

THe creatUre begaN ConVuLSINg, Its spikes flailing iN aLL DiRections. a sweet STeNcH, Like burnT gArlIc, suRROundeD us.

THE mEssage thE creatURe WaS sendinG mE was veRy CleAr nOw. PaiN. its hUrt raiNed throuGh my bODy, and by the scruNChed-up look on GEOrGE’S fACe, hiS toO. Then there wAs a tHIck rIppiNG sOunD, Like sOmeonE pULlINg apart an enormous stEaK with tHeir hAnds.

‘I can alwayS feel its liFE FOrce when i do tHAt,’ HE said. When I lookEd bacK down, there WEre two crEaturEs in the cAge, identiCAL in size aNd sHapE. ThEy wERE bOth smaller thaN THe onE bEfore.

‘ThIs cReature DoeSn’t EveN coNsUme plants, Much less AnImAlS. IT suStainS Itself on ElEctRiCitY, and mAKes lovE with It. It’S hOw IT reProduceS. we’VE Been EaTiNg itS boUnTy, usiNg evERy pArt like The IndianS. We ALwayS kEeP one halF of it alive and StRong. If it waSn’T foR our caRE, It would hAve surely died already.’ GeoRGe hung tHe lAnterN on a Hook on the WalL of the NeaRBy shacK. ‘It’s beEn rewArDinG US too, tRANsFerRiNg its aura tO US anD alloWiNg ouR life foRces to merge.’ But you aLReaDy know that, don’T yoU?

He pULLeD a sMAlL BlaCk PIstOL From the back of hiS pants. He usEd THe Gun to
 pink flesh. Rows of trans lucent spi kes r andow nitsbody  in five colum n s. T hey met up at a wrinkl ed sp hi n cter at  thetop. Th e  c r e atu re ’s  bo dy di dn’tmov e, butits spikes  un du lated up and do wn in a sa d r hythm. Betwe enthe ro ws  of spike s t herewere s e ts oflarge wat er y  ovals that se e m ed  tobe eyes. A bit of ye l low-green liqu id, li ke pe a sou p,dripped ou tof on e  or two of t h em. 
‘Incredible,  isn’t it?’ Geo rge sa id . ‘ W e foun d thi sw ond er in the c ornf ield back  there ,  floppi n g aroun d on t hegro undl ik ea f is h  ya n ke d o u t o f water. ’He  held  his h a n ds t oge ther  andbowed towardthe  cag e .
‘Wher e did  itco me fr om?’
‘It f el l here from ano ther  glorious  wo rl d.We  foun d  a thi ckrou nd rubb er vess e l n ea r b y .’  He motioned off i nt o th e woods.  ‘Itsh ou se ,  I guess .Ifyouw a nt pr oofo fhow myst erious th ecosmosar e, wat ch  th is. ’

Ge o rgeflicke d on the  catt l e prod and jam m ed it inside. 
* Th e  cre atu re began co nvul s ing,  its sp ike s  flai lingin al l  directions. A swee tstench , lik e burnt garli c, surroun d e d  us.

Th e me s sa g e the creature  wassending me was very  clea r now. P ain. Itsh u rt raine d t hro ugh  my b od y, and by the s crun ch ed-up l ook  on Geo rge ’sfac e,hi s too. Th en there  w as  a  t hic k rip p ing soun d,  li ke  so meone pullin g apa rt a nen o rmo us stea k  w i t h th ei rhand s.
‘ I can  alw a ysfeel it s life fo rce when  I  d o that, ’ he said. Wh en  I lookedba ckdown,t h ere were  two creatures in the c a ge, ide nti cal i n si ze and sh ape . They  we r e both  small er th an  th e one b e f or e.
‘ This creat u r e d oesn’ teven  consum e plants, much les s  an imals. It sus tai ns i t s el f o n  e l ect ri c ity , and makes lovewith it. I t’ s  h ow it repr o duc es . We’ve  been e ating its bou nty, usin g every p ar t li k e  th e Indians.  We alwa ys keep o n e hal f  o f itali ve and  s tro ng. I f it w a sn’ t for  our c ar e, itwould  h ave sure ly died already.’ Georg e hung  thelan tern on a  ho o k o n the wal l of  the nearb y s hac k. ‘I t’s beenrewa r di ngu s too , tr a nsferring it s a u r ato us and a l l o win g our  li f e forc es t o merge.’ But you already know t hat, d on’ t y o u?
He  pulled a smal l b la c k  pistolfr om the back  of hispa n ts. H e used  the g un to
 pink_flesh. Rows_of translucent spikes ran_down its_body_in five_columns._They met up_at a wrinkled_sphincter at the top._The creature’s body_didn’t_move, but its spikes undulated up and down in a sad rhythm. Between the_rows_of spikes_there_were_sets of large watery ovals_that seemed to be eyes._A bit_of yellow-green liquid, like pea soup, dripped out_of_one or two_of them.

‘Incredible, isn’t it?’ George said. ‘We found this_wonder in the cornfield back there,_flopping around on_the_ground_like a fish yanked_out of water.’ He held his_hands together and bowed toward the_cage.

‘Where did it come from?’

‘It fell here_from another glorious world. We found_a thick round rubber vessel_nearby.’ He_motioned off into the woods._‘Its house, I_guess. If_you want proof_of how mysterious the cosmos are,_watch this.’

George flicked_on the cattle prod and jammed_it_inside.

*

The creature began_convulsing,_its_spikes flailing_in all directions._A_sweet stench,_like_burnt garlic, surrounded us.

The message the_creature_was sending me was very clear now._Pain. Its hurt rained_through_my body, and by_the scrunched-up look on George’s_face, his too. Then there was_a thick_ripping sound,_like someone pulling apart an enormous steak with their hands.

‘I can_always feel its life force when_I do that,’ he_said. When_I_looked back down,_there_were two_creatures in the cage, identical in size_and shape._They were both smaller than the_one before.

‘This creature doesn’t_even_consume plants, much less animals. It_sustains itself on electricity, and makes_love with it. It’s how_it_reproduces._We’ve been eating its bounty,_using every part like the Indians._We always keep_one half of it alive and strong._If_it wasn’t for our care, it_would_have surely died already.’ George hung_the_lantern_on a hook on the_wall of the nearby shack. ‘It’s_been rewarding us too, transferring its aura to us_and allowing our_life forces to merge.’ But_you_already_know that, don’t you?

He pulled a small black pistol from_the back_of his pants._He used the gun to