An Extract from 'The Understanding'

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The door slid open to reveal simple, yet adequate quarters. Simple , except that everything in the way of furnishings, computer desk and console, all were nearly double size. It was fortunate that they saw the gently smiling face before they took in the whole picture of the 300-kilogram, two-point-two metre man-ape standing before them. "May 'I' protect you!." he intoned in a deep booming voice, followed by a reverberating thump as he crashed his mighty fist against his massive chest, in the fidelity salute. Adam was awe-struck as he stood before the giant. Thor was only the third trans-genetic Adam had seen; the first being the male and female who had given their lives for the Clones during the Zealot attack on TUL. Thor's uniform was modelled on an ancient style safari-suit worn by hunters on the Arfrican continent, as far back as a hundred and fifty years ago. His forearms were as thick as the calves of an average Natural and thickly coated with dark hair, not fur as such, but just like a very hairy natural. The negroid skin contrasted with creamy- coloured palms. The mouth was simian, and the nose squat with large nostrils. Those huge, gentle, eyes immediately dispelled any intimidation that Thor's huge size might have otherwise engendered. Adam felt almost as if he were under the proud gaze of a father..................

................................Venus brought up the subject of children, which was obviously very close to her heart. "Both Thor and I were only children ourselves, part of a trans-genetic research program being run by the Amerikan military at a secret research institution in the Florada Everglades, when Universal Humanism set us free." she began. "It had already been part of our military education to know that we had been genetically designed to not be able to reproduce, so that there would be no nurturing instincts to detract from our warrior psyche." Venus' matter of fact account exhibitted no sadness, though regret was there, betrayed only by the momentary downward turn of the corners of her mouth. "Of course the trans-genetic project was in its infancy at the stage of our conception. They got our huge bodies right, or nearly so, but wonder of 'I' , we did not have the expected agression that our creators were hoping for." said Thor jumping into the explanation with just a hint of pride in his voice. "As well as producing giantism, the splicing of simian genes with those of our human side had been calculated to dumb down our intelligence, so that we would be capable of being only functional warriors, without the depth of intellect to question morality, authority, or principle. This did not occur," he continued, " and in fact our large brains were quite intelligent. It is likely, were it not for Universal Humanism and the Clones, that we would have been terminated in our teen years as a failed experiment." There had been no hint of reproach in Thor's voice, rather, an almost acceptance..................................... .........................

"And you can forgive all of that?" asked Eve incredulously. "There is nothing to forgive." Venus smiled again as she let go of her memories in favour of the present. ""We have each other, failed experiments that we are." She grasped the big ape-man's hand and looked up into his eyes. "Hoo! Hoo! Hoo!" he chuckled, in an attempt to hide the emotion, but failed noticeably, as he wiped away a couple of tears with the back of a big hairy wrist.................

'The Understanding' is a sci-fi novel by Dennis Pennefather, critically predicted by some literists to become a 'cult-classic'

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