Symbios Read Free Page A

building material.
    He’s much better at learning English than I am at learning his language. He’s gained such a mastery of it that he made his first joke.
    We were resting near his ship, talking as usual about how hungry we were, and Zabzug told me, “If you weren’t so ugly, I’d consider eating you.”
    Funny guy, that Zabzug.
    Voice Module 195582
    Record Mode:
    Zabzug is starving too. His skin has lost its luster, and his eyes are glazed.
    We still have animated talks, but the silence often lasts as long as the chatting.
    I’m hesitant to tell him about the dog people, about what I consider my genocidal crime.
    But they’re all I can think about.
    I finally spill the story. Hopeful he won’t judge. Hopeful that he might know where to search for more.
    To my surprise, Zabzug seems to know what I’m speaking about, and he’s able to draw an exact picture of their species.
    “Hrucka,” he told me. He awkwardly explained that the hrucka were like pets to his species.
    It made sense. Evolution doesn’t create just one species of animal in an ecosystem. The hrucka must have been put here.
    Or stranded here.
    Which might mean that somewhere, on the planet, there’s another ship like Zabzug’s.
    He’s very excited by this prospect, and we decide to conduct a search first thing tomorrow.
    Voice Module 195583
    Record Mode:
    We searched for three days.
    We didn’t find anything.
    Voice Module 195584
    Record Mode:
    Zabzug came into my ship at night as I slept. The viscous drool from his mouth dripped onto my face and woke me up. In one of his appendages he held a sharp piece of pipe, the one I had been using to roast dog people. Upon my awakening, he yelped and dropped the pipe, hurrying from my ship.
    I suppose he’s having the same problem that I had with the dog people. Respect for an intelligent life form versus the overwhelming need to survive.
    But he’s in for a surprise.
    I’m going to eat him first.
    I stayed awake the rest of the night, standing guard with the pointed pipe. He had the strength advantage. I had the speed advantage. We both seemed to be of similar intelligence, and both had the ability to use tools.
    His eyes might be a weak point, but they were always covered by that face plate — Zabzug even wore it to sleep. His skin was covered with scales, and though they looked moist, they were hard, almost metallic, to the touch.
    The vulnerable point was his mouth. It was crammed full of sharp teeth, but maybe I could jam something down his throat and into all the soft parts inside.
    At the first peek of sunlight I’ll go to Zabzug’s ship with my spear.
    What does alien lizard taste like?
    Voice Module 195585
    Record Mode:
    He didn’t come out all day, and I couldn’t find a way in. There isn’t a seam on the entire ship. No cracks or ridges or anything to pry or beat open. After several hours of trying, I decided to just wait. He’d have to come out eventually.
    He wanted the same thing I wanted.
    Voice Module 195586
    Record Mode:
    The bastard ate my hand.
    Chomped it off at the wrist. I fell asleep, waiting for him to come out.
    But I got him…haha…I got him…jammed the pipe down his throat, into the soft stuff.
    Dead. He’s dead.
    Zabzug, my friend, is dead.
    I used my belt as a tourniquet for my hand, but it didn’t stop the bleeding.
    I had to use the solar matches to close the wound.
    The pain…so much pain in my wrist.
    But the hunger…the need…is even stronger.
    I’m going to cut him open now.
    Voice Module 195587
    Record Mode:
    I’m full! What a wonderful feeling! For the first time since I landed on this planet, I’ve eaten until I’m ready to burst.
    I’m so happy I don’t even notice the pain.
    Voice Module 195588
    Record Mode:
    Zabzug lasted for a whole month.
    Some parts were delicious.
    Some parts, not so delicious.
    I ate everything. The inedible parts were boiled into soup until every calorie and nutrient was leeched out.
    I even gained a few kilos.
    And